Using a mini iron.

[Lois B.]

I have been having a wonderful time using Gyleen Fitzgeralds pineapple tool and using scraps to make blocks. There are many seams and lots of pressing so I am using a clover mini iron. The system works well and I don't think I am using as much electricity as I would if I had a large iron on for such a long time. Anyway, the thing that has been happening is that after working for about an hour I always have a sticky residue on the iron. I have washed my fabric and I am not using starch and I did not use fabric softener in the wash or dryer. I can't figure it out. I use Rowenta sole plate cleaner on it after about an hour and that gets most but not all of it off. Any ideas what is causing this. Is there something cheaper or homemade I can use to clean the soleplate without waiting for it to cool down. Thanks. Lois

[Rita C.]

Hi Lois, have you tried Vilene Iron Cleaner? It's in the form of a stick which you wipe over a warm iron and then wipe off with a clean cloth/kitchen towel. I don't have a mini-iron (although I have been tempted many times) because I have a little travel iron which I got years ago and never used much because it was not great for clothing. It is, however wonderful when doing small projects. I do find that the iron can get very tacky and I wonder if it is because it does not have steam so there is nothing damp passing over the surface of the iron. I actually use a small spritzer bottle of water with mine to get the seams extra flat. Maybe that would help? Rita.

[Paula D.]

Heat the iron. Dampen a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponge. Run the iron over the sponge. I think I got this one from Sharon Schamber - before she took my money and ran. LOL

[Lynn K.]

I'm dying to get Gyleen's set and do the pineapple projects! Good luck with your iron, too.

[Lynn K.]

I just use a used fabric softner sheet. I run the hot iron over it until the plate is clean. Works pretty well.

[Barbara C.]

Heat the iron. Dampen a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponge. Run the iron over the sponge. I think I got this one from Sharon Schamber - before she took my money and ran. LOL

Great idea.... Thanks! Maybe I'm tired to the point of being silly but PDQuilt you are cracking me up! ROTFLOL

[Barbara C.]

On my irons I have always used, Iron Off. Available at Wal-Mart. Works great but messy and very important to get it out of those steam holes before ironing your fabric! Now I love, love Iron Clean sheets.

I have used a crafting sealing iron. Which I liked better than the Clover iron that didn't seem to get hot enough for me. At IQF in Houston my daughter in law bought me a Kandi's Handi Iron. http://www.kandicorp.com/Handi-Iron.asp Love it. I was interested in the iron when I saw the demo of laying a Goddess Sheet over crystals and using the iron to glue them down. Sooooo much better than the tool that is a pain to use and doesn't always get the job done. One other thing. I put the iron in my carry on bag and it went through security. Got to love that!

[Renee H.]

I have the same problem, and I think it is because the iron runs hot and can melt the fabric, like what you find on white on white fabric. When I find the problem happening during a session, I turn the iron down to a lower setting.