How to Clean the Bottom of an Iron

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An iron allows you to quickly remove wrinkles from clothing and other fabrics, and often requires no maintenance to keep clean. Over time, however, you may have rubbed your iron across the wrong fabric or the iron may have absorbed body oils left behind on clothing, leaving it with a rust-colored film on the bottom. If you ignore the film and continue with your ironing, it will rub off and stain other fabrics that it comes in contact with.

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Step 1

Pour 2 tbsp. of vinegar onto a cleaning cloth, and rub over a slightly warm iron. This will often remove light residue.

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Step 2

Make a paste by mixing 1/4 cup baking soda and 3 tbsp. vinegar in a bowl.

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Step 3

Dip a rag in the paste and rub a thin layer of the paste over the bottom of your iron.

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Step 4

Wipe the iron with a damp cleaning rag.

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Step 5

Turn the iron on high using a steam setting, and rub over a piece of newspaper to remove any leftover residue.

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