Everyone knows how to iron clothes. But not everyone knows how to iron clothes correctly. From setting the temperature right, ironing clothes dry or wet, to getting the proper technique, there are so many aspects one has to consider while ironing their shirt crisp. So if you are worried if you have been doing it wrong all this while, you need not worry anymore. With the following tips, you can go ironing all your fabrics like a pro.
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Removing the burn marks
There was this one sad day when you accidentally burned your favorite dress while ironing. Can’t get over it? Relax; it is not the end of the world. All you have to do is dip a clean cloth in vinegar, wipe it on the stains, and then rinse it with cold water.
Hard water problem
Is the hard water of your locality giving you difficulty ironing your clothes? It is because hard water blocks the effect of ironing. It not only leaves inconsistency on the cloth but also damages the iron permanently. Therefore, you must boil the water before using it on the cloth before ironing.
Ironing fine decorations
Do not iron decoratives like buttons and sequins directly. Instead, turn the cloth inside out and iron it, so the delicate decorations do not get damaged.
Ironing in the correct order
Yes, there is an order to iron clothes, right. That is to start from the outside and then move in. Start ironing from the collar, followed by the cuffs, and then move towards ironing the shirt inside.
Ironing pleated clothes
Ironing your favorite pleated skirt? First, secure the pleats in place using bobby pins. This makes your job easier as it frees your hand while ironing the pleats.
Ironing clothes wet
This is an important aspect one has to ponder seriously. If clothes are to be ironed wet or dry and how wet is wet or how dry is dry? The cloth must not be dripping wet; it must have been dried through the spin cycle. Yes, ironing wet clothes dries them faster, but it does dry them thoroughly. It will remove the wrinkles but deteriorate the garment quality in the long run. Therefore they must be left to air dry.
As per Whites Laundry in Dubai, the ideal condition to iron clothes is when they are slightly damp. It should have just enough moisture to let the heat from the iron reshape and smooth out all the creases. It also evaporates the remaining moisture in the garment, leaving clothes perfectly dry and ready to be packed away.
This stage is the most time-efficient as clothing does not need to dry further or be remoistened to get the perfect finish. Therefore, it would be best if you adopted this practice, especially for cotton clothes.
Clean the iron regularly
You must clean your iron regularly, so you don’t end up staining your freshly washed clothes with iron. You can use baking soda and cotton to clean the iron and keep it away from dust and dirt.
Do not iron dirty clothes
Do not iron dirty clothes even amid a wardrobe crisis or in a hurry. Ironing dirty clothes, the stain on them will become sturdy, and the heat will make them permanent, unlikely to come off ever!
Do not iron under soft lighting
To ensure that there is no crease left on your clothes and that your hard work does not go in vain, you must iron your clothes in a well-lit room so that you can see all the creases on the fabric correctly.
Do not store iron with water in it
If you have a steam iron, always empty the water tank before putting it away to prevent damage, discoloring, and leaking on the soleplate and internal parts.
Set the right temperature
This is one of the most common mistakes one makes while ironing clothes. Setting the right temperature is essential to get practical and long-lasting results. Keeping the temperature too low may not iron the clothes at all while setting it too high might damage the smoothness of the fabric or cause marks and burns on the cloth. Therefore, be careful while setting the temperature of the iron.
Place an aluminum foil on the ironing board
Time to revise science! Aluminum is an excellent conductor of heat. Therefore place an aluminum foil on the ironing board and then place the cloth you are ironing. This way, the heat will pass to the other side of the garment on the aluminum foil, giving faster ironing results.
Be it a working professional who likes to look extra sharp at work or just someone ironing their t-shirts before a day out, following these hacks will give you crisp, clean and crease-free ironed clothes. You are set to feel liberated and confident now!