Ironing, whether you love it or hate it needs to get done, and it is certainly a household chore that is no walk in the park. For many people who are novices to ironing, or perhaps have never partaken in the smoothing out of clothes, mistakes will inevitably be made.
In this article, we will talk about the common errors many people tend to make when ironing, and how to rectify them, or simply prevent them from happening. Answering one of the world’s biggest questions; what makes ironing easier?
Ironing Dry Fabrics
A rather common mistake many new ironers will make is waiting for clothes to be completely dry before starting an ironing session. This is actually a big no-no. By using your iron’s spray feature you will dampen and relax the fabric so when the iron travels across it, the creases will be removed that much easier.
If you are able to iron your clothes while they are still slightly damp, you may not need the water spray feature on the iron. Most steam irons will contain a “steam burst” feature, you should use this as an additional wrinkle smoother to get things done in no time.
Ironing the Wrong Order of Fabrics
Irons will take much longer to cool down than they do to heat up. So, starting your ironing session off with materials that require a lower temperature, such as polyester and silk is always a good idea.
Working your way through the fabrics and materials that require a higher temperature like cotton and linen is certainly recommended, approaching your ironing using the opposite method will potentially cause your clothes to burn and even get stuck to your hot iron!
Wrong Water Usage
For the past several years, there has always been a constant debate regarding tap water or distilled water usage. Irons today can certainly handle tap water much better than they used to, and for the most part, usage of distilled water isn’t required.
This is unless you live in an area with extremely ‘hard water’ which, in that case, you will need to either create your own distilled water or purchase distilled water online or from a retail shop. After buying your distilled water, you should mix it 50/50 with tap water to create the perfect ironing water!
Increasing the Heat
If the garment you are ironing has been created from a blend of fabrics, selecting the setting that has been specifically made for more delicate fabrics will certainly help with the preservation of your clothes.
Not Cleaning Your Iron Properly (Or At All)
Over time, your iron will pick up things like melted fibers and sticky spray starch, which are a total nuisance as they can stain and ruin your clothes if you aren’t careful.
By cleaning the iron’s soleplate with baking soda paste or iron cleaning paste when the iron is cold you will help remove and prevent these deposits from ruining your clothes. There are other iron cleaners to use when your iron is hot too, which can be discovered online.
Storing your Iron with Water Still in the Tank
It is so important for the longevity of your iron to make sure that the water tank is empty before you store it away. This will make sure that excess water isn’t damaging the internal areas of your iron, making sure nothing leaks and discolors the soleplate.
Not Using a Steam Iron Station for Large Ironing Loads
If you are anything like me, and iron in batches, or even partake in a lot of sewing or quilting, it is good to consider a steam iron station. Yes, they are more expensive than conventional irons but they have a separate water tank with a hose that feeds the steam directly into the flat iron. Due to there not being an automatic shutoff, the heat will remain the same, for longer usage.
Keeping the Same Old Ironing Board
Unlike the irons themselves, over the past several years it is fair to say that ironing boards have not seen much of a change. There have been a couple of new and revolutionary designs such as the Flippr Rotating Ironing board, which allows you to iron both sides of a shirt, but most people are happy with their regular trusted ironing board.
To increase the longevity of your ironing board, and even your iron, replacing your ironing board cover periodically is recommended so you have a smooth and durable surface to work on all the time.
Common Ironing Mistakes When Steaming Fabrics
When you are using a handheld steamer when steaming your clothes, for the best results you should pull hanging garments gently from the bottom. Additionally, for heavier fabrics that are harder to iron out the creases in, you should turn it inside out and steam iron both sides.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you are a regular iron user or just getting started, following the advice and guidance from this article should be helpful to you.
Even when you have been ironing for 30+ years, there are still perhaps things that you might have overlooked or not thought about that could save you time and money!
I am a content strategist and the administrator of this website. Professionally, I am an assistant Electronics professor at the University of Chester. I love to read about my profession and have a lot of interest in various home electronics appliances. Freely contact us if you have any queries regarding steam irons and other electronic devices.