We’re talking about ironing. We’ve all had busy mornings where the last thing on our mind is the state of our clothes. Nothing is worse than running out the door for a meeting or event and realizing your clothes are all wrinkly! We don’t want a wrinkle in your clothes to cause a wrinkle in your brow, so we are here to help. We’ve assembled simple instructions on how to iron clothes, as well as some fabulous tricks of the trade to keep your best clothes wrinkle-free.
How to Iron Clothes: Step by Step
- Start by making sure your item is clean and free of stains. Before getting rid of wrinkles, let’s make sure your clothes are clean! Heat from the iron can permanently set stains, so be sure to wash the item using a gentle detergent before ironing. If you have a particularly stubborn stain, add an Oxi Booster Pod to your wash.
- Determine the fabric makeup of whatever item you are ironing. The garment care label should tell you what fabric the item is made from, and if there are any special care instructions. This will help you choose the correct iron setting (or let you know if you should avoid the iron altogether)!
- Use the correct temperature setting that correlates to your fabric type. When in doubt, start with a lower setting, test it, and increase the temperature if necessary.
- Spray water on fabrics made from natural fibers, then press iron firmly into the fabric. Glide iron across the surface to smooth out wrinkles.You can also use the steam option on the iron.
- Hang the item up for a few minutes to let it fully dry. This will allow any remaining wrinkles to fall out, and keep your item wrinkle free until you’re ready to wear it!
Pro Tips for the Best Way to Iron Clothes
- Check the item's care guide when selecting the iron temperature. Ironing on a temperature that is too high can scorch delicate fabrics, while using a temperature too low will make thoroughly removing wrinkles difficult. If unsure, a medium setting is a good place to start.
- A few fabrics, like satin and silk, can stain from water droplets. These would be the few cases where you don’t want to apply any water or steam before ironing. Try ironing these materials on a low heat sandwiched between tougher fabrics like cotton and linen to avoid direct contact.
- When ironing more than one item, start with the items that require the lowest temperature like acetate and nylon. Then move to synthetic fabrics and end with cotton and linen fabrics.
- Check the iron to be sure the base plate is clean so no scorch marks get transferred to your fabrics.
- If you’re worried about stretching the fabric throughout the process, iron lengthwise, and away from hems.
Fabrics You Should Never Iron
These fabrics should never be ironed. Use a steamer instead, or dry items on low heat with Wool Dryer Balls to prevent wrinkles in the first place!
- Velvet
- Suede
- Spandex
- Organza
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have more questions about how to iron clothes? We have answers!
What is the easiest way to iron clothes?
Ironing clothes is easy once you get the hang of it! The best way to iron clothes is to follow the five steps in our guide above. The more practiced you get at clothes ironing, the quicker and more seamless the process will be.
What parts of the clothes should be ironed first?
When ironing a button down shirt, start by ironing the collar and cuffs, then move on to the sleeves and shoulders. Iron the back of the garment next, and then the front. Finally, iron the hem and any other details. You can apply this order to dresses, blazers, and other tops as well. When ironing pants, iron the back and then the front, paying special attention to the hems.