The shirt is probably one of the easiest things to iron in a typical wardrobe, but it all starts with proper preparation, The higher the spinning wave on your machine, the more wrinkles you will get. So keep that in mind when you wash your shirts in a washer.
How To Iron A Shirt – The Proper Way
The First Thing To Note
Always confirm that your shirts are still damp, as this is ideally an excellent time to smooth out the wrinkles (in case there are any). It makes everything easier. On the other hand, you should know that 99.99% of shirts have included interlining; you’ll notice this either at the collar for the Cuffs or packet.
If you happen to have a dry shirt, I suggest you wet lightly using a spray bottle of water and put it in a plastic bag for 10 to 15 minutes; let it sit there. That way, it can moisten up and make ironing it much more manageable. avoid ironing your shirt when it’s hard as this might lead to wrinkling and waves which are unsightly,
Now let me explain how to get the procedures done the right way.
First, ensure you have all your ironing equipment on top of the ironing board. If you are right-handed, find a comfortable position to place the machine. Now, check the label. If the shirt is made from a linen material adjust the iron temperature to 230 C/445 F, use 204 C/400 F for cotton materials.
Usually, fabrics’ ironing settings are based on materials, such as linen, cotton, and polyester requires a relatively high temperature. But if you have a poly blend shirt, make sure you put the temperature at an average level of 180 C/360 F; otherwise, it will ruin your shirt.
Look at the shirts to see if there are any stains, for example ink stains which are common to shirts, if there are any, no matter how little, the heat will set in the stain and make it almost impossible to clean.
Proper Damping Procedure
When it comes to wetting your shirt, I suggest you go with distilled water because it is soft and tender on your clothes. You should know by now that hard water contains extra minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, and other minerals, which can result in a clogged-up ironing process that might lead to a grayish whitish substance.
Distilled water is free of minor dirt and has little calcium and magnesium, both common in hard water.
Tap water is an ideal option for most ironing processes. But doing this over time, you will eventually have a buildup of several mineral deposits. The initial warning signal will come when the steam output crawls.
To clean your water tank, pour white vinegar and water into the reservoir. Heat the iron and let the steam ignite up for a few minutes before turning it off.
Place the iron amid the base-plate flat on a heat-resistant surface and drain the water. Let it be in that state for an hour or two, then repeat. After repeating this process, rinse and refill with non-tap water; this can be distilled or bottled water.
Side Note
There will always be wrinkles to iron again, so always iron from the outside of the cuff to minimize the process. Otherwise, you get little wrinkles from the stitching, especially in shirts that are interlined. I know it can be quite a frustrating process but doing this ensures you get the job done faster.
Setting Up Your Ironing Board
Setting up your ironing board the right way is also very important. You don’t want a dancing board during the ironing process, this might get your clothes wrinkled up.
It is always better to start the ironing from one front side of the shirt while moving to the next side, and once you’re done, you flip it over to the backside and repeat the motion.
The key to success in ironing is to use the Standard surface precision irons, doing this helps you save body energy, it also helps you get precision. using the large surface ironing machine reduces your coverage controlled area for pressure.
Step By Step Process
Step 1: How to Iron a shirt collar
To ensure a successful shirt ironing result, the collar should always be your first ironing area. The collar is the most noticeable area of the shirt, which will give most people their first impressions!
Begin this process by popping the collar as well as laying it flat on the ironing board with the backside of the collar facing up. Start ironing at the edges of the backside of the collar and proceed by working your way towards the middle.
Step 2: Iron the Cuff
Just as I’ve stated above, when you put on your shirt, the cuffs will most likely have a lot of attention, so don’t take shortcuts on the cuffs; dedicate a handful of time to it!
Start by losing up the buttons and laying them flat. Try to iron the inside of the cuff, then flip it to the outside. Cautiously iron around the buttons, being careful not to damage them.
Step 3: Iron the Sleeves
It’s vital to start with the sleeves compared to the overall body of the shirt, trying to iron the front or back of the shirt first can create folds and wrinkles in the shirt body as you move it around the ironing board.
Step 4: Iron the Back
To have good backside ironing, you need to unbutton the shirt entirely and spread it flat on the ironing board. Ensure you position the head of the sleeve on the square end of the ironing board; by doing this, you have half of the back in a vital position for ironing.
Step 5: Iron the Shoulders
It’s time to iron the shoulders, this part of the shirt is also known as the (yoke part); it is often the trickiest part to iron, and it entails moving it more frequently around the board.
Try to place the shirt over the thin end of the ironing board as if the board is in between one of the sleeves. Iron the shirt shoulders towards the middle while moving the shirt around the board. Repeat the same process on the other sleeve.
Step 6: Iron the Front (Placket)
Okay, so it’s time to iron the front (the placket) part of the shirt – the final part of the process! Stick to doing one side at a time while being careful with the buttons. Always ensure not to iron over the buttons as doing this can damage them. The main objective here is to get the placket crisp and have a pleasant finish.
Step 7: Inspect and Hang
Hang your shirt up, inspect your work so far and try to spot any unwanted wrinkles.