It should be noted that today ironing fabric is not as troublesome as it used to be. Of course, it cannot be compared with the distant year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two. When American inventor Henry Seely patented and showed the world the first electric iron. At that time, the iron weighed about six kilograms. It was uncomfortable and difficult to handle. Plus, it’s quite dangerous if you take fire safety into account.
It is no secret that the development of technology has come a long way since those times. There is practically nothing left from the “first” iron except the shape and principle of heat treatment of fabric. One of the important conditions for effective, proper ironing of various types of fabrics includes the choice of temperature conditions. You can select the required mode on the iron itself, but you need to rely on the type of fabric.
Consistent ironing of wool products
Before you start ironing a wool jacket, you need to make sure it is clean: even if the product was hanging in the closet, it cannot be ironed without first washing it!
Important! Pre-washing a wool jacket allows you to slightly smooth out its shape and remove the smallest particles of dust that can ruin the fabric when it is heated with an iron.
Ironing a wool jacket should be done in strict order:
- turning the product inside out;
- distributing it on a flat surface of the ironing board;
- placement of a thin piece of cotton fabric on it;
- setting the delicate ironing mode and the temperature required by the product;
- ironing the product in the order “collar - sleeves - shoulders - front - pockets - back”.
The correct approach to the care, washing, ironing and storage of any woolen products will help to avoid deformation of their shape, thinning of the fibers and wear of the entire product!
other methods
If for some reason the standard method is not suitable, there are other ironing options.
Aweigh
You can iron the material in another way. To do this, there is no need to remove the fabric, since the ironing process takes place on weight. For this purpose, a small attachment from an ironing board is used to iron sleeves. It is pressed on one side of the fabric, and the iron is moved along the opposite side.
There is another option to get even material by weight. The ironing board is placed right next to the window. The product begins to be processed on one side. When part of the canvas is flat, the curtains are hung on the cornice. Afterwards, the remaining area is placed on the ironing board and ironed further. There is no fear that new creases will appear on the ironed side.
Without iron
If the canvas is small, it can be smoothed without the use of special tools. Something heavy is placed on top of a flat section. Under pressure, the fabric becomes smooth. You can also spray it with water and dry it with a hairdryer.
To remove creases, prepare a solution based on vinegar, water and fabric softener. The components are mixed and the spray bottle is filled with liquid. The components are taken in equal parts. The fabric is sprayed and then allowed to dry completely.
Own weight
One of the easiest ways to straighten curtains and curtains. After washing, they are hung on the ledge. The fabric should be wrung out, but still remain damp. Water should not flow onto the floor. As the fabric dries, it becomes even. The result is ensured due to the material’s own weight.
Ironing temperature
The ironing temperature for different fabrics varies. Chiffon, nylon and silk are usually ironed at seventy to eighty degrees. Tweed, drape, cotton, linen can be ironed at one hundred and fifty to one hundred and seventy degrees. The ideal temperature for rough denim fabrics will be one hundred eighty to two hundred degrees.
By the way, linen and cotton must be well moistened before ironing. In this case, you can use the special “water spray” function located in the iron. And steaming throughout ironing won’t hurt.
How to iron tulle without removing it?
- Using an iron. Slightly damp curtains are hung on the curtain rod and allowed to straighten for 1-3 hours. After this time, water is poured into the iron and steam mode is turned on. With the help of the steam released by the iron, all irregularities and creases are ironed out.
- Using a steamer. The fastest way. This machine is ideal for steaming curtains. First, you should pour water into the device, and then leave it for 2-3 minutes to heat up (so that the steam is warm or slightly hot). You have to run the steam generator over the entire area of the curtains. Slowly to smooth out any rough edges.
- With the help of steam. We will need a kettle or saucepan with hot water. The water needs to be boiled and kept on the fire for another 5 minutes. A container of boiled water is brought to the curtain and passed around the entire area.
- Without everything. To iron heavy types of fabric, they are simply hung out and they straighten under their own weight.
Different types of tulle require different ironing conditions. In order not to spoil the appearance of the material, all conditions must be met. If you approach this matter responsibly and with interest, then in the end you will definitely get an excellent result!
Ironing silk, chiffon and nylon
To determine at what temperature to iron silk and other delicate materials, focus on their density. Heavier fabrics can be straightened at 80 degrees, and thin and airy fabrics can be ironed in the “silk” mode or at 60 degrees. For silk and chiffon, steam is not needed. Iron with a dry iron, under low pressure, through a damp cloth, lengthwise.
Nylon should be steamed vertically, ironed very slowly, lightly touching the fabric. Make sure that the material does not melt. Often it is better not to iron things made of nylon, but only to steam them in a suspended state.
