iron Archives - Smart housewife tips

Wrinkly clothes will always make you look untidy and unprofessional, while ironed clothes make you look good and put together. No matter how pretty your dresses, shirts, or pants are, they will always look bad if you don’t iron them. Even wrinkly curtains make your room look messy. A lot of people have had their clothes ironed by their parents or maids their whole life, and once they move out, they have no idea how to do it. So, how exactly do you iron? You will need an ironing board and an iron for ironing. You have to check what temperature to set your iron to based on what fabric you are ironing. Let your iron heat up to a certain temperature and carefully iron your clothes. It is best that you turn your clothes inside out so you don’t damage them. It’s very important that you let your rug dry properly. If you don’t, the small space between the carpet padding and the floor creates a dark and moist area where mold and mildew can form. It will cause your rug to smell bad. There is more to ironing than just your technique. It is also very important what kind of iron you have. Keep reading to find out how to pick the right iron, iron properly, and save yourself some money doing it. How do you properly iron? To make sure that you will do a good job ironing, you first have to properly wash and dry your clothes. Never iron dirty clothes with stains, because the heat from the iron will likely set the stain into the fabric permanently. When setting up your ironing board, make sure that it is close enough to a power outlet so you can plug your iron in. There is also a risk of pets and children pulling the iron down if the cord of the iron is strung across a walkway. Make sure that the iron plate is clean. The build-up on your iron plate can be transferred to clean fabrics. Always start by reading the garment care label. You will find ironing guidelines written or shown with symbols there. It is best to start with the coolest recommended setting for the fabric type and then increase the temperature as needed. It will take less time for the iron to additionally warm-up than for it to cool down. If you have a few different types of fabric you need to iron, always start with the one that needs to be ironed on the coolest setting. This way you will prevent the shining of the fabric. This is especially important for dark colors, silk, rayon, linen fabric, and acetates. Most times, it is best to iron clothes while they are still slightly damp, the only exception is for fabrics that water-stain. When you have to iron pockets, shirt collars, cuffs, or hems, which are the double thickness of the fabric, iron on the inside first and then on the outside to smooth any final wrinkles. You should never iron over zippers, buttons, or any decorations. Make sure you iron fabric lengthwise to prevent stretching. There are a few common mistakes that can happen when ironing. One of them is letting your clothes overdry. Once your clothes are fully dry or over-dried, they are very hard to iron. They are resistant to reshaping, which is the whole point of ironing. If your clothes are made out of thin fabric, you can even iron them wet. Make sure you hang up your clothes right after you iron them so that they can stay wrinkle-free while drying. You should always take a few minutes to shake your clothes after they come out of the dryer. This will shorten your ironing time and prevent unnecessary wrinkles that may be hard to smooth out. Another mistake you might be doing is not using the sprayer. Most irons come with a built-in sprayer which is used to dampen clothes during ironing. If your iron doesn’t have the sprayer, you can use a plastic spray bottle filled with water, and dampen the clothing before you start ironing. The water will soften the fabric and make it easier for you to iron wrinkles. How do you iron pants? Pants are a piece of clothing that is often forgotten when ironing. Some people don’t think it’s necessary, while others feel afraid that they will ruin their pants by ironing. Nicely pressed pants will elevate your look and make you look more put together. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to iron your pants properly. Step 1: Set up your iron and ironing board. Step 2: Turn your pants inside out. Iron your pockets, laying them down flat against the board. Step 3: Iron the fly area of the pants, then move on to the seams and hem of the first leg. For a smooth, flat finish, go back and forth. Repeat everything on the other leg, and turn the pants right-side out. Step 4:Next, slip the waistband around the board’s narrow end. Make sure that the fly is facing the floor. Iron the waistband, and rotate the pants around the board as you go. Step 5: Fold the pants lengthwise to line up the legs, and lay them on the board. Flip one leg up to iron the inside of the bottom leg, working in sections to the crotch. When you’re done with the first leg, flip your pants over to iron the outside of that leg. Do this again on the other pant leg. Step 6: If you want to create a front crease on your pant legs, align inseams, and lay pants on board. Make sure you iron directly over the edges of the legs. How do you iron a shirt? There are many reasons why you should iron your shirts, other than that they will look good. When you iron your shirts instead of having them drycleaned, you can focus the washing areas on parts that need it more, which are cuffs and collar, while lightly washing other parts, like sleeves and the body of your shirt. You will save a lot of money by ironing your shirts instead of having them dry cleaned all the time. Step 1: Start by ironing the edges of the back of the collar and iron towards the middle. If you start from the middle, you could cause the fabric to gain visible creases near the collar points. Step 2: Iron your cuffs. Begin by ironing the inside of the cuffs to remove the main creases. Move from the edges to the middle. Then, using the same method, iron the outside area. Make sure you are very careful when ironing around the buttons so you don’t end up damaging them. Step 3: You should smooth out the sleeves with your hands before ironing them. Start ironing with the tip of the iron at the cuffs and work your way back to the shoulders. Then flip your sleeves and do the same thing. Step 4: You will have to be extra careful when ironing the back if your shirt has pleats. It is best that you start