How To Iron Things (jeans, Skirts, T-shirts, Underwear, Etc.) Made Of Various Fabrics

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Ironing things right

Everyone has ironed the laundry at least once in his life. This process is quite tedious, especially if you have a large mountain of non-ironed things in front of you. Real housewives, who know a lot about cleanliness and order, always iron the linen. After such a procedure, things look more aesthetically pleasing. The very process of ironing the linen helps to improve hygiene in the house, as it is disinfecting. At first glance, it seems that there is nothing easier than ironing: take the iron and go. Questions arise as problems arise. Each thing requires an individual approach. How to deal with bulky things? What to do with fluffy sweaters? How to iron a dress with lace details? There are many questions, and we will try to figure out the most basic ones together in this article.

Content

• 1 Ironing things right: basic methods, rules, recommendations, master classes

  • 1.1 We organize the ironing process competently
  • 1.2 Safety precautions when working with the iron
  • 1.3 Ironing things with an iron correctly

  • 1.4 Learning to iron individual parts of things

    • 1.4.1 Ironing the shirt collar
    • 1.4.2 Ironing the sleeves
    • 1.4.3 Video: ironing a shirt correctly
    • 1.4.4 Iron the sleeve - flashlight
    • 1.4.5 Video: smoothing the flashlight sleeve
  • 1.5 Iron through cheesecloth
  • 1.6 We iron through a special ironing net

  • 1.7 How to iron things so that there is no shine

    1.7.1 Video: removing shiny stains on fabrics, ironing without shine

  • 1.8 Ironing curtains without removing from the cornice
  • 1.9 Ironing the embroidery
  • 1.10 Things that must not be ironed
• 2 Important nuances when ironing various things

Ironing things right: basic methods, rules, recommendations, master classes

There are several ways to iron things at home.

• Dry ironing. With this method, the recommended temperature for a particular item is set on the iron, which depends on the type of fabric. Further, things are ironed on an ironing board. Dry ironing is chosen for things made of synthetic materials, for example, nylon, nylon, artificial silk. Clothes that are afraid of shrinkage, such as woolen products, are also ironed with a dry iron.

  

  Dry ironing is suitable for delicate items

• Ironing with moistening iron. With moisture, things made from natural fabrics such as cotton and linen are better ironed. In this case, the thing is either not dried out and ironed damp, or moistened by spraying water on a dry surface. Silk items moisturize by rolling them into a damp towel.

• Ironing with steam.

  

  Even dry items are smoothed with steaming.

  With steaming, dry things are well smoothed, as well as things for which contact with the hot sole of the iron is undesirable. For such a procedure, you need an iron with a steaming function, most often you can set manual and continuous steam. This method is indispensable for woolen products with artificial thread and for all delicate fabrics.

• Vertical steaming with special devices.

  

  It is very easy to flatten the garment using vertical steaming

  This is ironing a thing using a steam generator or an iron with a vertical steaming function. It is very convenient to iron bulky things in this way, for example, curtains, or outerwear.

• Vertical steaming with steam without special devices. Such a procedure can be carried out, for example, if the electricity is turned off, and the ironed thing is needed immediately. For this, a bathroom with an included hot shower or a hot tub is enough. This steam will help smooth out wrinkles on any item.

The main disadvantage of using steam generators is their cost, so an iron is often used at home.

Cons of ironing:

• the risk of spoiling the fabric under the influence of high temperatures;
• the duration and complexity of the process.

We organize the ironing process competently

Before starting the ironing process itself, you need to properly organize the workplace.

• First of all, you should be comfortable and light. Therefore, if you are right-handed, then the iron and socket should be on the right, and the window or main light on the left. For a left-handed person, the opposite is true - the light is on the right, and the iron with an outlet is on the left.
• The ironing board or other ironing surface must be stable. If ironing on a table, place a cotton blanket or sheet folded several times on it.
• If you plan to iron with humidification or steaming, take care in advance to place a container of water near your work area.
• Also, think in advance where you will put the already ironed things in order to optimize and speed up the process.

Safety precautions when working with an iron

First, let's remember what are the dangers when working with an iron at home.

