How to iron things correctly

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Thanks to the development of technology, ironing things has become easier than ever. However, it is important not only to iron thoughtlessly, but also to do it correctly in order to save not only time and effort, but also not to ruin your clothes. In addition, there are many tricks with which you can extend the lifespan of things and even return a decent look to clothes that are not new.

Where to begin?

First, you should consider the tag on things and find out the required temperature regime, which depends on the composition of the fabric. Linen products are ironed at a temperature of 190-230 ° C; cotton - 165-190 ° C; woolen - 140-165 ° C; from natural silk - 115-140 ° С; viscose - 85-115 ° C.

It is important to position the ironing board conveniently so that the light falls from the left side (if you are right-handed), and the cord does not get in the way. If there is no special board, then you can use the table by covering it with a blanket.

Correct ironing technology

It is necessary to iron from right to left, starting from the wide part of the thing towards the narrow one. You should run the iron in a straight thread along and across the fabric, otherwise it may be pulled unevenly. Oblique garments are also ironed on a shared thread.

Do not pull on the fabric when ironing. The thing must be laid out evenly, as it should look in finished form. First of all, small details are ironed: sleeves, collars, cuffs, pockets, embroidery, lace. Dark fabrics are always ironed from the inside out.

Dresses and skirts

For a skirt or dress, first iron the upper part (neckline, collar, shoulders) and only then the hem. Iron at first across, and then along the product, straightening the formed folds with the tip of the iron. In all ladies' garments, the vertical darts are ironed to the middle and the chest darts are pressed down.

Iron at first across, and then along the product, straightening the formed folds with the tip of the iron.

To prevent seams and darts from printing on the fabric when ironing the dress, you must first iron the entire dress, and then bring the iron under the allowance and carefully smooth out the remaining marks. For thick fabrics, the hem should be ironed carefully, without stretching the fabric, ironing out the fold line and only slightly steaming the hem.

So that skirts and dresses with pleats and pleats do not lose their shape, before washing with a thin thread, the edges of all folds are swept with large free stitches, things are dried on a hanger, well straightening and pulling the folds in the right direction. With this preparation, ironing the folds is not difficult.

Classic suits

It is recommended to iron classic suits through damp gauze so that the fabric does not shine

Blazers and jackets begin to iron from the sleeves, and first iron their lining, for which they use an additional small board. After that, the top of the jacket and the floors are ironed round from side to side, then the collar, back and, finally, the lining. Last of all, the sides are ironed out. However, the jacket does not need to be ironed if you hang it over a basin of steam and let it hang down.

Trousers need to be ironed quite often, since they quickly lose the line of the forward arrow from wear. Ironing starts from the wrong side - from the seams and pockets. Each leg iron separately - from the bottom up, firmly pressing the edges with an iron, first from the side of the step, and then the side seams. After that, the belt is ironed from the face and the wrong side. To keep the arrows longer, you need to rub them with soap from the inside, and from the outside, iron them through cheesecloth dipped in vinegar.

Men's shirts

The shirt should be moderately damp and the iron well heated for the most effective ironing.

When ironing the cuffs, be sure to unfasten them, straighten them on an ironing board and iron them on both sides.

They begin ironing from the collar, straightening it well and ironing it first from the inside, and then from the outside. When ironing the cuffs, be sure to unfasten them, straighten them on an ironing board and iron them on both sides.

Then you can go to the sleeves using a special small board. In conclusion, the shirt floors and back are ironed, paying special attention to buttons and openings, ironing them carefully.

Jerseys

After washing and ironing, knitwear can lose its shape, so such clothes are ironed from the inside out, while they are slightly damp. You should not actively drive the iron over the clothes - it is better to just carefully apply it to the fabric in succession. It is advised to lay the ironed item on the ironing board and give it time to dry and cool.

Cotton linens, tablecloths and towels

It is also better to iron cotton linen damp, spraying it with hot water: overdried laundry absorbs cold water worse. The damp laundry is rolled up and left to rest for a short period of time to evenly moisturize and only then ironed.

To return things to their original shape, broken by washing, they are aligned by pulling on the ends. Large items (duvet covers, sheets, tablecloths) are folded in four and ironed each part separately. Bed linen is ironed from the front side and only embroidered areas - from the wrong side. When ironing handkerchiefs, napkins, towels, tablecloths, first smooth the edges, and then the middle.

