How to Get The Most Out Of Your Ironing Efforts

Use these tips to make ironing a simple, success-for-your-efforts chore.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Iron
• Ironing Board
• Clothing/Linens
• Water
• Cornstarch
• Dry towel
• Aluminum Foil

1. Before you even start to iron, you can make the job easier from your washer. If you are washing cottons or linens, add 2 tbls of cornstarch, dissolved in a cup of water, to the rinse cycle and allow the wash to proceed. This will strengthen the fabric and eliminate the need for spray starch.

2. Remove clothing to be ironed from the dryer while still slightly damp. This will create the best atmosphere for ironing as well as save you time and money with limited use of your dryer.

3. Create a comfortable ironing area. A strong ironing board set at waist height, a clean iron, water near by for refilling, a comfortable pad or carpet to stand on and, tunes, your favorite, help the chore along.

4. Read the label on the clothing/linen to be ironed for fabric content. Group clothing/linens by content. Most irons have gauges for heat settings by fabric. Start ironing with the coldest setting and work your way to the heat. In general, synthetics require low heat; wool, silk at medium; and cotton, linen on high.

5. Iron with up and down strokes, following the line of the clothing. Circular or zig-zag can stretch or damage the fabric.
   For knits or heavy wools, press and lift the iron to get wrinkles out and not stretch the knitting.

6. To set a crease, use the steam function of your iron. Steam works on low settings as well as high; though you may have to hold the iron in place a bit longer with lower settings.

7. 

   Embroidered monograms or stitched designs look best when standing up and away from the fabric. To create this affect, place the monogrammed portion upside-down on a towel and iron from the back. Remove towel and turn the fabric over. Iron around the stitching or design.

8. To get wrinkles out of fabric that cannot take direct heat (silk for example), wrap the ironing board with a piece of foil and lay the fabric over it. Keeping the iron three to four inches over the fabric, press the steam button down and swipe the iron over the fabric. The steam will radiate up from the foil and smooth out wrinkles.

9. 

   Hang ironed clothing on hangers for at least five (5) minutes prior to folding, wearing or storing. This allows creases and smooth edges to set.

Tips & Warnings

• DO NOT use the cornstarch in the rinse cycle if you plan to store the clothing/linens washed. Insects are attracted to the cornstarch and could ruin things.