1. Burn. A burn can be obtained on a hot iron soleplate or when working with steam.
2. Fire. A fire can be started if the iron is left on unattended.
3. Electric shock. There is a risk of electric shock if you have not checked the appliance in advance. You can also get an electric shock when you turn on and off the plug with wet hands.

To prevent the above risks, we strongly recommend that you observe the following safety precautions:

1. Before starting work, check the health of your iron: the plug and the insulation of the appliance require attention.
2. If the appliance is in good working order, connect the iron to the mains only with dry hands to avoid electric shock.
3. When ironing, make sure that the cord does not touch the hot soleplate of the iron.
4. To avoid burns to your hands, do not touch the working surface of the iron and do not wet things too much.
5. To exclude the possibility of fire, do not leave the appliance plugged in unattended.
6. Switch off the iron from the network only by the plug; it is absolutely impossible to pull the plug out of the socket by the cord.

We iron things with an iron correctly

There are several general rules for ironing things that are best followed in order to get a good result.

1. Examine the soleplate carefully, it must be clean!

2. Before starting to work with the iron, read the recommendations of the manufacturer of the item you are ironing about the ironing method and the optimal temperature. This information is usually found on internal clothing tags. Based on the instructions received, proceed to the main work.

   

   We carefully study the manufacturer's information on the item tags

3. If you are ironing a thing for the first time and you do not have information from the manufacturer, select the least noticeable part of the product for the experiment, for example, a fold of the fabric from the wrong side.
4. Place the item flat on the board. Do not stretch the garment during ironing.

5. Run the iron along the lengthwise and crosswise threads to avoid uneven stretching of the fabric. Products cut along an oblique thread are also ironed in the direction of the lobar and transverse. If you can't figure out where the threads are, then just try to pull the thing slightly in different directions. The garment is stretched minimally along the lobar and transverse threads and maximally along the oblique.

   

   We iron things along the lobar and transverse threads to avoid deformation

6. Iron the thing from right to left, from wide to narrow.
7. For clothes that have parts of different sizes, such as shirts with collars, start ironing with small items. In the case of a shirt: first the collar, cuffs, sleeves, then the back.

Learning to iron individual parts of things

For many, the real test is the process of ironing individual parts of the product, for example, the collar and sleeves on shirts, flashlights on dresses and blouses. Let's analyze such difficult moments in order to be "fully armed" next time.

Ironing the collar of the shirt

It is very important to be able to iron the collar correctly

A well-ironed shirt collar is a guarantee of a flawless appearance of the entire product. The gate primarily catches the eye of others. Let's learn how to iron this element correctly.

Step-by-step instruction.

1. Some collars have bones that can be removed. If you didn't do this before washing, then remove them now.
2. It is better to iron the collar on a still damp shirt. If the shirt is dry, moisten the collar with a spray bottle with plain water. If your shirt is made of fabric with synthetic fibers, then it is better to blot the collar with a damp towel so that there are no splashes left on the ironed thing.
3. Place the shirt on the ironing board with the right side of the collar facing down.
4. Start ironing the collar from the center to the edges, smoothing out each fold. Pay particular attention to the extreme corners that are in plain sight. If creases are formed in the process, smooth them from top to bottom using the steaming function.
5. To end up with the collar, spray the starch solution on the seamy side and iron it again. This method is applicable only to light-colored fabrics without synthetics.
6. Flip the shirt over and iron the collar from the right side.

Ironing sleeves

When ironing a sleeve, the most important thing is the absence of a side arrow. It shouldn't be! These are the rules of fashion and modern dress code. Let's learn to iron sleeves without arrows in the simplest way.

Step-by-step instructions: iron the sleeves with an iron.

1. It is good to iron the sleeves of shirts made of natural fabrics slightly damp.

2. Place the sleeve on the front of the ironing board and first smooth the cuff on both sides.

   

   Start ironing the sleeve from the cuff

3. Next, carefully fold the sleeve so that the inner side seam is on the side.
4. Press the sleeve from the shoulder to the cuff, being careful not to touch the edges so that the side arrow does not form. Try to smooth out the wrinkles at the shoulder and cuff.

