Nothing says unprofessional and unkempt like wrinkles all over your outfit. We’ve all been there: we pull out our outfit for the day, only to find it covered in wrinkles. But when you think of ironing, you probably think of dragging out your grandma’s huge, clunky ironing board and heavy iron. Who has the time (or storage room) for that anyway?
Ironing doesn’t have to be the time-consuming chore it once was. There are better ways! Here are some unbelievable ironing hacks to get you pressed, dressed, and out the door… quickly!
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The Blow Dryer Hack
We bet you’ve never heard of this one. Try using a blow dryer to blast away wrinkles! This is an especially helpful hack for the next time you’re in a rush or just find yourself in a hotel room or Airbnb with no iron in sight. This hack works especially well for dresses, skirts, and loose blouses made of delicate fabric.
Make sure your blow dryer is on the highest heat setting for maximum wrinkle-blasting power. For stubborn or deeper wrinkles, spray a small bit of water onto the clothing item right before blow drying. Be sure to use one of your hands to hold the bottom of the garment so the hot air can hit right on target.
The Shower Steam Hack
Steam is your best friend in releasing wrinkles from clothing. This is because of the way the steam breaks down hydrogen bonds in the fabric that are making it stick into its wrinkled position. What better place to find a bunch of steam than in your bathroom?
The next time you’re in a hurry in the morning and find that your outfit is in need of some smoothing out—take a shower! Get a nice, steamy shower going (whether you plan to actually get in it or not, it doesn’t matter) and hang your wrinkled clothing up on a hanger nearby. Be sure to close the bathroom door so the steam can fill up the entire room. After ten or twenty minutes, give the piece of clothing a few good tugs and smooth it out with your hands to help the wrinkles flatten and release.
Pro tip: this hack works especially well in combination with the blow dryer hack discussed above!
The Flat Iron Hack
In a pinch, a flat iron for hair (used for straightening and styling) can make a good stand-in for a traditional iron. Instead of straightening your hair, it’ll straighten your clothes!
Just hang the wrinkled item of clothing up on a hanger or lay it on a flat surface, then place the clothing in between the two metal plates. Use long, smooth motions as you pull the flat iron down the garment. Remember to be mindful of the heat setting that the flat iron is on and adjust it to whichever level is appropriate for the fabric of your clothing.
You know what’s even better than this flat iron hack? An actual iron that was inspired by this trick and intentionally made to be used on your clothes. The Nori Press borrows its silhouette from a classic hair straightener. With its fabric specific heat settings to help you avoid burning your clothes and a longer length than your traditional flat iron, the Nori Press takes the idea from a hair straightener but is far superior! Use long, even strokes when smoothing out wrinkles between the plates and be amazed at how easy it is. Consider ironing boards an accessory of the past.
Iron Hacks for the Wrinkled Traveler
Wrinkles can especially be a problem when traveling. Even the tidiest and most organized packers will still have to fight wrinkles when they’re out on the road. Think smarter, not harder, with these ironing hacks for travelers, and stop messing with old hotel room irons.
Prep Your Iron With a Steam Solution
If you travel a lot, you’ve got to try our Fabric Facial Steam Solution. Solutions like these are made with deionized water and give you extra help in fighting stubborn wrinkles.
The deionized water is a key component in breaking the wrinkles down at the molecular level. Deionized water is neutral, meaning that all of the minerals have been removed, so it won’t leave behind any residue on your clothes or, if used in your appliance, in your iron.
A Portable Iron, Skip the Board!
Travelers can use all the help they can get when it comes to fighting off their suitcase-induced wrinkles. A portable iron that is designed to be effective without an ironing board is any traveler’s dream. This is the ultimate ironing hack for those who often travel for work and need to constantly impress in their finest professional attire—no more fussing with giant ironing boards or stressing about whether or not your hotel will have a good iron available. Plus, it has a compact design that lies flat to fit nicely in the side of your suitcase—can your mom’s clunky, vintage iron do that?
Hacks for Stopping Wrinkles at the Source
Don’t even give wrinkles a chance to show up! If you hate even the thought of having to iron, try these preventative tips. Keep these best practices in mind when doing your laundry and stop wrinkles at their source—the dryer.
Don’t Overload the Washer or Dryer
Did you know an overloaded washer and dryer can be the cause of wrinkles in your clothes? What’s even more important is that an overloaded dryer strains the machine and uses way more energy per cycle. It might be your first thought to try to get everything done in one big load, but that isn’t a good idea.
Give the clothes room to breathe in their load, so they don’t get crumpled up into stubbornly wrinkled balls. A couple more loads of laundry in exchange for less ironing sounds like a fair trade to us.
Don’t Let Clothes Sit in the Machine
We know… this one is easier said than done. If your washer and dryer have alerts for the end of the cycle, make sure you turn them on. That way, you can get up and grab those clothes the second they’re done washing and drying. If you’re in the market for a new washer or dryer appliance, find one with a digital timer on the front so you can know exactly when your load will be done and plan accordingly.
Remember, if clothes sit in the washer or dryer for too long after their cycle is up, this is a one-way ticket to Wrinkle Town. If this happens (hey, we’ve all been there), try running the dryer cycle again on a shorter cycle, with a fresh dryer sheet and a clean, wet washcloth. The water from the cloth will create steam and help smooth out those wrinkles.
To Iron or Not to Iron? That Is the Question
So the inevitable happens—you pull out your nicest blouse or button-up shirt, and it’s covered in wrinkles. Should you iron now or iron later?
Get the item of clothing out of its crumpled state as soon as possible and hang the item up immediately. Give the bottom of the fabric a few tugs and smooth over with your hand. If you don’t have a wrinkle releasing spray on hand, let the item hang overnight and in the bathroom for your next shower.
Sometimes, it can be rewarding to not jump for the iron right away (if you have the time to wait), and you may wake up to find that the item has smoothed out significantly all by itself. This is especially true for certain thin fabrics like rayon.
The Hack to Keep Your Iron in Pristine Condition
The best hack you can use to keep your steam iron operating at its best is to be sure to use deionized water or distilled water when filling up your appliance.
Deionized water is usually found in pre-made solutions made for irons, whereas distilled water is available more commonly at many convenience stores. Both are forms of pure water that contain no minerals, so you won’t get any clogs or corrosion on your lovely iron. These types of waters are not for drinking, though, so be sure to keep them out of reach of children.
Summary
In conclusion, ironing may not be your favorite chore, but there are a few hacks that can make your life a little easier. Stop wrinkles at the source if you can by not overloading your dryer and removing clothes immediately.
If you do find yourself in a battle with stubborn wrinkles, we think a wrinkle releasing spray combined with a travel-friendly, board-less iron are the best options to set you up for success. Ironing doesn’t have to be a headache—it can be efficient, convenient, and (dare we say) fun!
SOURCES
The Chemistry of Ironing | American Scientist
How to Make Deionized Water | Earth and Human
How to avoid overloading your dryer | Power Smart
