How "Dritz Iron-Off" Saved My Marriage

     A few years ago, I ruined our iron.   Not by ironing clothing mind you, by ironing my crafty/sewing projects. (I'm pretty sure I melted some fabric that was not intended to be ironed on such a high temperature.)   My sweet husband bought a new iron.....that I was not to use.  It was for the sorry guy to iron his white shirts for church.  (He has to do that sort of thing, 'cause I don't iron clothes....well, I did make a New Year's Resolution a year ago to do a little more ironing, so I ironed 5 of Layne's shirts and counted that for the entire year.)   ANYWAY, the next time I went to iron something for a crafty project (I do iron for crafts if it is ABSOLUTELY necessary) I couldn't use the yucky old ruined iron, so what option did I have?   I snuck out the new iron and vowed (to myself) that I would NOT ruin another iron.  Well, a few projects later, I accidentally ironed some wonder under and WA LA, the iron was looking black and ruined.  OOPS.  In my haste to finish whatever fabulous project I was working on, I left the iron out, Layne saw it, was very displeased, scolded me and told me to stop ruining his irons.  I tried to reassure him that the iron just looked bad and it wouldn't leave marks on anything.....but I was wrong.

     Layne went out and bought a new iron.  This time he informed me that I was NOT to touch his iron.  It was to be used ONLY for clothing.   He even wrote "NO!" in big red letters with a permanent marker on the top.  My next few sewing projects were clothes for Kennedy, so I felt justifited in using "his" iron.  Unfortunately, the iron and I bonded and I begin feeling more and more comfortable using it for, well anything.  I tend to be in a rush when I'm doing projects and a little distracted with the children.  You guessed it, I blackened, tarnished, and ruined yet another iron.  For many months I was diligent about quickly getting Layne's white dress shirts out of the dryer and promptly hanging them up thus saving them from needing ironed, thus saving myself from being scolded yet again.

     After a few months of him not needing the iron, I realized that this couldn't go on forever and started researching on line "how to clean your iron".  I tried all kinds of crazy concotions.  One was to pour vinegar on a towel and rub the hot iron on top of it.  When Layne got home that afternoon and asked why the entire house smelled like vinegar, I said I didn't know and tried to change the subject.  I admitted defeat, put the iron back in his closet and tried to pretend like all was well.

     A few weeks ago, while getting ready for church, Layne pulled out the ironing board.  My stomach lurched but like the coward I am, I kept on fixing my hair and let him start to iron.   He proceeded to iron a few things for the boys leaving little black marks here and there.  Then came the inevitable, "What have you done to this iron?"  OOPS.  Layne was NOT happy. 

     While at the fabric store last weekend, I asked the clerk if she had a product for cleaning irons.  She did.  I used it.  It WORKED!!!  I cleaned Layne's iron.....it looks brand new.  I cleaned my crummy craft iron.....it looks almost brand new.   When Layne got home that day I told him that I had a surprise for him.  (Layne doesn't like surprises and is not too easily impressed.)  Then I showed him the iron.  First he wanted to know how I did it and then he said in all sincerity, "That is a really good surprise."  I think he still loves me.


Note:  The product I used is called, "iron-off/hot iron cleaner" made by Dritz.    You have to squirt the stuff onto a thick cloth (I used a folded towel) and then rub the iron around in circles on top of it.  Then you have to scrub the iron a bit with the cloth....which is a little unnerving scrubbing something that can burn your flesh off.

Okay, the irons were pretty bad!