How to Iron Dress Shirts & Pants

Iron those dress shirts and pants.

When ironing dress shirts and pants at home, a meticulous step-by-step process is needed to avoid burning and ruining the fabric. With the right tools and a proper ironing technique, even a novice can release those stubborn wrinkles in a matter of minutes. Learn how to manage this dreaded and laborious task easily.

Things You'll Need

• Iron
• Ironing board
• Starch
• Distilled water
• Clothing manufacturer's care instructions

Instructions

1. Review the clothing manufacturer's ironing and care instructions. Look for the small tag sewn into the hem of your dress shirt or attached to the inside lining of your pants. If the manufacturer recommends ironing, instead of dry cleaning and pressing, you will see a symbol in the shape of an iron with added instructions. The label will also reveal the type of fabric used in the making of the garment and the cool or warm iron settings required to press the garment.

2. Preheat the iron. Set the dial to the appropriate setting. Most irons have a series of dials used to control the amount of heat used and the steam released during ironing. Select the proper setting for cotton, rayon and wool clothing, or a combination of these materials, based on the types of fabric used to create your dress shirts and pants. To use steam to press your dress shirt, add water to the iron's internal reservoir.

3. Begin ironing your dress shirt. Drape the shirt over the back of the ironing board. Lay the collar flat and start moving the iron in small, short strokes over the shirt. Keep the iron moving quickly, from the collar to the base. Flip the shirt over and drape each side of it on the ironing board. Press the inside and the outside of the dress shirt with care, to prevent adding hard creases or burning the garment.

4. Iron the sleeves. Start at the top of the sleeve and quickly move the iron down toward the cuff. Repeat this step on the back of the sleeve. Rotate each sleeve from front to back until you remove all of the wrinkles. Apply this same process to the other sleeve. If you prefer your dress shirts lightly starched, spray a small amount of starch on each sleeve at the beginning of this step.

5. Begin ironing your pants. Grab the pants by the hem to locate the outer and inner seams on the legs. Fold the pant legs together lengthwise. Lay the pants on the ironing surface with the outer seam facing upward. Press the iron across the pants in long strokes, taking care not to leave the iron in one spot for longer than five seconds. Repeat this process on the other pant leg. Place the top of the pants on the narrowest part of the ironing board to iron the waist and pockets.

Tips & Warnings

• To use steam to iron your dress shirt, fill the reservoir with distilled water. This will prevent the inside of the iron from rusting. When the iron reaches the proper temperature, an indicator light may flash to remind you the iron is ready for use. If you are ironing your dress shirts and pants on the same day, let the iron cool for one hour between the pressing of both garments. After ironing your dress shirt and pants, immediately hang them on sturdy wooden or plastic hangers. Hanging your freshly pressed garments on wire hangers will add wrinkles instantly.

Resources

• What's the Best Way to Iron Pants?
• Ehow Video: How to Iron a Shirt