Cleaning an iron soleplate...

[MrsWembley]

...or is it sole plate?

Anyhoo, damp cloth whilst warm be buggered, whatever's on there isn't coming off, unless (of course) I'm ironing a white shirt. Then it comes off a treat!

How do I do it? What should I use? Help!!

What about those expensive scourers specially for non-stick pans?

I battle on until there is no option but to bin the iron as I've never found an effective way to clean it. But I'm watching this thread with interest and my fingers crossed.

I have a tub of sticky stuff remover (from Lakeland) and it works wonders with a bit of elbow grease. Clean it with soapy water after though as it is oily.

Lakeland do a special iron plate cleaner I haven't tried it but it seems to get good reviews. I think ecozone do one too.

I wonder if it's their sticky stuff remover in a different bottle....

If you have a cotton or linen tea towel, whack the iron up on max, and iron the tea towel. I find it particularly good if I scrape the iron down along the edge of the board, iyswim.

I bought an Ecozone thing from Oxfam (but available elsewhere) which was like one of those magic sponge erasers. Quite hard cuboid which you dip in water and use like an eraser. Worked a treat on my iron...

See, I knew you wonderful ladies would know!

And I should have known that Lakeland would have the answer too...