Pleat to pleat, or how to iron a pleated skirt at home

Pleating is a popular design technique used by fashion designers when creating women's clothing.

A pleated skirt is at the top of fashion, but over time the folds can lose their appearance, so it is important to know how to properly iron such a product.

Our article will tell you whether and how to iron a pleated skirt at home.

Are pleated skirts ironed?

Any pleated item needs to be looked after. To sew pleated skirts, various materials are used, which behave differently during heat treatment. Some fabrics, such as silk or chiffon, require ironing only rarely, while other types of material will need to be ironed after every wash.

Before ironing, study the properties of the fabric; contact with a hot iron may be completely contraindicated. In such cases, a steamer or a self-created “steam bath” comes to the rescue.

What is not recommended to do when ironing pleated chiffon items?

To make a pleated item look beautiful, you need to remember which methods are unacceptable when ironing a chiffon product:

• When rinsing pleated clothes, do not use strong efforts;
• do not use the spin cycle;
• You can use steam only in certain cases, taking into account the composition and quality of the fabric;
• Before you start ironing the pleated fabric, carefully read the tag on the clothing;
• moisten a dry item with a damp cloth;
• a pleated outfit can be gently ironed, but do not rub it with an iron;
• Do not dry chiffon material on radiators or under the rays of the hot sun.

Wearing a pleated design with perfectly ironed folds, you will always look stylish, fashionable and simply at your best. By taking proper care of your belongings, they can last much longer!

How to prepare an item for ironing

Before ironing, properly wash and dry the item. For this:

• choose to wash by hand to avoid damaging the folds;
• during processing, do not stretch or rub the item;
• use lukewarm water, with a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees;
• give preference to liquid gels rather than dry powders;
• if you do wash it in an automatic machine, fold the skirt along the folds and place it in a washing case or a nylon stocking, choose only a delicate wash without spinning and drying;
• dry the product correctly on hangers in natural conditions, avoiding bends and fractures.

Immediately before ironing, read the label on the garment. Here you will find basic recommendations for choosing the temperature mode for ironing.

Also, to preserve the folds, you can secure each of them with pins or sew them with thread along or below.

You can iron the product while it is still a little damp, so the fibers of the material will lie better.

Washing features

One of the main stages of caring for pleated skirts is washing.

The process has its own nuances and is performed according to certain rules. Before you start washing pleated fabric, it is necessary to carry out a number of preparatory measures. To do this, you need to place the skirt on a hard, flat surface, smooth out all the folds and fold them according to the bends.

Then you should take a thin needle, thread a silk thread into it and sew each fold from the waistband to the edge of the hem with large stitches. Afterwards, the product should be twisted not very tightly and placed in a nylon stocking. To prevent the skirt from falling out of the makeshift cover during washing, the end of the stocking should be tied.

It is recommended to wash the pleated skirt by hand, using liquid soap and conditioner. The temperature of the water in the basin should not exceed 40 degrees, otherwise the skirt may become severely deformed and the folds will straighten out.

During the washing process, it is not recommended to strongly influence the product; in case of severe contamination, it is better to leave it for 10 minutes in a soap solution. It is not recommended to keep corrugated items in water for longer: this can lead to straightening of the folds and will require urgent measures to be taken to re-form them.

After the item is washed, you need to rinse it in several waters, adding conditioner. Then you need to take the skirt out of the water and carefully hang it by your belt. It is not recommended to wring out the product. Before machine washing, the skirt is also stitched and placed in a nylon bag, after which it is scrolled using the manual or delicate wash modes at low speeds. Spinning the product in a centrifuge is also strictly prohibited.

How to iron a pleated skirt or dress

It is worth noting that you can avoid ironing altogether if you dry the item properly. Drying should take place under natural conditions in a room with good air ventilation. Lay the skirt out on a horizontal surface and carefully straighten out the folds. Do not use clothespins to avoid causing creases in the material.

If ironing is still required, use the following tips:

• start ironing at the minimum temperature setting to see how the fabric behaves under the influence of different temperatures;
• use the steam function on the iron;
• To avoid damaging the fabric, iron it through gauze or cotton fabric.

In addition, take into account the properties of the material from which the item is made.

Silk

To ensure that a silk pleated skirt retains its original attractiveness, take care of its proper ironing, which includes the following recommendations:

• Before processing, turn clothes inside out;
• do not splash water on the fabric, otherwise streaks will appear;
• to protect against overheating, use a slightly damp cloth or gauze;
• Do not press the iron onto the material.

