How to Steam Press a Dress Suit
The advent of the home steam press means you can press and clean your own dress suits easily and affordably. With a home steam press costing between $100 and $300, the item will quickly pay for itself. You can also do jobs that may have normally required a regular iron in a fraction of the time. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Turn the steam press on.
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Check the press water level and fill if needed. As a general rule of thumb, keep the water tank about 1/4 full at all times.
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Adjust the temperature dial to the setting corresponding to your fabric type. If your suit is wool, use the "wool" setting, if cotton use the "cotton" setting, and so on. When the indicator light comes on, the press is ready for use.
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Place the back of the suit jacket flat on the press. Smooth out any creases so they don't get pressed in when you lower the press top. All of it is not going to fit under the press top, so you're going to have to press the back in parts.
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Lower the press. Leave it lowered for a few seconds and then raise the press top. Repeat in the same place if all the wrinkles are not yet removed. Do the entire back before moving on.
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Move on to the sleeves. Place one sleeve on the steam press. Make sure the sleeve will be flattened with the seams on the edges, so the creases are on the seam. Lower the steam press and wait a few seconds. Repeat for the other sleeve.
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Move on to the jacket lapels. Place just the lapel portion (one side of the lapel and the front of the suit underneath it) on the steam press. If you try to steam more of the jacket (like the breast) for this step, you may get unwanted creases. Make sure the lapel will be flat on the seam. Lower the steam press and give it a few seconds more than other portions, since you will be steaming more layers of fabric than you've done before.
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Place the jacket collar open and flat on the press. Place just the portion of the collar behind the neck (since you should have gotten the rest of the "collar" with the lapel) on the narrowest part of the steam press, wait a few seconds, and check it to make sure there are no creases. Repeat if necessary.
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Press the front of the jacket. Do not press the press top down too hard, as it may leave indents where the buttons are. Watch for creasing on any of the pockets.
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Press the pants, dress or skirt, starting with the back side. If you have a pleat in the pants or skirt, make sure the pleats are laid under the steam press with the pleats in the proper position. Ensure that the leg seams are in the proper place, so they have a sharp crease. If the pants have a crease down the middle front of the pants, fold the pants in that direction, doing that crease last.
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Tips & Warnings
If you're in the market for a steam press, consider buying one with an automatic shutoff and a locking handle. These features have been highly sought after in consumer reviews.
Never leave the steam press unattended. Make sure the press is shut off when you're done, and never allow children to play near a steam press.
References
Resources
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