How to Maintain a Pleated Skirt

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Take the proper steps to care for your pleated skirt.

A pleated skirt is a classic sartorial item that remains in style every season; whether for a fancy night out or to wear to work with a suit jacket, it is a wardrobe staple that every woman should own. In addition to being stylish, they are suitable for all body shapes and sizes since the skirts come in different lengths and designs; however, the style of the pleats will remain the same. The trick to keeping the skirt looking new is maintaining the individual pleats, which are prefolded into the fabric. Know the correct way to keep the pleats looking fantastic so your skirt is trendy year after year.

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Things You'll Need

  • Skirt hanger

  • Paper clips

  • Iron

Step 1

Read through the manufacturer's label for specific instructions about caring for your pleated skirt. Unless the manufacturer states that the item must be dry cleaned, you can toss it in the washing machine. Set the temperature for cold water to avoid shrinking and wash it on a normal setting with like colors.

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Step 2

Remove the skirt and hang it up to dry. The pleats will naturally fall into place; wait for the skirt to dry completely before continuing.

Step 3

Lay the skirt on an ironing board and arrange the pleats. Iron over the existing pleat line to regain the original appearance; to do this, clip each pleat with a paper clip. As you iron, move the paperclip so you do not iron over the metal.

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Step 4

Set the iron to the hottest steam setting. Starting from the waistband, press the iron downward onto the pleats, hold it for five seconds and then pull upward. Move down the pleats and repeat, pressing down, holding for five seconds and lifting. Work your way down one section of pleats at a time; when you reach the paperclips, move them upward or further down; do not iron over them. Repeat lifting and pressing throughout the entire skirt.

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Step 5

Hang the skirt up immediately and remove the paperclips. Once the skirt cools completely, hang it in your closet to prevent further wrinkling.

Tip

Garments with tags that indicate that they are "dry clean only" should not be washed.

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