Asked on Mar 03, 2016

Cleaning an old iron plate

Mary Braid
by Mary Braid
How can I clean the plate on my older GE style iron? It is a non-steam type; probably pre-polyester because it does not have that setting on it. A crust that is hard to remove has built up on it; probably from newer types of laundry products. I need suggestions on how to remove without harming this beautiful old iron. Notice the setting only goes up to linen.....
The iron plate has crust on it.....
Older GE logo. Notice the black/white cloth cord...
The setting indicator
  22 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Mar 03, 2016
    Try putting white vinegar on a dampened towel, with a low temperature go back and forth until the residue begins to loosen. Then sprinkle salt on the towel with the vinegar and repeat. This should help to remove the residue.
  • Becky Becky on Mar 03, 2016
    I use Dritz Iron Off - Hot Iron Cleaner (it's on Amazon or most fabric stores) use as directed and then I use a terry rag to take it off for more scrubbing power.
  • Lagree Wyndham Lagree Wyndham on Mar 03, 2016
    Great Iron...they don't make them that good anymore.
  • Maureen Todd Maureen Todd on Mar 03, 2016
    Have you tried aluminum foil? Scrunch and scrub xx
  • Cheri Kripps Cheri Kripps on Mar 04, 2016
    take a fine soap pad and gently wipe the entire area, clean with a soft white cloth. Heat iron and go over a sheet of wax paper a few times
  • Betty Evans Betty Evans on Mar 04, 2016
    Try pouring salt on a piece of wax paper, then run the hot iron through it several times.
  • 3cookies 3cookies on Mar 04, 2016
    Rubbing alcohol
  • Cathy C Cathy C on Mar 04, 2016
    try soaking in a shallow pan of vinegar. Back before steam settings, they used a sprinkler type water bottle so this could be a lime build up as well as other stuff.... can scrub w/ wadded aluminum foil as suggested before.
  • Nancy Nancy on Mar 04, 2016
    Magic eraser. It works I promise. Cold or hot iron
  • Linda T Linda T on Mar 04, 2016
    Rub warm iron on salt that has been place on newspaper. When this has cleaned the iron, run it across waxed paper to polish.
  • Kcama Kcama on Mar 04, 2016
    I've had great success with "Faultless Hot Iron Cleaner." Has cleaned all my messy craft gunk and burnt plastics off my old irons. Inexpensive and available most places
  • Karen Dennis Karen Dennis on Mar 04, 2016
    I, like Nancy, suggest using a Magic Eraser. That is what I clean my iron with.
  • Jane Jane on Mar 04, 2016
    If it is something like starch build up or something sticky. I will use a left over burnt out candle, with the iron hot I rub the wax up and down a few times and then iron it off on a folded paper towel.
  • CharLee Williams CharLee Williams on Mar 04, 2016
    I LET THE IRON GET WARM, THEN USE A SCOURING PAD, WHEN IT'S CLEAN RUN IT OVER WAXED PAPER
  • Alice Shockley Alice Shockley on Mar 04, 2016
    I agree with Kcama - I use that product as well.
  • Kimberly Hozer Durbin Kimberly Hozer Durbin on Mar 04, 2016
    Funny, I just did this with a similar iron from my mother in law. I used Simichrome polish. It has been around forever. Comes in a tube. Put just a little bit on a dry, clean soft cloth and rub in little circles. It will remove rust, buffs out small scrathes and make the metal feel smooth and shiny. Also rub a tiny bit of craft paint over the GE and wipe off excess to make visible.
  • Suzie Junk Suzie Junk on Mar 04, 2016
    Many years ago my mother use to clean her iron by heating it up then ironing over a piece of wax paper sprinkled with table salt...it worked very well
  • Cathi Cathi on Mar 04, 2016
    I use IronOff. It comes in a tube. You just spread some on an old washcloth or rag and iron over it with high heat and pressure. I've been using it for years and have always been happy with the results. http://www.amazon.com/Dritz-Iron-Off-Hot-Cleaner/dp/B00AQ6OT64
  • Pete Sakes Pete Sakes on Mar 05, 2016
    I just put a sheet of wax paper on the ironing board, heat up the iron then mound up some salt over the wax paper and iron over the salt until the iron is clean.
  • Nancy D. Nancy D. on Mar 06, 2016
    Mr. Clean Magic eraser
  • AmAtHome AmAtHome on Nov 10, 2018

    I used the instructions in the link, the baking soda /water paste worked great! https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/laundry/clean-iron

  • Sammi Sammi on Nov 10, 2018

    omg! get rid of it!