How to Military Press a Shirt

Military creases are often required law enforcement or military related job positions. You can have a dry cleaner military press your shirts but this can be costly when you need shirts pressed on a consistent basis. Learning how to do military creases on your own can save you time and money.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Ironing Board
• Iron
• Starch

1. Set up the ironing board and heat the iron to temperature according to the directions on the starch. Spray a light coat of starch on all surfaces of the shirt and wait a few minutes for it to dry.

2. Iron the shirt to get out any wrinkles and to set the starch. Don't worry about any creases yet, just get the shirt looking smooth and neat.

3. Put the front creases in first. Choose which side of the shirt you are going to do first and spray another light layer of starch. Using the pockets and the row of buttons as a guide, fold the shirt in half, and carefully line up the crease so that it goes straight from the shoulder, through the pocket and down to the hem of the shirt.

4. Press the shirt carefully to create the crease. Once the basic crease is in place, make it more pronounced by holding the iron for a few seconds along each part of the crease. Add more starch and press again if desired. Repeat steps 3-4 on the other side of the shirt front.

5. Move to the back of the shirt and spray a layer of starch. Start with the middle by folding the garment in half and carefully creating a crease from the top down to the hem. Press and then check to make sure the crease is straight and that it is in the exact middle of the shirt.

6. Create the two side creases next. Fold the shirt so that one side seam lines up with the middle crease. Carefully line up the shirt and then press. Repeat on the other side.

7. Iron the collar and sleeves. Create a crease across the top of the sleeve by laying it flat and smoothing from the bottom seam of the sleeve and then pressing it. Examine the shirt to make sure all the creases are straight and even. Press any wrinkled places as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient as you learn this skill. The first few shirts will likely take a long time to do, but soon you will be a pro.

• After you have pressed creases into the shirt a few times, the creases will begin to set making it easier to press them.

• You may be able to completely stop pressing the shirt once the creases are firmly set and don't disappear after washing.