If you are afraid that the iron will leave marks, try steaming out the wrinkles. To do this, straighten out all the folds, hang the skirt over the bathtub and turn on the hot water for 10-15 minutes. Turn off the water and leave the item in the same position for another 15 minutes. Clouds of steam will create the effect of a steam bath, and unnecessary creases will be smoothed out.

Chiffon

Chiffon is a very capricious material and requires maximum care during heat treatment. You can avoid ironing by placing the pleated skirt in a stocking while washing and drying. If you still cannot do without ironing, during the procedure adhere to the following rules:

• do not wet the material before ironing and do not use the steam function, as minimal exposure to moisture can damage the fabric;
• smooth out the folds from the center to the edges, without pressing the iron too much to the surface;
• After ironing, do not touch the item for 15–20 minutes, allowing the material to cool completely.

You won't ruin the material if you take the heat treatment of your pleated skirt seriously.

Woolen

The main condition is not to touch the material with a “bare” iron. To protect wool fabric, use gauze folded several times. In this case, the best effect will be if you turn on the steaming mode.

You can also steam woolen items, including a pleated skirt, and then ironing will not be necessary.

Knitted

Knitted skirts cannot withstand exposure to too high temperatures. To avoid damaging the material, during ironing:

• turn the item inside out;
• use a piece of cotton fabric or gauze for protection;
• process the product at the minimum temperature.

After ironing, turn the skirt right side out and carefully steam the folds, keeping the iron at a distance.

Made from polyester

Before ironing polyester clothing, the first step is to read the label, as some types of material cannot withstand even the slightest temperature. If ironing the fabric is not prohibited, then select the minimum temperature for processing, and cover the surface of the skirt with two layers of gauze or cotton fabric.

You can avoid ironing by ironing the skirt with the steamer turned on at a distance of 10–15 cm from the surface.

Made of leather or leatherette

If you need to iron a pleated leather skirt, be sure to turn it inside out before doing so. For convenience, use an ironing board by pulling the skirt over the narrower part of it. Cover the fabric with several layers of gauze, and set the iron to “silk”. After processing, hang the item on hangers for 2-3 hours.

Made from eco-leather

It is not recommended to iron a pleated skirt made of eco-leather. To give it an attractive look and smooth out wrinkles, use a special product for such materials.

Processing scheme:

1. Apply eco-leather product to the surface of the material.
2. Attach weights to the hem of the skirt.
3. Hang the item on hangers and leave for 15–30 minutes.

For better effect, you can hold the skirt over steam in the bath. After such steaming, lay the item on a horizontal surface and press it with a press.

In rare cases, small bruises remain after the procedure. To eliminate them, use the iron at the lowest temperature setting. At the same time, iron the item from the inside out through the gauze.

From dermantine

Dermantin is a low quality leather substitute. The material absolutely cannot withstand any thermal influences. If you iron the fabric, you will simply burn the skirt, so do not iron the folds under any circumstances.

Wash and dry the item as carefully as possible. In addition, for safety, do not sew the folds, otherwise there will be holes on the surface that will later fall apart.

Ironing sequence

To properly iron a pleated skirt at home, follow the step-by-step technology.

1. Turn the wet ruffle inside out and place the dress on the ironing board.
2. Finish the lining and iron the inside of the pockets. Do not linger in one place so as not to burn the material.
3. Iron the waistline, sides and the rest of the skirt. Try not to touch the pleats with the iron; it is better to focus on steam treatment.
4. Wait until the corrugation has cooled down, and only then hang clothes with folds in the closet.

Do not use an iron with water dripping from it, as it will leave marks on the pleat. If you follow the above recommendations, the dress will serve you for many years.

Advice! You can iron a pleated skirt without pre-washing, but only if there are no fresh stains on it, since exposure to high temperatures will make them more absorbed into the corrugation.

How to iron a pleated skirt with a steamer?

A steamer will help significantly save time and quality of fabric. To make your item look like new after treatment, use the steamer correctly:

1. Make sure that the device heats up to the desired temperature.
2. Pay attention to the device hose. It should not curl, otherwise drops of condensation may fall on the material and ruin it.
3. For convenience, direct the steamer from the wrong side. This way you can monitor the quality of your work and avoid minor bruises.
4. First process the lining or petticoat, and only then the skirt itself.

