How to Clean a Sticky Iron with Household Products

Co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Last Updated: March 19, 2024 References

There’s something magical about the way a hot iron glides smoothly over your clothes and makes them look crisp and fresh. That means it can be extra frustrating when your handy iron starts sticking! If your iron’s got some troublesome buildup, there’s no need to get a new one—you can make it like new with products you’ve already got around the house! In this article, we’ll show you 4 different and effective ways to de-stick your iron for debris- and wrinkle-free clothes. Let’s get started!

What are the most effective ways to clean a sticky iron?

Heat equal parts salt and vinegar on medium-high heat, then use the mixture and a cloth to scrub the plate of your iron. Rinse with a cloth dampened with clean water.
Try rubbing mild buildup away with a cloth dampened in warm water and dish soap.
Alternatively, sprinkle baby powder on a cloth, then rub the cloth on the iron while it’s cool. Then, iron 2 rags to remove the powder and any stickiness.
For a quick fix, try ironing a newspaper (or any other kind of paper). Sprinkle some salt on the paper for stubborn stickiness.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using Vinegar and Salt

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1
Heat vinegar and salt in a saucepan. Use equal parts salt and white vinegar. Set the burner to medium-high. Let the solution heat until bubbles start slowly rising, before the mixture comes to a boil.
- Crack a window if the smell of vinegar bothers you.
- Keep your iron turned off and unplugged.
2
Scrub the soleplate with the solution. Wear gloves to protect your hands. Wet a clean cloth or non-metal scouring pad in the solution by dipping the end into the pot. Use the rag or pad to clean the soleplate in a scrubbing motion: try circular, up and down, and side to side scrubbing until the soleplate is clean.
- Don’t submerge your hand in the hot vinegar.
- A metal pad can scratch the soleplate of your iron.
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Once you’re finished cleaning the iron with the vinegar-saturated cloth, wet a fresh cloth with distilled water. Wipe down the iron to rinse it. Allow the iron to air dry, or wipe it dry.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Wiping the Iron with a Soap Solution

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1
Rub your iron with a rag dampened with water first, if desired. If the stickiness on your iron is minimal, opt for this gentle method first. Heat your iron slightly on a low setting. Wet a rag with water so that it’s damp, not dripping. Unplug the iron before scrubbing it with the rag.
- Bunch up the damp rag a bit and make sure not to touch the iron directly with your hand.
If plain water doesn’t do the trick, allow your unplugged iron to cool until it’s at room temperature. Put a squirt of liquid dish soap in the bottom of a bowl. Fill the bowl with warm water.
3
Rub off the buildup. Dip a sponge or rag into the soap solution. Squeeze out any excess water so that the sponge or rag is damp, not dripping. Scrub the soleplate of the cool, dry iron. Use a dry rag to wipe away the moisture.
- For stubborn gunk, try using a nylon mesh pad.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using Baby Powder

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Unplug the iron from any power source. Let the iron cool until it is room temperature.
Sprinkle some baby powder on a dishrag. Wipe the baby powder onto the iron with the dishrag.^{[1]
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Heat up your iron. Wipe the excess baby powder off by ironing the first dishrag. Then, repeat this on a second dishrag to ensure that all of the sticky residue is off of the iron.^{[2]
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If the fabric is delicate, iron a small test area first on the inside of the garment. Ironing over 2 dishrags should ensure that no more sticky residue is left behind from the iron, but double check to be sure.^{[3]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Ironing Paper

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Turn your iron on the highest setting. Make sure the steam is turned off.^{[4]
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Run the iron over paper. Lay down a sheet of newspaper or paper towels. Slide the hot iron across the paper until it’s free of residue.^{[5]
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- This works particularly well for waxy substances stuck to your iron.
3
Add salt, if needed. If your iron still has sticky buildup, pour a tablespoon of salt onto the paper. Run the iron over the salted paper to remove the residue.^{[6]
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- Alternately, you can sprinkle the salt on a dry cotton towel.
- This option will remove stickiness if you need to iron a garment in a hurry. However, it won’t remove all staining from your iron.^{[7]
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Tips

Try setting your iron to low and ironing a dryer sheet to clean your iron’s soleplate.^{[8]
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If there is melted plastic on your iron, try ironing some salt on a sheet of aluminum foil to loosen the residue.

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