Whether you’re an infrequent ironer or someone who actually enjoys transforming crumpled laundry into perfectly-pressed garments, anything that can help you work out the kinks in your ironing technique will make the job easier, faster and more effective.
CHOICE’s ironing expert (yep, that’s really a job!) James Thomson has been testing irons, steam stations and garment steamers at CHOICE for eight years, so he literally gets paid to do the ironing.
His commitment to precision ironing started 44 years ago, during an Army Reserve recruit course.
Along with his years of ironing at CHOICE, it’s safe to say that he knows a thing or two about de-creasing your laundry load.
Follow his tips and you’ll breeze (or rather steam) your way through the ironing.
Iron man: James knows his way around crinkles, creases and all kinds of fabrics.
1. Get the hang of things
It might sound obvious, but the fewer wrinkles there are in your ironing to start with, the easier and faster the ironing will be.
James’ tip for less-crinkled shirts? When you wash them, put them on a hanger to dry rather than pegging them on the clothesline.
(And for even fewer wrinkles, give them a good shake before you put them out to dry.)
The humble water spray bottle is your best defence against stubborn creases.
2. Spray away
“A spray bottle filled with water is the best solution for ironed-in wrinkles,” says James.
“While your iron likely already has a steam function, giving them a spray with water before you run the iron over them will create even more steam and help get those stubborn creases out.”
A spray bottle serves another purpose, too: it’ll save you having to refill the water in your iron as often.
“When you’re painting a wall, if you want the best results you’ll need to spend more time preparing the surface than actually painting,” James says.
“Ironing is the same: the more time you take to stretch garments out over the ironing board and smooth them out, the less time you’ll need to spend ironing.
“Plus, it’ll reduce the likelihood of accidentally ironing creases into your clothes in the wrong places – ironed in creases are extra difficult to get out.”
4. Choose wisely
It goes without saying, but if you want good results, you’ll need a good iron to start with.
Here’s what James recommends you look for when buying a new iron:
Not too heavy
Has a safety cutoff
Can create a shot of steam
Has a spray function (but you can use a spray bottle for this if your iron doesn’t have one)
“In our testing, we often find that spending around $100 is the sweet spot between price and performance,” says James.
“However, we do sometimes find cheaper models that do a great job, so don’t write off more affordable options just because of the price.”
Our experts recommend three irons that cost less than $100, so make sure you check our reviews to find the best steam iron for your money.
If you’re an ironing purist, you might scoff at garment steamers – perhaps you think they’re a steam iron’s poor cousin.
And in some ways you’re right: James says they’re generally not a substitute for an iron.
Garment steamers are good for some jobs but not others.
However, depending on how crease-free you want your clothes, they can do a good-enough job.
And they’re very good for dresses, especially ones that are pleated or have ruffles. They’re also a godsend for anything made from silk.
They’re handy for delicate or vintage items, and they also double as a tool for refreshing upholstery and soft furnishings.
They don’t have a spray function, but a water spray bottle essentially does the same job.
6. All stations to ironing perfection
For the ultimate iron, James says steam stations are the way to go – but they’re not for everyone.
Essentially a turbo-charged steam iron, their large water reservoir means they produce far more steam than traditional irons, making short work of crinkled clothes.
However, they’re bigger and heavier than a traditional iron. Some come with an integrated ironing board, which can be hard to stow away and you may need to leave them set up.
They generally lack a spray function, but that’s where your spray bottle comes in: for stubborn creases, a quick spray will boost your steam station’s powers.
Alice Richard is a Content creator and marketer. Alice writes on a range of topics, from health insurance to heaters and BBQs to bargain-hunting, always with the aim to help consumers find the best products to buy, and which to avoid.
Alice can take vast amounts of data from CHOICE product tests and turn it into content that is easily digestible and fun for readers.
Alice has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland.
Alice Richard is a Content creator and marketer. Alice writes on a range of topics, from health insurance to heaters and BBQs to bargain-hunting, always with the aim to help consumers find the best products to buy, and which to avoid.
Alice can take vast amounts of data from CHOICE product tests and turn it into content that is easily digestible and fun for readers.
Alice has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland.
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