Cleaning an iron soleplate with Paracetamol is surprisingly effective. Paracetamol is a common tablet used for pain relief and fever around the world. To clean the iron, you simply rub the paracetamol tablet against a hot soleplate and remove the dirt and stains as the tablet melts.
Paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen and APAP) is very safe to use, and as long as you’re using a pure tablet without any coating, there are no toxic fumes to worry about. It’s also soft enough to avoid any lasting damage to the soleplate. The only real danger is burning yourself on the hot iron soleplate.
If you don’t have Paracetamol at hand, we’ve also listed a host of other ways to clean an iron soleplate.
How to Clean an Iron Soleplate with Paracetamol
For starters, you’ll need a few pure, uncoated Paracetamol tablets… not capsules.
You’ll also need heat-resistant gloves or something else to hold the tablet as you rub it over the hot surface. Tweezers might scratch the soleplate or melt onto it. We’d suggest wooden food tongs if you have no other option.
- Empty the iron water tank
- Turn the iron up to high heat
- Pinch the tablet with a soft, heat resistant glove or old oven mitt
- Rub a Paracetamol tablet directly onto the dirty area and apply some pressure
- As you rub the tablet over the built-up grime, it should begin to come loose
- Along with the grime, the tablet will also melt, so keep wiping the residue off before it cakes up and dries from the heat
- Dig into the steam holes a little to remove any stuck build-up
- You may need around 3 or 4 tablets to clean the whole soleplate
- Once you’re done, fill the iron with distilled water and iron over an old piece of cloth to clean it and test for any remaining residue.
Demonstration Video
Watch Out For
Even though Paracetamol has no inherent dangers if not ingested, it’s important to keep the following in mind…
Do not use a coated paracetamol capsule. The coating will melt off with the heat and create fumes and possibly create a sticky residue.