There are three categories of people: those who iron often, those who save their ironing for important occasions like funerals or job interviews, and those who don’t own an iron. If you fall into the first two categories, you are aware that ironing your clothing can result in wrinkle-free flowing fabrics or crisp collars and cuffs. Everything relies on the kind of fabric and how you use your iron. Regardless of your style, ironing your clothing correctly is essential to keeping its form and improving its appearance.
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How To Use an Iron The Right Way
Understanding Your Iron
Electric irons for homes come in two varieties: dry and steam. Both provide temperature control options for ironing various types of cloth. Compared to a steam iron, a dry iron is less expensive, lighter, and lacks vent holes on the pressing surface. For mildly wrinkled denim, wool, polyester, and silk satin, dry iron is a good tool to have.
Steam is released onto cloth through holes in the pressing plate of a steam iron, which also features a water tank. A front “jet” to spritz water on the clothing is another feature of many. The additional moisture aids in the fabric’s wrinkling removal. For cotton, linen, muslin, or any other highly wrinkled fabric, a steam iron works best.
Setting Up Your Iron
The two irons are easy to set up. A dry iron can be used by plugging it into an outlet and allowing it to heat to the desired temperature. Before plugging in and adjusting the temperature on a steam iron, fill the water tank with distilled water to avoid mineral accumulation that could clog the steam jets.
Usually, it takes five to ten minutes for both irons to heat up. When it’s time to iron, utilize a solid surface covered with an ironing mat or a padded ironing board for optimal results.
To avoid smearing clothing, keep the soleplate spotless. When using size or starch, let the iron cool fully before using a moist microfiber cloth to clean the plate.
Make a paste with baking soda and a few drops of water for stubborn buildup, then use a gentle scrubber to remove the burnt residue. Use a moist cloth to “rinse” after wiping.
Preparing Your Clothes for Ironing
Ironing clothing that is unclean, odorous, or stained is not a good idea as the heat can set body oils and leave stains difficult to remove. The majority of clothing should be ironed slightly damp, but you can increase the moisture content by misting the garments with water, using a steam iron, or applying an ironing spray like starch or size. The only time adding moisture is necessary is when ironing silk or other fabrics that are prone to water stains.
Ironing Methods
Go over the care label
The majority of clothing care labels include written instructions or symbols that indicate how to iron the item. Always start at the lowest temperature suggested by the iron’s heat settings.
Avoid Shiny and Scorch Marks
Turn garments inside out to avoid leaving shiny stains on the material. Alternatively, cover the area you are ironing with a thin white towel to stop dye transfer. Crushing and flattening of textured or napped materials can be avoided by ironing on the wrong side.
Adhere to a Schedule
- Iron the interior of the largest flat section of fabric first.
- To avoid stretching, go with the fabric’s grain. Typically, this is done from top to bottom of the clothing.
- To assist in eliminating wrinkles, apply more pressure or moisture to the iron as necessary.
- Iron the inside of collars and cuffs before the outside.
- Zippers, buttons, and embellishments should not be ironed over as they may melt. Alternately, try a lower temperature and a pressing cloth.
- To let the clothing cool, hang it right away. Freshly ironed clothing should not be worn until it has cooled down; otherwise, additional creases will appear and negate the effect of your ironing.
Safety Measures
- Never use an extension cable or set up an ironing board where the iron’s electric cord is extended far to avoid trips and falls.
- Irons should never be left unattended. Make sure that kids or pets cannot reach the cable and could accidentally pull the iron down on themselves.
- An iron should never be left flat on a mat or ironing board. It might lead to overheating.
- When not in use, always disconnect the iron and avoid wrapping the electric cord around it while it’s still hot.
- Periodically inspect the cable for damage, and replace the iron if it sparks or overheats.
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