Without steamer
If you don’t have a steamer or iron at home, or, for example, there’s a power outage, you can straighten the curtains using steam. You need to get steam by simply boiling water. For this method you will need a kettle (gas or electric) or a small saucepan filled with water. Bring the water to a boil and continue boiling for another 5 minutes. Then take a container of boiling water and bring it to the hanging curtain. Direct the steam so that it hits the fabric. Use your hands to straighten the fabric and remove creases. The material smooths out before our eyes and has a neat appearance. For better results, you can slightly wet the curtains with a clean damp cloth; they will smooth out much better and faster.
Useful tips
Ironing may not be necessary if you dry things after straightening out all the creases:
- To keep mohair jackets and sweaters looking presentable, wrap them in a thick towel after washing, carefully twist them and lay them out horizontally to dry.
- Hang semi-dry clothes made from thin acrylic threads on hangers and smooth them out with your hands. To smooth out wrinkles, boil water, pour it into a bowl and hang the item over the steam.
- To remove creases from an openwork sweater, use a wooden rolling pin. First, wet two terry towels and wring them thoroughly. Place one on a horizontal surface, place clothes on top and cover with a second towel. Take a rolling pin and roll it over the terry material several times. The wrinkles in the clothing should be smoothed out. The same method is suitable for things with long pile, downy scarves.
- If you urgently need to get your hair in order, but you don’t have an iron at hand, a regular hair dryer will do. Cover the material with damp gauze, turn on the device and treat with hot air, holding it at a distance of 10 mm from the product.
- White wool threads are more afraid of high temperatures than others. This causes them to turn yellow and lose their attractive appearance, so steam and iron white clothes at low speed.
We recommend: How to properly iron a polyester jacket at home?
Wool is a capricious material that can easily be damaged by a hot iron. To prevent this from happening, iron it as a last resort, do not exceed the permissible temperature and do not handle a wet item, otherwise it may stretch.
How to steam things?
When steaming, the risk of damaging the wool is minimal. This method is suitable for knitted and crocheted patterns.
Sweaters, sweaters, and trousers made of wool are best processed in a horizontal position. Place the caps on a glass jar first, this way they retain their shape perfectly.
It is more convenient to do the processing with a steam generator, but you can also use a regular iron with a steaming system:
- To prevent the item from stretching, straighten it, hang it on hangers and secure it in the desired position with pins.
- Whatever wool item you steam, be sure to cover it with gauze first.
- Pour purified water into the container, heat it and run it through the steam, holding the device at a slight distance from the surface. Try to keep the gauze moist at all times and re-moisten it periodically.
After finishing steaming, wait until the item cools down completely and dries. If you put it on too early, it may become deformed.
How and at what temperature to iron?
If woolen clothes need to be ironed, but there are no tags, follow the general rules:
- be sure to use gauze;
- do not heat the iron more than 150 degrees;
- for work, purchase an ironing board, cover its surface with a thick, light-colored natural fabric;
- use modern household appliances equipped with a steaming system, non-stick soleplate and temperature regulator.
It is recommended to iron the product if it is knitted with regular satin stitch and does not have embossed inserts.
To iron the wool, follow this algorithm:
- Turn the clothes inside out, shake them and place them neatly on the board. Cover with damp gauze or cotton cloth.
- Set the iron to “Wool” mode. First, release a stream of hot air, and then iron, lightly touching the material.
- To avoid burning the fabric, act quickly and do not linger in one area for more than 2-3 seconds.
We recommend: How to iron dresses made from different types of materials: from silk to leatherette
Steam patterns, seams, cuffs, eyelets, keeping the sole a few centimeters away from the wool. Do not stretch the item while working.
To prevent deformation, do not iron the wool when wet. Wait until it is completely dry.
Ironing complexly shaped clothes
Most of the methods described above are suitable for straightening simple items of clothing, such as a T-shirt. It is much harder to tidy up a shirt or pleated skirt.
The following ironing methods are most suitable for such products:
- Its complete absence. Things are completely wetted and carefully secured on hangers, tucks and other devices to avoid creases and bends. In this position, the shirt or blouse is left until completely dry.
- Ironing with a hot lamp. This method is suitable for extreme situations when it is urgent to get rid of wrinkles. Take a light bulb and carefully wipe it from dust and dirt, then screw it into the lamp. It is advisable to first remove the lampshade from it. Plug it in and wait for the light bulb to warm up well. Apply this “iron” over the surface of the product and remove all irregularities.
The use of the last available means is associated with some danger to humans. It is necessary to ensure that the lamp does not overheat too much, as bright scorch marks will appear on the product. Clothes must be completely dry and the lamp must be in good condition.
