In one aspect the invention provides a method of cleaning molten solder from the hot tip of a soldering iron that does not require a water-laden sponge. The hot tip of the iron is wiped against a block of dry open-celled melamine foam. The block is formed with an inclined through-hole that leads to the bottom of a receptacle holding the block. The hot tip is wiped against the foam surrounding an upper end of the through-hole, and the molten solder removed from the tip accumulates in the receptacle below.