The steamer will help smooth out any skirt, even those made of delicate materials with very small folds.

Care

Leather items need to be looked after to keep them in good condition for a long time. New and well-maintained clothes look very beautiful.

Basic Rules:

1. After purchasing, sprinkle the product with ground coffee to remove the specific smell.
2. Wipe the leather skirt with a damp cloth or run a vacuum cleaner over it to remove dust. Only after this can the item be treated with impregnation.
3. Do not clean your skin frequently. It has a thin protective layer.
4. Before using any leather or leatherette care products, you should first test them on the underside of the garment.
5. If greasy stains appear that do not disappear on their own, take chalk and sprinkle it on the stain overnight. In the morning, shake off any remaining product and treat the item with impregnation. Wear it with confidence.
6. If the skirt is light in color, and a stain appears on it and the special product has run out, treat the contaminated area with a cotton swab dipped in cow's milk. It is also recommended to use an onion.
7. Leather items should be dried away from heating appliances. If you dry near an electric heater or radiator, the clothes may become deformed.
8. Lemon juice will help remove ink and pen marks on a light leather skirt.
9. If the leather has become stale and white spots or mold have appeared on it, furniture cleaner and table vinegar will help.
10. Do not use acetone or other solvents for cleaning.
11. Tarnished areas are wiped with fresh orange peel.

Leather is a natural product and requires appropriate care. Skirts made of such material should be protected from heavy contamination and mechanical damage.

If you can sew up an ordinary fabric skirt yourself, then you will have to either throw it away or give it to specialists who know how to hide defects.

Homemade methods will help you easily cope with the task. If you are afraid to act on your own, use dry cleaning services. Experienced specialists will quickly return the skirt to its original appearance.

How to restore wrinkles after washing

With prolonged wear or after improper washing, the pleats on the skirt may lose their shape. If this happens, do not despair, because she can still be saved. At the same time, you can restore the folds yourself without using expensive products.

There are several ways to restore folds:

• Laundry soap + egg white. In addition to these ingredients, you will also need starch and vinegar. Pour some warm water into a container and rub half a bar of laundry soap. Add the white of one egg to the mixture, as well as 1 tbsp. spoon of starch and vinegar. Soak gauze in the resulting solution and iron all the folds through the paper.
• Laundry soap + gelatin. Pour some water into a small basin, add 100 g of laundry soap shavings and 1 tbsp. spoon of gelatin. Stir the liquid thoroughly until the ingredients dissolve. Soak a piece of cotton fabric in the solution, lay it out on the folds and iron it through a sheet of paper.
• Water + vinegar. Mix water and vinegar in equal proportions. Dampen the fabric with the resulting solution and carefully iron the folds through a piece of gauze.

To ensure that the folds lie correctly before processing, sew them with threads or fasten them with pins.

What to remember

1. Treat with steam. Thin and delicate items (chiffon, nylon, crepe de Chine and silk) are smoothed well by the steam generator.
2. Secure folds with wide stitches. Before washing or ironing, to make it easier to care for a pleated item, sweep the folds with wide stitches and iron them.
3. Take it to the dry cleaner. Items made from natural fabrics must be dry cleaned for processing.
4. Iron from the inside out. Iron leather, faux leather, knitwear and wool from the reverse side so that no shiny iron marks remain.

Care tips and advice

To ensure that the ironing process takes a minimum of effort and time, properly wash and dry your pleated skirt, following the following recommendations:

• always read the information on the tag;
• give preference to hand washing rather than machine washing;
• Use only non-hot water for washing up to 30 degrees;
• do not rub or twist the item during processing;
• if you choose machine wash, choose only the delicate cycle without spinning and drying;
• do not wring out the item, just hang it on a hanger over the bathtub and let the water drain;
• dry dresses on hangers in natural conditions;
• For maximum preservation of the folds, place the skirt in a nylon stocking while washing and drying, or sew the folds with stitches without tension.

The process of ironing a pleated skirt will take very little effort and time if you properly prepare it for the procedure and take into account the properties of the material from which it is made. By following basic ironing rules, you will extend the life of your pleated skirt for a long time.

Rules for washing a pleated skirt: 5 rules

In many ways, the problems of the ironing process are solved by high-quality washing. I learned what needs to be done so that the folds do not straighten out and the material is not damaged.