Silk and wool products

After washing, it is recommended not to hang silk products on a rope, but to wrap them in a dry terry towel. Silk items are ironed slightly damp, but you should not splash on them, otherwise water stains will appear. It is best to wrap the garment briefly in a wet cloth. Silk is best ironed on the wrong side with a moderately heated iron through a thin fabric. However, light-colored silks are best ironed from the front side.

Silk is best ironed on the wrong side with a moderately heated iron through a thin fabric.

Wool shrinks easily, so it is ironed only through a damp cloth from the wrong side at a temperature of 150-165 ° C. If, nevertheless, it is necessary to iron from the front side, then in order to avoid the appearance of shine, make sure that the fabric is sufficiently damp and the iron is hot. Wool products are ironed, rearranging it from place to place. This method saves the thing from deformation.

Some woolen items do not need to be ironed. It is enough to hang them on a hanger above a bathtub filled with hot water. If woolen things shrink during washing, they are moistened by spraying with water, allowed to lie down and ironed through a rag, stretching to the desired size. But after ironing, you cannot leave such a thing wet, otherwise it may sit down again.

Fleecy fabrics

Long-pile fabrics, camel wool, velor, soft drapes should be ironed from the inside out and done on a soft surface without strong pressure. It is best to iron such products with steam and without final ironing through a dry cloth.

You should never iron velvet, otherwise you may damage its surface. It is better to hold the item over a boiling kettle and straighten it so that the wrinkles disappear.

Especially delicate products

Lace before ironing should be starch and ironed with the tip of the iron, trying not to wrinkle the edges. Often, before washing, lace products are sewn with large stitches to a piece of white fabric and then ironed along with it. This makes it easier to work and allows the pattern to appear more prominently.

But it is not recommended to iron ties at all.

When ironing lace, it is important to know what threads are in the fabric. Openwork items made of cotton threads are ironed from the wrong side through a wet fabric. Do not forget that synthetic lace is afraid of a hot iron. Thin silk linen is kept washed but not ironed.

But it is not recommended to iron ties at all. You can freshen and straighten them by wrapping a jar of very hot water with an untied tie.

Synthetic things

When ironing synthetic items, it is important to follow the temperature regime indicated on the product label and not keep the iron in one place for a long time. Otherwise, flashes may appear, which are invisible at first, but then appear in the form of spots.

Shaping the product

To make pockets and edges of products denser and more collected, they should be ironed with pressing - align their edges, cover with a damp cloth and leave the iron on them for two to three seconds. Then cover with a dry cloth and press until completely dry.

If the seam needs to be pulled out, then it is covered with a damp cloth, carefully pulled and straightened with the left hand, and the iron is carried out with the right hand.

If it is necessary, on the contrary, to cut the elongated seam, it is ironed at a very high temperature through a damp cloth, pressing the iron from time to time and letting the steam soak all the fabric. Continue this until the fabric is completely dry.

Take care of your iron and ironing board

The soiled iron soleplate can be cleaned with vinegar diluted in water or special products, but cannot be scraped with a knife.

To prevent the appearance of limescale, you need to fill the iron not with tap water, but with distilled or filtered water.

If you put a sheet of foil under the upholstery of your ironing board, it will reflect and save heat.

To clean the steam iron, pour in the steam chamber in equal proportions of vinegar and water, evaporate the mixture and leave for 5 minutes. After cooling, as soon as the water is poured out, the scale particles will get wet and fall off.

You can extend the life of your ironing board by spraying it with a starch spray and ironing it with a hot iron. And if you put a sheet of foil under the upholstery of the ironing board, it will reflect and save heat.

Little tricks

If things are neatly dried and folded, then ironing will be much easier.

In no case should you iron stained clothes, otherwise it will be very difficult or even impossible to remove them.

Metallic threads in fabrics withstand only very slight heat and do not tolerate moisture: they lose their luster and become dull. You also need to be careful with the buttons, because touching them with an iron can melt the fastener and ruin the whole thing.

If at ironing shiny stripes have appeared on the fabric, they are moistened with water and the glazed area is ironed through a dry cloth.

You can add luxury to your clothes by using a scented spray.

Ironed things should not be put on or put in the closet right away, but it is better to let them cool for about a couple of hours - this will save them from deformation and jamming.