Domesticity ~ How to Clean an Iron

Domesticity - home duties and pleasures

Today was laundry day for me. Thought I'd share a link with you that I received from Craftsy this week on methods for cleaning the soleplate of an iron. It's not something I do very often, but probably should do more often than I do. I definitely have to do it when I accidentally press the wrong side of fusible interfacing. Argh!

Some of the described methods I've used, but others were new to me. I surely didn't know about the acetone nailpolish remover. That one may well be the one that works for my fusible accidents! If your iron scares you a little when you're ready to iron that white shirt, click here to go to "How to Clean Your Iron So It's as Good as New."

Oh, and do explore Craftsy a bit while you're there. They have project ideas, tips, kits, patterns, online classes, supplies and much more for sewing, cooking, knitting, photography, gardening, weaving, and more. I've taken several (50+!) of their classes, and all but one has been terrific! Some are free, so you can see what they're like. Craftsy has been a favorite go-to of mine for quite awhile.

Image ~ Drying Clothes, Helen Allingham 1848-1926

public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

From the Sewing Room ~ Ironing

I haven't been in the sewing room much lately, but I wanted to show you a few items that are helpful when I'm making the little girl dresses or when I'm doing some quilt blocks or applique.

The Mighty Mini Board and the Clover Mini Iron

The Mini Board lets me iron little dress sections and get a nice finish. 

It's a good size for children's armholes or sleeves.

The Mini Iron lets me get into and around areas like buttons or embellishments more easily than a regular iron does. It's also great for getting into the gathers of the skirt itself so they don't just get mashed flat.

The Mini Iron comes with a rest, 

but I usually just let it rest off the edge of the ironing board.

There's another version of the Mini Iron that comes with additional attachments.

I also find a small travel iron to be useful with smaller areas as well, whether it's ironing the little girl dresses, or when I'm making quilt blocks. 

Mine is a Steamfast Home Away Steam Iron.

Well, that's a few items that help the little girl dresses that I'm making iron up nicely.

I hope you have a few things that let your creative side flow a little smoother, too!