How to Make Ironing Easier
You'd be hard pressed to find a person who actually enjoys ironing as a leisure activity. For most of us, it's just one of the things we have to do. If you really dislike ironing, or if you're spending a small fortune at the dry cleaners to have your garments pressed, take heart. There are several tricks you can implement while ironing to make the chore much less difficult. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Easier ironing actually begins with the washing machine and dryer. Don't overload either machine, because doing so causes clothes to bunch and twist, which results in more difficult wrinkles that you'll have to iron out.
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Don't dry your clothes completely. Pull your clothes from the dryer when they're slightly damp. The wrinkles won't have time to set in and the dampness makes the fabric iron more easily.
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Use your iron just for touch ups, if that's all that's needed. Sometimes only the cuffs and collars of shirts need ironing. Look at the garment and iron only where it's necessary for it to look good.
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Sort the clothes in your ironing pile by the temperature setting on which they need to be ironed. Start with the lowest heat settings and then move up. If you start with the highest heat you'll run the risk of ironing too soon and scorching something.
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Iron the smallest parts of the garment first. Start with the collar and cuffs, then do the sleeves and lastly the body. This prevents wrinkling the garment as you iron.
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Iron garments lengthwise. Do not iron in a circular motion. This can stretch the fabric out of shape.
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Use spray starch on items that need a crisp finish. Use just a small amount of starch, as too much can flake.
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Tips & Warnings
If a garment is hopelessly wrinkled, try tossing it into the dryer on low or no heat -- depending on fabric care -- with a damp hand or bath towel.
Do not iron over a stain on a fabric until you've tried to get it out. Ironing a stain can set it in permanently.
References
- Photo Credit Pixland/Pixland/Getty Images
