Steaming clothes can be a convenient and quick alternative to using an iron. It will appeal to those who avoid washing their favourite clothes because they are afraid of ironing them.
But it isn’t all sunshine and roses. If you aren’t prepared, using a cloth steamer can be uncomfortable at first. It’s critical to understand which fabrics can and cannot be steam cleaned.
Saving time is great, but not at the expense of destroying your favourite outfit. Our step-by-step instructions will teach you how to steam your garments.
Heat, moisture, or combined can cause damage to certain materials. Among them are:
- Synthetic fabrics made of plastic: If your garment is smooth and waterproof, it’s most likely composed of synthetic fabric (e.g., raincoats). Note that imitation leather is often made of plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC has the ability to melt at temperatures as low as 167 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Leather: If you expose your fashionable leather jacket to too much heat, it will shrink.
- These are better left to the professionals (e.g., dry cleaners who work with leather).
- Suede is a form of leather that has been treated and is extremely soft. They, like all leather, require maintenance and should be dry cleaned properly.
Items with stains: If you stain your clothes, don’t use your fabric steamer. The material
Best Ways To Steam Your Dresses
Choose the best fabric steamers
A portable fabric steamer designed specifically for garments can be purchased. You can get a larger one with a built-in hanger if you have the space. Alternatively, you can get an all-purpose steam cleaner with a steaming clothing attachment.
Check if the manufacturer supplies a compatible accessory if you already own one of these devices. The steaming process can be drawn out with slim nozzles. You might also miss locations while working. As a result, it’s best to use a garment-specific attachment.
Clean the steaming area
To avoid accidents, make sure that any children or pets are out of the room. When deciding where to work, use common sense. Don’t start steaming in front of your pricey make-up collection or deteriorating walls.
Hang your dress
On a hanger, place the object you wish to steam. Use plain hard plastic or metal hangers instead of cloth-covered ones.
Start steaming
For pants
Fold your pants lengthwise and place them on the hanger with the bottom side up.
Start at the top (the bottoms of your slacks) and steam your way down in gentle, steady motions. You can stabilize the slacks from behind with your hand, but be careful not to burn yourself.
Don’t forget about the pockets: make sure they’re all nice and wrinkle-free.
Replace the pants on the opposite side and repeat the process.
For suit Jacket
Begin at the beginning: From top to bottom, steam the jacket. Don’t forget to straighten the lapels from underneath.
Steam the back of the suit jacket by turning it around or going behind it. Follow the same steps as for the front. Steam the arms: Hold the jacket arms out by the cuffs one at a time and steam them. You can do the arms before or after the body, depending on your preference.
For Dress Shirt
Working your way down: Start at the shoulders and steam as close to the shirt as possible. To flatten out the garment, grip the bottom and pull it towards you. Dress shirts have notoriously tenacious wrinkles, so take your time.
Steam the rear in the same manner as the front, proceeding downwards.
Steam the arms by holding each one out by the cuff. To get a crisp crease, move the steamer slowly.
For dresses and skirts
Move the steamer downwards in steady strokes, starting at the top of the garment.
Work below the cloth for pleats: For pleated skirts, passing over the front of the fabric may not be enough (on dresses or alone). Hold the skirt or dress up and go below it to steam the interior, top to bottom.