under the pleats before ironing on top of them. Once you’ve done that, you can iron the rest of the back. Step 5: Next, you will iron the shoulders. Put the shirt so that the narrow end of the ironing board is inside one of the sleeves. Iron the shoulders and again move from the outer edge towards the middle. Once you’re done, flip your shirt to position the other sleeve on that end of the board and iron the other shoulder. Step 6: Move on to the front of your shirt. Be very careful when you’re ironing around the buttons so you don’t damage them or make the threads go loose. When ironing the shirt pocket, move from the outside in to prevent creases. Step 7: The last step is to iron the front of your collar. Start at the edges and work your way to the middle. If you are ironing a cotton shirt, make sure you iron it while it’s still slightly damp. Iron your shirt lengthwise, not in circular motions, so that you avoid damaging the material. For shirts made out of thicker fabrics, iron both sides of the shirt for the best results. When ironing a cotton blend shirt, use low heat with steam. You can iron it inside-out or place a thin cloth between the shirt and the iron to prevent scorch marks. If you need to iron your polyester shirt, you will have to use a handkerchief or something similar to avoid any iron-to-shirt contact. That is because polyester is an extremely heat-sensitive material. Linen shirts will need to be sprayed on the side that you are ironing. Make sure you iron them inside out, to avoid a shine caused by the heat. How do you iron velvet curtains? Velvet shouldn’t be ironed, it should be steamed. Velvet fabric always has a pile or extra fibers added to the weave of the fabric and then clipped to make the lush texture. If you iron velvet, you will crush the fibers and leave a permanent imprint. If you absolutely want to iron your velvet curtains, you will need to invest in a needle board, which has metal needles mounted in a canvas backing perpendicular to the surface. Your velvet curtains are placed face down on the needle board surface when ironing to prevent flattening of the pile. The best way you can remove wrinkles on your velvet curtains is by steaming them. Hang them from a shower rod and move the steamer up and down the garment at least 1/2 inch from the fabric. Make sure you don’t hold the steamer too close or stay in one spot too long so you don’t end up damaging your curtains. Once you’re done steaming, give the fibers a light brushing with a soft-bristled clothes brush to lift the pile and remove any lint. Different kinds of irons It is very important that you chose the right iron. There are many different types of irons and they aren’t all used the same. Here are 6 main types of irons, and how to pick the best one for your needs. Basic iron The most commonly used iron is the basic clothes iron. It has a dial that lets you control the temperature according to the type of your fabric. It always has a metal soleplate. The basic clothes iron is inexpensive, and you can find it in almost any store. However, it doesn’t fit all your needs. Most people find this type of iron to be heavy, and that it lacks additional features. Steam iron Steam irons are most commonly used by dressmakers. They have a small water container that, when filled with water, allows the iron to produce steam. This iron will help you create a neater finish and a smoother press. It easily removes stubborn wrinkles. Some common features that it has are auto shut-off and retractable cord. It is quiet and easy to carry and store. Vertical steam Vertical steam is one of the newest innovations in the field of a clothes iron. Don’t let the name fool you, it can be used horizontally as well. This type of iron produces steam just like a regular steam iron but it is very good at removing wrinkles and proves to be a better alternative to the traditional method of ironing. Travel iron Travel iron is smaller and lighter than regular iron. It is compact, which makes it great for traveling. You can choose between chargeable and cordless travel irons. Deluxe iron These types of irons are the best quality irons and they include excellent steam features and easy temperature controls. They have some other features like auto shut-off and a retractable cord. They also have high-quality non-stick soleplates. These are way more expensive than regular irons, but they are worth it if you need a heavy-duty iron. Steam generator iron These irons are designed to produce large amounts of steam for longer and to make ironing easier. They are usually able to hold three times more water than a regular steam iron. Another good thing is that they are lighter than steam irons because the water tank is separated from the iron. However, they are more expensive than standard irons, often make a lot of noise, and are quite bulkier. When picking out your iron, there are a few things that you should consider. Try to figure out whether you need a dry iron or a steam iron. A steam iron can also be used as a dry iron, but a dry iron can’t be used as a steam iron. Think about how much ironing you usually do. If you iron a lot, it is better to get a high-quality iron that will last you longer and serve you better. One thing that most people don’t think about when buying iron is, if you’re left-handed, make sure your iron has a pivoting cord. Even though heavier irons feel more uncomfortable, they will make you work less hard when ironing your clothes. If you’re using a light iron, you will have to press harder in order to get rid of wrinkles. Automatic shutoff is a great feature that will turn your iron off if you forget to do it yourself. If you’re buying a steam iron or a steam generator, make sure you get one with a lot of steam holes. More holes mean that more steam will come out of your iron, and it will be easier for you to get rid of the wrinkles. Irons that have a shiny surface will glide effortlessly over fabrics, while dark gray, non-stick surfaces grip the fabric a bit more. How do I add water to my iron? If you have a steam iron, the reservoir will be located in front of it. You should look for a compartment that opens by the pointed side of the iron. Make sure you check how much water you have to add for it to work properly. If you have a steam generator iron, the water tank will be separate from your iron. Depending on the type, you will either be able to take it out or just open it. Related posts