5. Now unfold the sleeve so that the side inseam is on top in the middle. Iron the seam thoroughly so that the outer part of the sleeve, where the arrow may appear, is also smoothed out.

   

   Iron the inner seam without touching the sleeve edges

6. Your sleeve is ironed.

Video: ironing a shirt correctly

Ironing the sleeve - flashlight

Smoothing a sleeve in a flashlight firm is not an easy task for a hostess

A flashlight sleeve can cause a lot of trouble for the hostess, especially if the item is made from natural materials that wrinkle when washed. During ironing, a difficult task lies ahead: to smooth out all the folds of the flashlight and return the sleeve to its original shape. The flashlight can be smoothed in the following ways:

• Using an iron, the flashlight is smoothed by placing a damp towel inside. The towel is shaped into a ball, as close as possible to the size of the flashlight. On such a soft, damp pad, the smallest folds are smoothed out with a hot iron, returning the sleeve to its former shape.

  

  Fold a damp ball-shaped towel and smooth the flashlight on it

• There is also an option with steaming the flashlight. The steam will handle even the most difficult creases with ease.
• You can try to smooth out the flashlight with a hairdryer. To do this, the still wet sleeve is blown with hot air from the inside.
• If the power goes out at home, you can try flattening the flashlight with a hot tablespoon. The spoon is preheated in water or gas and the folds are smoothed from the inside. It is better to use this method only on natural fabrics so as not to melt the synthetic material. Also, be careful, observe safety precautions, take care in advance about how you will hold the hot spoon in your hands during ironing.

Video: smoothing the flashlight sleeve

Iron through cheesecloth

Gauze serves as a good barrier against the high temperatures of the iron

Gauze is a very thin cotton fabric with a sparse weave of threads. Most often it is used for medical purposes, however, it has earned its place in the household. Gauze during ironing is a universal protective agent for delicate and shiny fabrics. When is gauze used?

Gauze is used when ironing dark items, the fabric of which, in contact with the sole of the iron, begins to shine (shine). To avoid such a nuisance, it is recommended to iron things through cheesecloth.

There are very thin synthetic fabrics like chiffon. They are afraid of high temperatures. There are iron models with a minimum heating temperature of 100 degrees, and it is recommended to iron chiffon at 60 degrees. In this case, gauze helps out. It acts as a barrier to high temperatures.

Highlights when working with an iron through gauze.

• If the fabric is dry, then the gauze is soaked; otherwise, the gauze is put dry.
• Strong creases are successfully steamed through gauze. To do this, put cheesecloth in place of the crease and steam it off with an iron, holding it in weight.
• To give a more saturated color, the gauze is moistened with a vinegar solution. However, do not overdo it so that the sour aroma does not haunt you all day.
• Moving on to the next element, be sure to check how the part of the fabric under the gauze was ironed off.

Iron through a special ironing net

The special ironing net is heat resistant and versatile to use

A special ironing net is available at hardware stores. We can say that this is an improved version of gauze. The main characteristics of the mesh are as follows:

• The mesh is made of heat-resistant material, capable of withstanding temperatures up to 200 degrees.
• It does not allow the contact of the thing with the sole of the iron, but it allows heat and steam to pass well.
• It is universal in use, through it you can smooth any, even the most capricious and delicate materials.
• Prevents shine on shiny fabrics.
• Has an unlimited service life.

Of the minuses: sometimes runs away for the iron, slides off the ironing board.

The only significant difference from gauze is the inability to wet it. Therefore, dry clothes made from natural materials will need to be ironed with an iron with a steaming function.

How to iron things so that there is no shine

If shiny spots appear on the ironed item, this indicates that the hot iron has damaged the surface of the material. There are several ways to prevent such troubles in the future:

• Iron things through cheesecloth or a special mesh;
• Iron things from the wrong side;
• Moisten the item with the vinegar solution. It will prevent the appearance of shiny stains during ironing.

Video: removing glossy stains on fabric, ironing with an iron without shine

Ironing curtains without removing from the eaves

To iron the curtains without removing them from the eaves, vertical steaming will help us

You can use the steaming method to smooth out and refresh the curtains without removing them from the eaves. To do this, you need one of the following devices:

• iron with vertical steaming function;
• Hand steamer;
• steam generator with a long hose.

