How to Iron Clothing

Amanda Rourke
Jul 16
3 min read

Let's begin by looking into how to iron the most common pieces you'll find yourself with. Note that you will require the following items:

Iron (filled with water)
Ironing board
Spray bottle

Shirts

Take your shirt and place it flat on an ironing board, without stretching the fabric.
Start at the cuff of the shirt and press the iron up towards the shoulder. It is okay if the sleeves start to dangle off the board as you iron the center of the shirt. Use the tip of the iron to get around buttons.
Keep rotating the shirt as you go from the center to the back, always ironing side to side.
Don't forget the collar, ironing it up and down.
If you cannot remove wrinkles or there is a specific one resisting, see if your iron has a steam function that you can use to loosen the fabric. Press with the iron afterward.

Pants

Place your pants on the ironing board and press the iron back to front and bottom to top, starting at the ankle.
Start with one leg and then the other, using a circular or wiggling motion.
Fold down any creases your pants may have and iron on top.

Dresses

Check to make sure all pieces of your dress can be ironed (e.g. remove any belts or materials that would melt with an iron).
Start with the collar and use a side-to-side technique to remove wrinkles.
Next, iron loose flaps on the reverse edge before moving onto shoulders and sleeves.
Lastly, tackle any wrinkles on the body of the dress, starting at the top and working your way down.

Best Iron Temperature Settings for Each Fabric

While we now know how to iron, the next question becomes what is the ideal temperature to use. The answer is that it depends on the fabric.

While you should always consult the care label of your garment to confirm, below we discuss the most common fabrics and their recommended ironing temperature.

Low Temperature

Silk: This fabric is called delicate for a reason! Turn the silk garment inside out and use the lowest possible heat setting on your iron. If available, it is better to steam the piece (either with a steam iron / steamer) than to iron silk. If you are ironing it, do not hold the iron for too long in one place to avoid burning the silk.
Acetate: Another delicate fabric that should be ironed inside out and on the lowest heat setting.
Polyester: This fabric can sometimes handle medium temperatures, but we recommend playing it safe and using a lower one.
Lace: This is a delicate one too – treat it the same way you would approach a silk garment.
Rayon: A delicate material that should be ironed like a silk piece.

Medium Temperature

Wool: Never iron wool directly – use a damp cloth over the fabric and iron on top, making sure you do not press too hard.

High Temperature

Linen: It is recommended to iron a linen garment while it is still damp, using a high temperature.
Cotton: This fabric is tough to iron and is known for wrinkles that are hard to remove. As such, it is recommended to dampen your cotton dress shirt or garment by lightly spraying water on wrinkles. It is okay to press hard with the iron with cotton.

Skip Ironing Hassles – Try Fresh Laundry

Ironing can be time-consuming, particularly, if you constantly iron your clothes for work each week. While the above tips will help you master the art of ironing at home, you can always outsource the chore to professional cleaners (pro tip:Fresh Laundry will iron your clothes but properly clean them and treat them for stains.

Either option will give your clothes a professional look and feel and have you looking sharp and feeling confident. Fresh Laundry offers pickup and delivery services right to your door. All you have to do is schedule a pickup via our website, text, or call and we'll pick up & deliver.