How To Iron Just About Anything

By Shiloah Baker
 

As a child, I used to loathe the time that I had to spend ironing.  It was mostly my chore, as I was the oldest.  I give my mother credit for all the homemaking skills that she taught me, and made me practice.  I hope that I can help you learn to iron as I give you instructions today.

The first thing you need is to check the tag and find out any ironing instructions or the type of fabric it is.  Set your iron to the fabric setting on the iron for the right temperature.  Make sure that you have a sturdy ironing board.

When ironing cotton or other stubborn fabrics to iron, keep a spray bottle of water handy to spritz here and there.

Shirts

This is just a basic, button up blouse/men's shirt.  Using the back side of the ironing board (the widest), lay the shirt over, pulling to straighten.  Start with one side next to a sleeve and work to the other side.  Iron going backwards and slowly.  If there is a tuck in the back of the shirt, make sure you have it folded right and carefully press.

When you are done with the back, stay on the same side of the board and bring the front.  Gently and neatly put one side of the front on the board.  Smooth all possible wrinkles out.  Do pockets first.  Press neatly.  Make sure when pressing the buttons or the button holes, that you go slowly and press firmly to make straight.  Do the sleeve cuff next.  Go to the other side of the board (the narrow side) and open the sleeve cuffs.  Slide them over the board and press firmly and slowly move across the sleeve cuff. 

Last is the collar.  Do this just like the sleeve cuff.

Slacks, Pants, and Jeans

*If doing jeans, put on the highest setting. 
*Too much ironing on jeans will wear them out faster...iron these selectively.

First, take the jeans in hand, upside-down.  Match seams.  Lay first leg down on the ironing board with the seams down the center of the leg.  Smooth neatly.  Start at the bottom and firmly press and move up the pant leg slowly.   Stop when you reach the top of the pockets.

Do the other leg in the same fashion.

For the top, open them up and place over the narrow side of the ironing board.  I generally like to start from one side of the zipper fly and move all the way around to the other side.   

When ironing pleats, make sure each pleat is folded neatly.  Using mostly the tip of the iron, start at the top of the pleat and tip the iron so the rest are not getting ironed.  Slowly iron that pleat from the top down till it stops.  Do each pleat in the same fashion.  When finished, pull the pleats up, shake them loose a little and place on the board to iron our any extra pleat you may have ironed into them.

Pockets front, side or back, need a little extra pressing and steam.  Don't leave too long or you will burn them!

Dresses

Start at the top.  Open the neck and slip over the narrow part of the board.  Iron the front carefully.   Turn to the side.  Skip the sleeves and just iron under the sleeves.  Turn; iron the first back side.  Turn; iron the last part.  Turn; iron just under the sleeves. 

Next iron the sleeves.  Pull the dress off the board.  Lay the dress on the board so that it doesn't fall off when you try to iron such a small part of the dress.  Pull the sleeves up to the narrow side.  Pulling over the tip of the board and making sure not to add more wrinkles, iron the sleeve.   Do the next in the same fashion.

Next iron the collar.  If you don't have one, skip this step.  Hang the collar piece over the narrow section of the board and press.

Now for the rest of the dress.  Use the narrow section of the board.  Pull the skirt over the board until you reach the seam.  Let the seam hang over the board so that you have a flat piece of fabric.  Iron from top to bottom.  Repeat and turn until you have ironed the entire skirt.

Ironing Other Things

If you like pressed T-shirts, make sure you turn them inside out so you won't ruin the designs on the front or back.

Related Articles: Basics On Iron Care

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