Reading Garment Care Labels

Before you pick up the first item from the pile of ironing to be tackled, be sure your clothes, linens, curtains, etc. are cleaned properly so you don’t risk setting any stains that may be present. Read your garment care or other care labels before you begin to identify instructions specific to your item as every fabric is different and could have special care instructions. The label inside your clothing should include ironing recommendations as well as basic laundering instructions. It’s critical to sort your ironing by temperature or setting and work from coolest to hottest because irons heat up faster than they cool down.

It’s Right to Iron on the Wrong Side

For most fabrics, it is preferable to iron on the wrong side of the material to prevent risk of damage. For example, textured fabrics like velvet could be crushed and the sheen of linen and silk fabrics could be altered if you ironed on the finished side of the fabric. For some sensitive fabrics, it’s best to iron with an additional pressing cloth, like a cloth napkin, between the item and the iron.

Top 6 Ironing Tips for Your Fabric

1. Read your fabric care labels first to ensure you’re using the correct temperature setting on your iron.
2. Sort your ironing by temperature required so you can start with the items requiring the lowest temperature setting and work up to the highest. It takes a much shorter amount of time for an iron to heat up than to cool down.
3. Iron lengthwise, not in a circular motion which can stretch fabric.
4. Iron natural fibers such as cotton and linen when they are slightly damp for faster, easier ironing. If they’re completely dry, use maximum steam while ironing or mist them with water or starch spray first.
5. Any part of an item, such as pockets, seams, collars, cuffs, and hems, that has two layers of fabric should be ironed on the back of the fabric first, then on the front.
6. When pressing collars, iron from the points in using small strokes of the iron. After wrinkles are pressed out, create the collar into place by hand, not with the iron. When ironing French cuffs, treat them similarly, gently creasing by hand after ironing.

Additional Ironing Tips & Techniques:

The Ultimate Ironing Guide >

Before You Get Out Your Iron >

Prepping Your Clothes for Ironing

Ironing Instructions for Your Specific Fabric Type >

Ironing Out the Differences: Picking the Best Iron >