New to Ironing

Cotta

Hi All,


I've managed to dodge this task for quite a while but now reality bites and I need to learn.


I will primarily need to iron shirts, does anyone have any recommendations as to how to learn and what type of iron to buy? Some have recommended a steam iron which just sprays the clothes but I'm not sure if this this would work.


Thanks in advance

flashg67

Steam iron is essential IMHO- most send steam through the baseplate (it can be switched off though), with the spray being used for stubborn ceases.

Loads of youtube guides on how to iron a shirt!

27cool

I haven't looked but usually You Tube has good videos about almost everything. Give them a try.

Nile

Cotta wrote: »

Hi All,


I've managed to dodge this task for quite a while but now reality bites and I need to learn.


I will primarily need to iron shirts, does anyone have any recommendations as to how to learn and what type of iron to buy? Some have recommended a steam iron which just sprays the clothes but I'm not sure if this this would work.


Thanks in advance

Hi Cotta

This is the 'In my home' board and if you click on the 'stickie' thread at the top of the first page, you will then see a link to a thread called:

The Ironing Board

There are some useful tips on all things ironing in that thread.

My tips are:

Check the care label on every garment to ensure you match the iron temperature to the care label. Look at the care label inside the shirt, it has an iron symbol with either 1 or 2 or 3 spots. Turn the iron dial to match.

Sort your pile of ironing into separate piles. Start with the cool iron (1 spot) garments first, then move onto the 2 spot and so on. If you start with a very hot iron (3 spot) setting, you risk burning a garment that needs a cooler iron setting.

It's much easier to iron cotton shirts if they are slightly damp, so either iron them before they dry completely or spray the garment with a water spray bottle prior to ironing.

I hate ironing, so treat myself to chocolate after I've tackled it.

Best of luck

Nile

Cotta

Is this the type of steam iron I should purchase and is this suited to jeans, shirts and t-shirts?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cutDaLcqLg

Thanks

McKneff

And buy a cordless iron....

d0nkeyk0ng

Ironing shirts is quite easy. Iron the collar and the yoke (the bit below the back of the collar). Iron the cuffs and the sleeves. Then place the left side of the shirt with the collar facing the tip (narrow edge) of the ironing board and iron the left side. Move the shirt so the back of the shirt is facing up and iron it. Move the shirt again so the right side is facing up and iron that. Essentially you will have "rolled" the shirt around the ironing board.

A steam generator iron means a whole shirt will take at most two minutes.

Cotta

McKneff wrote: »

And buy a cordless iron....

Any examples? I've taken a look at a few and the price varies considerably.

Annie1960

Are you in a hard or soft water area?

If the water is fairly soft, you'll be Ok with a steam iron.

In a hard water area, it will start off alright, but after a few months you will start to get limescale deposits on your clothes. Much better to buy a sprayer from the local garden centre, fill this with cold water, and use this to dampen your clothes before ironing.

Cotta

Annie1960 wrote: »

Are you in a hard or soft water area?

If the water is fairly soft, you'll be Ok with a steam iron.

In a hard water area, it will start off alright, but after a few months you will start to get limescale deposits on your clothes. Much better to buy a sprayer from the local garden centre, fill this with cold water, and use this to dampen your clothes before ironing.

I live in a soft water area.