Slashes Your Ironing Time in Half!

Some handy tips to make your ironing easier.

Cotton fabrics require a high heat setting. If the fabric is heavily wrinkled, iron it first on the back, then on the front.

Rayon can be ironed on the wrong or the right side, but for best results, iron on the right side. Iron using low heat: high heat can burn the fabric.

For heavily wrinkled clothes, dampen a towel, lay the wrinkled fabric on the towel, and iron. The steam from both sides of the fabric will remove the wrinkles faster. This technique works well on cotton shirts and denim.

Iron delicate fabrics like polyester on the wrong side Then if the iron should scorch or leave shiny spots on the fabric, it won’t show through to the front.

Use pressing cloths for delicate fabrics or fabrics with ornamentation. Lightweight towels or muslin cloth are perfect to use as pressing cloths.

Remove clothes from the dryer and iron while they are still slightly damp to eliminate excess wrinkling.

Iron seams on the wrong side first, and when ironing a shirt, iron seams first to flatten them down nicely.

When ironing hems, stop ironing just short of the hem to avoid creating a line over it.

Collars are difficult to iron. They should be ironed first on the wrong side, starting at the collar points. Work the iron in to the center point, leading with the point of the iron. Then flip over to the right side of the fabric and repeat the process. Don’t press down; instead, use the heat of the iron to glide over the fabric.

Line up sleeves and press the inside of the sleeve cuff first, letting the heat of the iron do the work. Stop the iron short of seam edges to prevent unwanted creases.

For large items such as tablecloths, don’t use the small end of the ironing board. Instead, lay the fabric (folded, if needed) across the big end of the board and press. Keep the fabric moving forward until it is ironed, then flip it over and press the other side.

A very important part of sewing is ironing properly. Whether you are ironing, pressing or steaming, always allow your fabric to cool and dry in position to “set” the press. Too many times we pick up the fabric while it is still warm. Remember the saying, “Cool remembers, warm forgets.”

Embroidery and other fabric embellishments are in this season, but how do make the garment wrinkle-free? Lay it right side down on a terry towel and press by using a burst of steam.

Fashion is in the detail this spring, but how do you iron around delicate buttons? Cover and protect the button with the bowl of a spoon while pressing the surrounding fabric.

Don’t get ruffled when trying to press gathers and frills. Iron on the inside from the outer edge toward the gathers, or hang the garment and use a vertical burst of steam.

Use rainwater or distilled water in your iron’s water reservoir as an ironing help tip to give your clothes a nicer feel.

If you are working with a garment that is extra thick, iron the inside of the garment. Then work on the outside.

If you are ironing corduroy, steam the material first. It will help to work out the wrinkles.

Progress from articles or garments needing the lowest temperature to those requiring the highest.

To prevent wrinkles, keep moving freshly ironed surfaces away from you.

To prevent collars, cuffs, and hems from puckering, iron them on the wrong side first.

Acrylic knits can stretch out of shape if moved when wet and warm. Press each section dry, and let it cool completely before moving it on the ironing board.

If you don’t have a sleeve board, insert a rolled-up towel in sleeves so they can be pressed without leaving creases. Or make your own sleeve board from a cardboard tube covered with soft fabric.

Restore a shiny look to chintz by ironing the fabric right side down on waxed paper.

To keep from giving your wash-and-wear garments a sheen when you do touch-up ironing, turn the clothing inside out and iron the wrong side.

To remove wrinkles from a tie, insert a piece of cardboard cut to fit its inside. Cover the tie with cheesecloth, and press lightly with a steam iron.

To avoid flattening embroidery or eyelets when ironing, iron them face down on a thick towel.

Hold pleats in place with paper clips when ironing. Be careful that the clips don’t snag the fabric — particularly if it has a loose weave.

The obvious problem with a clogged steam iron is that it doesn’t deliver enough steam. An even worse problem is the tendency of clogged irons to become suddenly unclogged and spew white mineral globs all over your best black suit. A clean iron speeds your pressing and protects your clothes.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to keep the steam vents from becoming clogged. Some irons use tap water; others require distilled water.

When you clean the soleplate of your iron, remove residue from the vents with a cotton swab or pipe cleaner. A sharp knife or other tool may scratch the soleplate.

Use a cloth dipped in baking soda to clean the soleplate of a slightly warm iron. Scrub starch buildup or other soil. Rinse well, taking care to clear the vents.

If your iron is sticky from pressing starched clothes, clean it by running it across a piece of aluminum foil, fine sandpaper, or paper sprinkled with salt. If your iron is plastic-coated, though, avoid salt or other abrasives.

Remove mineral deposits from the water reservoir when the steam action begins to decrease. Pour a solution of 1/3 cup white vinegar and 1/3 cup water into the water reservoir. Heat the iron, and let it steam for about three minutes. Unplug the iron, and position it, soleplate down, on a small glass dish that has been placed in a larger shallow pan. Allow the water to drain from the vents for about an hour. Drain away any remaining solution, and flush the reservoir with clear water before using the iron.

While the iron is a common household tool, very few people actually understand how to clean an iron properly. Remember to wait until the iron is cool before you begin the cleaning process. Cleaning a hot iron is not only dangerous to you, it is also ineffective. Here are a few tips that might help you learn how clean your steam iron.
If the substance stuck on the bottom of the iron is waxy, you should turn the iron onto its highest setting and run it across newspaper until the residue disappears.

If the substance is oily, then just wet a rag with ammonia. Next, just rinse the iron off with some water and the gunk should be gone.

Vinegar works as a cleaning agent for many irons. Pour some on a clean cloth, and wipe the surface of an iron throughly. If that doesn’t work, combine vinegar with baking soda. With a soft cloth, scrub the surface of the iron.

You can get rid of any build-up in the vents of the iron by taking a cotton swab or a pipe cleaner and gently sweeping the residue out of the area. If you attempt to use something of a harsher nature, like a tool or a knife, you could scratch the base of the iron, causing future problems.

To clean the reservoir of your iron, pour a solution that is one part vinegar to one part water in. Turn the iron on. Allow it to steam for about four minutes. Drain the iron for an hour, and be sure to repeat the process with clean water before you iron any clothing items.

One of the best ways to learn how to clean an iron is to prevent build-up problems in the first place. Read your manufacturer’s instruction manual carefully. It should contain a number of tips to not only prevent the steam vents from clogging, but also to prevent materials from building up on the base of your iron. Maintaining a clean iron can make the process of ironing clothes move quicker and smoother.