It is convenient for the first two devices to smooth out local folds, and not the entire curtain.

In order to smooth the curtain over the entire area in a hanging position, the third option is best suited - a steam generator with a long hose. With it you can reach the uppermost folds on the curtain.

The disadvantage of this method is the cost of the steam generator itself.

The sequence of actions for smoothing hanging curtains:

1. We study the manufacturer's information and find out the minimum ironing temperature of our curtain, depending on the type of fabric.
2. Steam the curtain with a steam generator from top to bottom, slightly pulling the material. If your curtain is made of a very delicate material, be careful not to tear it when pulling.

Ironing the embroidery

To iron the embroidery correctly, you need to take into account many nuances.

This question is very relevant for needlewomen. It seems that the most important stage of creating a canvas is behind, but there are still insidious washing and ironing ahead. You need to iron the embroidery to make it look perfect. However, there are many things to consider in this process.

The simplest thing is to steam the finished, dry, washed product. Those who do not have this opportunity will have to iron it with an iron.

Highlights when ironing embroidery with an iron:

• Examine all the materials that make up your embroidery. Select the minimum ironing temperature for the fabric based on the composition of the materials.
• Embroidery is a voluminous work. In order not to lose volume in the process, you need to iron on a soft base.
• Place the embroidery right side down and iron the wrong side of the embroidery.
• If there is a need to iron the work from the front side, then iron through cheesecloth, a special mesh or cambric. This is done to ensure that the work is not glazed. It is best to secure the linen with the pins on the ironing board to avoid accidental creases in the process.

How to iron, depending on the type of embroidery:

• The cross stitch is ironed slightly damp from the seamy side on a soft base diagonally to maintain the original pattern;
• Silk embroidery is ironed only dry.
• Mouline threads are ironed on both sides to maintain the structure of the pattern.
• In beadwork, you can iron sections of fabric free from beads. However, it is better to steam the garment through a towel with an iron, keeping it at a distance.

Things that cannot be ironed

Such a sign on the tag indicates that your item cannot be ironed.

The manufacturer must inform you that the thing must not be ironed. This is necessarily reflected on the inner liner of the product. Usually you cannot iron ties, velvet and corduroy items, items made of delicate synthetic materials, outerwear. In this case, the following methods will come to your aid:

• Steaming method. This can be an iron, a steam generator, steam in the bathroom, or from a boiling kettle.
• A wrinkle-smoothing vinegar solution. In this case, mix equal parts water and vinegar and spray onto the product. There will be no stains and creases will be smoothed out.
• Terry towel. This method applies equally to drying and ironing. The washed woolen items are dried on terry towels. The wool product is neatly laid out on a towel, as it dries, no folds remain on it. An already dried woolen thing will only have to be transferred to a hanger.
• Glass three-liter jar with hot water. This is how ties are smoothed. The jar is wrapped with a tie and fixed for some time in this position.

Important nuances when ironing various things

The type of fabric plays a decisive role in choosing the right way to iron things. Let's take a look at the features of ironing various fabrics.

• The satin is ironed wet from the wrong side on the “silk” mode, the temperature is 140-150 degrees. We try not to stop the iron in place for more than 2 seconds, so as not to damage the delicate material.

  

  Iron the satin at low temperatures from the inside out without stopping the iron

• Silk is ironed similarly to satin, the main thing is to wet it evenly so that water drops do not remain on the dry product.
• Cotton and linen are natural fabrics, they are ironed at maximum temperatures up to 200 degrees. It is easier to smooth a cotton item that is not yet completely dry.
• The viscose is smoothed from the inside out through cheesecloth, trying not to linger for a long time in one area.

• Organza is ironed on a firm base, for example, on a towel, through cheesecloth or tissue paper. The temperature regime on the iron is set to the lowest so as not to leave yellow spots on thin fabric.

  

  Iron organza at the lowest temperature through a paper sheet

• The chiffon is ironed from the inside out through a sheet of paper at the lowest temperature of 60-120 degrees. Chiffon should not be moistened through a spray bottle and steamed, as it will leave dark spots from water drops. You can moisten the fabric with a damp towel.

