If possible cover the magnet with a sheet of paper and gentlysprinkle the iron filings over the sheet ot paper, they will stickin a pattern following the magnetic "lines of flux" which will getcloser and closer near the poles of the magnet.Afterwards you can cleanup by lifting the sheet of paper off ofthe magnet and the filings will fall away. Without the paper thefilings will usually become tightly stuck to the magnet, making ithard to clean.