Ironing Tips

Ironing is one of those thankless household chores that must be done. That is if you want to wear clothes that are not all wrinkled. Now there is a proper way to iron so you can get the best results. This hub has some tips for ironing clothes.

1. Check the tag. It should say if it can be ironed and also tell you what setting to use on the iron.

2. Fill the iron's water reservoir (if it has one) with rainwater or distilled water to minimize mineral buildup on the iron and on the clothes. If you want to add a pleasant scent to your clothes, soak a few sprigs of lavender into the water before you put it into the iron.

3. Set the iron on the right setting. Plug it in and let it sit upright. Wait until it heats up. Many irons have a little light that will light up to show the iron is heating up. It will go out when the iron has reached the right temperature.

4. Place a piece of aluminum foil on the ironing board. The foil will heat up so that it's almost like ironing the garment from both sides at the same time. You can also purchase a silver ironing board cover that accomplishes the same task.

5. Put the piece of clothing on the ironing board. Put it wrong side out (so that the side that touches the iron is the same side that touches your body). If the fabric is cotton or silky rayon, put the right side out instead.

6. Spray starch. This is optional, but will make your clothes feel more "crisp". You can make your own starch spray by completely dissolving one tablespoon of cornstarch in two cups of water. Put this solution into a clean spray bottle and lightly mist the fabric right before you iron on that spot.

7. Start ironing. Always keep the iron moving; never let it sit still over any part of the garment. If there's a stubborn wrinkle that refuses to iron out, spray some water on it and iron over with steam. Begin at the big areas and finish with the corners. Once you iron a section, move the garment away from you. If you move it towards you, it may wrinkle as you lean over it and possibly push it against the ironing board.

8. Turn the fabric over and iron the right side. This will ensure that the right side is immaculate and any creases you accidentally create are ironed to the back, where it matters less. However, ironing both sides is optimal. If you used the aluminum foil as outlined earlier, you may not need to iron the other side. Cotton and silky rayon shouldn't be ironed on the wrong side at all. Polyester can be ironed on either or both sides; if in doubt, iron the wrong side and stop there. For delicate fabrics or those with vibrant colors you'd like to preserve, try to get all the wrinkles out by ironing the wrong side (ironing on the right side can give dark colors an unwanted sheen).

9. Hang or fold the garment immediately after ironing. Don't forget to turn off the iron and empty the water out. Leaving water in the iron for extended periods of time can cause rust to form inside. That rusty water can shoot out with the steam next time and stain your clothing.