  

  Chiffon is ironed with a dry iron without steaming and moisturizing

• Wool is ironed dry from the inside out through gauze with steaming.
• Fleece fabrics are ironed on a soft base with steaming without pressure. There is also a rolling pin to smooth the fabric between two towels.
• Velvet is a very moody material. Its contact with the soleplate is very undesirable. You can steam out small wrinkled areas. The velvet is ironed on the weight from the inside out through gauze in the direction of the pile. Velor things are ironed in the same way.
• Fake fur is steamed with an iron through gauze with light movements and comb in the direction of the pile.
• Cashmere is ironed from the wrong side through cheesecloth with steaming.
• Suede is smoothed from the seamy side through a silk fabric at a minimum temperature.

There are peculiarities when smoothing things of different types. The highlights are below.

• T-shirts and T-shirts. If the T-shirt or T-shirt is light and has no print, it can be ironed from the front side at the optimum temperature depending on the type of fabric. Smooth dark T-shirts and T-shirts with prints from the seamy side to avoid unnecessary shine and spoil the print. While ironing the printed T-shirt, insert a piece of paper between the design and the back. This is necessary so that, under the influence of high temperatures, the print does not accidentally stick to the back fabric.
• Shirts and blouses are ironed in a certain sequence: from smallest to largest. Start at the collar, after the cuffs, sleeves, front planks and back.
• Trousers with arrows are ironed only through wet gauze or special mesh. Start from the seamy side from top to bottom. The arrows are smoothed out from the front. To keep the arrows straight and not "run away", the trousers can be fixed in the desired position with pins. To make the arrows last longer, they are treated from the inside with a piece of laundry soap along the entire length, and then ironed, moistening the material with vinegar solution. Leave the ironed trousers to cool on the board, and then hang them on special hangers to finally hang down.
• The jacket shits from the front through wet gauze. The jacket is ironed from the sleeves. To iron the sleeves, use a narrow board from an ironing board, it can be replaced with a wooden rolling pin on which a terry towel is wound. Next, the shoulders are ironed on the narrowed part of the board, then the lapels are ironed through cheesecloth without steaming. The collar is ironed last. If the fabric of the jacket has a nap, then iron it from top to bottom. In any case, always stick to one direction when ironing with the iron.
• The jeans are ironed while still wet from the seamy side, observing the recommended temperature regime. Something soft is preliminarily put in the pockets so that they do not leave marks on the front side during ironing.
• The skirts are ironed depending on the material of the product. Bias cut is ironed along the lobar and transverse threads to avoid pulling. In a pleated skirt, all the folds are stitched with thread before washing and washed in a stocking. If ironing is needed after drying, then iron it through gauze from the wrong side, without loosening the seams that hold the folds together. Knitted skirts are ironed through gauze folded in two layers.
• The woolen coat is ironed still underdried from the inside out at a mode of no more than 100 degrees. The seams should be ironed very carefully. Iron lapels and collars with steaming or through damp gauze. If, after ironing the wrong side, you still need to walk along the front side, then you can iron only through gauze. Iron the coat with a long pile in the direction of the pile. Smooth the short pile from the bottom up.
• Down jackets are smoothed from the seamy side without strong pressure. If, after such a procedure, the material of the top has not smoothed out, then we continue to iron the outer fabric through gauze.
• Bed linen is ironed folded to the size of an ironing board, gradually unrolling and ironing all areas. It is better to iron the laundry while still damp without steaming on the front side. Iron the duvet cover from the corners. During ironing, the linen is completely dried or waited for the linen to dry completely before putting the linen on the shelf.
• Lingerie for newborns must be ironed on both sides. This process disinfects the material in contact with the body and the baby's unhealed navel.
• For scarves, napkins, towels, tablecloths, the edges are first smoothed.

Ironing is not an easy task. However, all skills come with experience. Try to iron things according to the rules: always take an interest in the manufacturer's information, experiment on material samples (if any) and keep the instrument clean and in good working order. Remember that there are other ways to deal with wrinkles in clothes besides ironing. Be attentive to your things and they will serve you for a long time!