How to get gunk off the bottom of an iron

cazs

I'm using a Philips iron and there's about a quarter of the soleplate that has black gunk on it.

Can anyone advise how to get it off?

Unfortunately, I don't have any baking soda which I know is sometimes advised for this.

I tried using Doktor Power paste which had no effect on it. My nail polish remover didn't work either, maybe as it's the acetone free kind I don't know.

I have scourers for washing up but wasn't sure I should use them or not on the base of the iron...

Thank you

Anyone have any suggestions?

spratley

Get some cheap flexible sanding blocks (about 10p each in poundland type shops) - the foam ones with a fine/medium finish. Wet them well & add a tiny drop of washing up liquid. If the black gunk is quite thick, try scraping it off with a razor blade first (be careful!), then use the sanding block to get the rest off. Rinse the block out afterwards & let it dry...

cantcope

i bought an iron cleaner stick from amazon for a couple of pounds which works brilliantly for burned on gunk

keystone

Very fine wire wool. Iron needs to be hot.

Cheers

katejo

I cleaned one this morning and it worked with warm water and a brillo pad. It wasn't badly marked though.

mvteng

This tip I found on the internet has worked best for me.

Put a piece of greaseproof paper on the ironing board, sprinkle salt on, heat iron up & iron the salt. Change salt often.

Sounds strange, but it worked for me.

cazs

Thanks everyone, whilst I was waiting for responses I tried some bits off the internet.

I tried the toothpaste, that didn't work.
;
I tried ironing on salt but that only worked on the light bits and not the bits where the gunk was more thickly burnt on.

I tried washing up liquid and a sponge to little effect and then with a non abrasive scourer which took a few flakes off.

In the end the thing which got all the gunk off was to heat iron up and turn it off, then put a cotton wool pad soaked in vinegar on there for a little while. Then I was able just to scratch it off with my nails.

Hope I don't have to do all that for quite some time again.

warmhands.coldheart

Only two cleaning products you should have in your cupboard.. Vinegar and Baking Powder (According to my MIL).....

keystone

So the fine wire wool advice wasn't worth giving then?

Cheers

cazs

Ha Ha. Don't have any of that in the flat I'm afraid . Will have to iron more carefully from now on but this query might help others who have search for help on the same thing...

pogofish

Lighter fluid can be very effective.

Not when the iron is on/very hot of course - Whoomph! :eek: