How to Quickly Iron a Shirt

Ironing is no fun, but this article shows you how to get a crisp shirt within a minute or two.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Steam Iron
• hip height ironing board
• cotton, linen or silk shirt
• filtered or distilled water
• optional: starch or similar product

1. Use an ironing board! Beds & towels on the floor just don't cut it!
   Turn the iron on steam high (set the dial to your fabric).
   If your shirt can't take the heat, it probably doesn't need to be ironed anyway - try to dampen it and get rid of the wrinkles with your clothes dryer.

2. Collar. You might want to start at the outer middle to test the iron first. Collars are fast - just press the points, run the iron along the collar and go. I usually don't bother unbuttoning the points.

3. Sleeves. Pick up the shirt and smooth a sleeve down on the board. Quickly pass the iron up & down the sleeve, firmly setting the creases and cuff pleats. Do the same to the other sleeve; don't worry if it's front or back, the iron will do the work through both fabrics.

4. Body. Pick up the shirt and lay it with the right side down on the board, INSIDE of fabric FACING YOU. Top of the shirt is at the narrow end of the board. Iron top to bottom, quickly but firmly.
   If you have pleats, tug above them with your left hand as you iron so they fall where they should.

5. Rotate the shirt toward you so the right ironed side is hanging over the board. Iron the back top to bottom, working the iron up into the corners, handle the pleats as in step 3.

6. Rotate the shirt for the final time and iron the left side.

7. Hang. If you're not going to put it on and wear it, then hang it properly. Button the top button and the third or fourth button down, so it stays properly on your hangar in the closet when it's squished with your other clothes.

Tips & Warnings

• If this has taken more than 1-2 minutes, you're moving too slowly! The iron is your tool, you don't need a lot of muscle power.
• The best trick in this is ironing the shirt inside out. You won't re-wrinkle it as you're ironing it, because the fabric lays better on the board that way.
• I rarely use Magic Sizing or starch, only with linen. Steam is enough for most cotton and silks, or if it's not, you probably should use the drycleaners for those shirts.
• This method works well for Medium and Small shirts. You may need to iron the shoulder area in a separate step for larger shirts. (Did you know that's what the end of the ironing board is for?)
• Don't let the water sit for months in the iron - the next time you use it it'll spit water stains on your shirt and you won't be happy.
• If the iron is dirty, don't use it!! Try to clean it up with a metal scouring pad. If it's from melted polyester or assorted man made fabrics, good luck- the surface will be tough to clean.
• If you're afraid you'll stain or burn the shirt, then start at the back of the collar or the bottom of the shirt and test it first.