Keep your iron clean!!

We all knowing pressing is an important part of quilting. Pressing can make a huge difference in the projects we are making such as making a wrinkled piece of fabric look brand new or a crooked seam look straight. But if you are pressing with a not-so-clean sole plate on your iron, your pressing can end up in disaster!

Whether you are using a teflon or stainless steel sole plate on your iron, be sure it is squeaky clean. Rust, scorched areas and leftover sticky residue from fusibles can easily be transferred from your iron to your fabric. If you are unsure of how clean your sole plate is, run your iron back and forth several times on a white piece of fabric and see what comes off your iron. You might be surprised!

If you are putting water in your iron for steam and haven't done so in a while, be sure to check for any rust particles that could be coming out of your iron. Use steam on a scrap of fabric before using on your project. There can be pieces of scorched fabric or fusible residue left on your iron that needs to be cleaned by using an iron cleaner such as Dritz Iron Off. Put a little Iron Off on a heavy piece of fabric such as duck or canvas and run your hot, dry iron back and forth several times to clean the plate. Then be sure there isn't any leftover cleaner by swiping your iron on a white scrap of fabric.

Also be sure that your ironing board cover is clean. If there are brown spots or sticky residue on the cover, it can easily be transferred to your fabric when a hot iron is run over the surface. Lay a piece of white fabric on the board and press the fabric with a hot iron several times to be sure there isn't anything on the board that could be getting on your project.

Every iron is different and has different cleaning instructions. Be sure to check your iron manual for the best ways to keep it clean and in good working order. An ironing board will only last so long, so be sure to replace yours as needed. By keeping your iron and ironing board clean, your project will stay that way as well!