If you still iron, like I do, and you use spray starch or fabric softeners on your clothing you eventually get gunk on the plate of your iron. To remove this, squirt a quarter-size dollop of non-gel toothpaste on a paper towel. Rub this on the metal plate of a cool iron. Then wipe off with a clean cloth. The mildly abrasive toothpaste will remove any residue or synthetic fibers that have melted on the plate.