How to Iron

Ironing isn’t essential, but it helps your clothes look their best—some fabrics, such as cotton and linen, wrinkle very easily. Depending on your time and devotion to the task, you may even want to iron other household fabrics, such as bed sheets and hand towels.

Ironing Supplies

In addition to a steam iron, you’ll need the following supplies to iron your laundry:

Ironing board: Whether it’s a floorstanding or table model, the ironing board should be padded and have a smooth, heat-resistant cover.
Sizing: This spray-on solution helps remove wrinkles, restores body to the fabric, and forms a protective layer that repels dirt. Cotton and linen benefit most from sizing.
Starch: This spray-on solution is similar to sizing but more concentrated, leaving fabrics a bit stiffer.

Ironing Techniques

Before ironing, close any zippers and fasten any buttons, hooks, and clasps on your items. Set up the ironing board in a well-lit spot, at waist height and with its wide end facing to your right (if you’re right-handed). Fill the iron’s reservoir with water, then plug it in and choose the appropriate setting.

When ironing, use one hand to guide the iron and the other to smooth the fabric and pull it taut as you work. Iron as large an area as possible, then stand the iron on its heel while you rearrange the garment. Spray sizing or starch—particularly on stubborn spots, such as collars and cuffs—while holding the can about 6–10" from the fabric. Then run the iron over the area.

Ironing vs. Pressing

There are two general techniques that are used to get fabric smooth with a steam iron:

Ironing: This is the process of sliding the steam iron back and forth over the fabric while applying light pressure. Ironing is the more common technique.
Pressing: This entails placing the iron in one spot, then lifting it. You may choose to place a protective cloth, called a pressing cloth, over the item that you’re pressing. Pressing is recommended on more heat-sensitive items, such as men’s suits, wool, net, pile fabrics, and some silks and rayons.

Ironing Tips

Get the best ironing results by using the following tips:

To prevent shine—a common result when ironing certain fabrics—iron the garment inside out or use a pressing cloth.
Iron sleeves and pockets more easily by first stuffing them with tissue paper, a washcloth, or a sleeve board.
To iron pleats, pin them in place, then pull them taut and iron from the waist to the hem.
If a fabric is stretchy or cut on the bias (cut diagonally), iron it in the direction of the weave.
If a fabric is piled (such as velvet), hold the iron’s soleplate above the garment—don’t let it touch—and shoot it with steam only.
Iron around buttons, not on them. Buttons may crack or melt under heat or scratch the iron’s soleplate.

Iron Safety, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting

To stay safe and make sure your iron stays in good working order, do the following:

Test the soleplate first: To avoid burning a fabric, always test the soleplate’s heat before using the iron. Iron either an inconspicuous portion of the garment or a rag made of the same or similar material.
Unplug it: Keep the iron plugged in only when you’re actually using it.
Clean the iron after each use: When the iron is cool, wipe the soleplate with a damp cloth. Never use an abrasive cleaner or steel wool on the soleplate.
If starch or other residue builds up: Buy a specially designed iron cleaner, available at most home centers, or use an old toothbrush to scrub on a paste made of baking soda and water (the soleplate can withstand a low level of abrasion).
If the iron becomes clogged: First, make sure that you’re using the right type of water (tap vs. distilled)—doing so will help prevent clogs. If your iron does clog, pour white vinegar into the water reservoir and turn on the iron, letting the heated vinegar sit in the reservoir until it’s all released as steam. Iron a clean rag to make sure all of the vinegar is released. Then unplug the iron, let it cool, and rinse out the reservoir with cool water.