Your iron is supposed to be a helpful tool, but sometimes things happen. You run your hot iron over a button too long, resulting in a melted mess, or you go over a stain [1], which creates build-up on your iron. All this gunk might transfer onto another article of clothing the next time you smooth out wrinkles [2]. Keep it clean with the help of a basic ingredient you have in your pantry — table salt [3]!

To fix things fast, sprinkle a sheet of paper with salt and then run the warm iron over the salt, which helps remove stains and any lingering residue from ironing your clothes. After a couple of runs, unplug the iron, and once it's cooled, wipe clean once with a soft cloth.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sarah Lipoff