I like to use my old white t-shirts...the type with v necks or crew necks for under a dress shirt. I cut them in squares large enough to fit over the iron bottom, then pull up all sides and corners over the top of the iron and secure with a strong wooden clothespin. This has worked for me ever since I began using the iron on coverings back in the early 70's. When the material picks up enough color stains from the coverings, or just gets worn out from the heat and stretching, I often can just shift the part of the square that is still fresh to the iron bottom, or toss, and use another square. Jon