How to iron clothes

There is nothing that screams, yes, yes, my mother did used to do my laundry — then when a man shows up wearing wrinkled clothes.

There is nothing that screams — yes, yes, an iron is way too heavy, complicated, frightening and/or dangerous for me to operate — then when a man shows up wearing wrinkled clothes.

And there is nothing that screams, yes, yes, I have officially given up on what I look like and how others see me —  as when a man shows up wearing wrinkled clothes.

Nothing.

Ironing your own clothes is right above making your own meals and right below driving your own car. It’s a basic modern day survival skill.

So learn it. Do it. Live it. .

THE GOLDEN RULE OF LAUNDRY:

Now we are discussing ironing not laundry but there is one important rule of laundry that will guide your ironing success. And it’s this.

Don’t use the dryer.

With the exception of socks, underwear and blue jeans never, ever, dry your clothes in a dryer. Hang everything out to dry — not necessarily outside but in your closet, on a clothes line in your laundry room or wherever you can find some space. Especially dress shirts and t-shirts. A dryer will not only shrink these shirts in as little as one drying but it will seriously shorten their life.

So don’t do it.

HOW TO IRON CLOTHES:

Tools you will need:

One iron — you can use a steam iron but the method below does not use the steam option. Standard irons usually range from 1200 watts to 1800 watts with some higher end models go up from there. But all this really has to do with is how fast it heats up now how hot it really gets. A standard iron will run you about thirty bucks and should last for years.

One standard size ironing board — those dorm sized travel boards are just plain silly and don’t work. Don’t use them. You’ll need something sturdy and has a top that you’re comfortable ironing on.

One spray bottle.

One pile of clothes to iron.

Ironing Shirts:

1. Spray your shirt down with water from the spray bottle — if you are ironing your shirt straight from the washer you can skip this step and it actually is an advantage of ironing right from the washer.
2. Plug in the iron and set the temperature gauge to the type of cloth you are ironing. If you’re not sure, check the label on the shirt.
3. Place the damp shirt on the ironing board. Hold the shirt by the collar right side of the shirt facing you and spread the collar out on the ironing board — you’ll be ironing under the collar first. Iron and turn the collar over and repeat.
4. Place the damp shirt on the ironing board so the back of the shirt is flat. Iron.

At any time if the shirt begins to dry out, spray the cloth down again.

5. Flatten the sleeves against the board and iron the sleeves. Flatten one cuff on the ironing board and iron it, then take that sleeve by the seam and lay the whole sleeve flat on the ironing board. If you can see the crease on the top of the sleeve from previous ironing, try to match it again so that you have a single crease line on the sleeve. Repeat with the other sleeve.
6. Iron the front of the shirt. With the collar to your left, place the left side of the shirt on your ironing board. Iron around the collar and then down, smoothing with your had if needed. Keep rotating, smoothing, and ironing until you come to the right front of the shirt. Iron the top section first then the rest of it.

Ironing pants:

This is pretty easy and only has two real steps …

1. Hook pants over the tip of the board so the upper thigh part of the pant is flat. Iron that part. Repeat on the other end.
2. Find the crease of the pant and fold along the crease. Iron the front crease and the back. Repeat on the other leg.