How to Iron: 7 Tips & Tricks

When you bring your washing in from the line or tumble dryer, remember that not every single item will need an iron. If you hang your washing well on the washing line and don’t overload the tumble dryer, this can potentially save a garment from needing to be ironed. Rather than folding items into the ironing basket, some of them can be popped straight onto a hanger and put away in the wardrobe. I find that woollen jumpers don’t need much of an iron and try to get these hung up straightaway.

Split your ironing into piles before you start. Take a look at the care labels and see what temperatures the garments need. If you are using an older iron, start by ironing the low-temperature items, such as silk, first and move up to the awkward creased items that need a higher heat last.

Always iron in a well-lit room.

Have plenty of clothes hangers to hand and a little rail or some of those over-the-door ironing hooks, so that you can hang ironed garments up right away. For those items you won’t be hanging, immediately fold them on a flat surface and put to one side, ready to go into drawers. This makes light work when it is time to put things away.

Use a good sturdy ironing board that doesn’t rock or wobble. Also make sure your board is at the right height for you.
Make sure you utilise the whole board by placing long items across the full width of the board. The thinner end of the ironing board can also be very useful: it’s particularly good for getting to the creases near armholes. Place tops over the end of the board, being careful not to stretch the fabric.

Have you ever noticed a slight sheen on dark clothes post-ironing? This is caused by the heat of the iron. A simple way to avoid this is by ironing clothes inside out wherever possible. This will help protect the appearance of your garments and keep them looking great. Other fabrics you should iron inside out are: silk, satin, linen, denim and corduroy.

If your garment looks good after being ironed on just one side, don’t bother ironing the other side. Not only will this save you time, but ironing may cause your clothes to look tired over time. Don’t do more than you have to. Avoid wiggling the iron around too much, as this may cause fabric to stretch. It may also create new creases in the fabric, which will be tough to remove.