10 Tips for Ironing Clothes
Author: Julie Baka
Ironing clothes doesn't have to be a dreaded chore. With the right equipment, a little preparation, and a few simple techniques, you can make ironing faster and easier while getting better results. These ten ironing tips will help you handle wrinkles, care for different fabrics, and spend less time standing at the ironing board.
Tips for Ironing Clothes
1. Use the Right Ironing Equipment
As with any other task, having the right equipment will make ironing a lot less burdensome.
- Iron - irons come in a large variety of types, capabilities and price ranges. Do a little research to see what kind of iron will realistically fit your needs. Take good care of it and your iron will last for many years.
- Ironing board - there are a lot of options for ironing boards on the market, from free-standing to over-the-door to built-in, etc. Choose a pretty cover and make your ironing board part of the room's decor.
- Spray bottle - keep a spray bottle filled with water or a can of spray starch handy to help smooth out stubborn wrinkles. You can even make homemade spray starch to save money.
2. Hang Dry Clothes When Possible
Air drying lets gravity do some of the work for you. Hanging clothes neatly on a clothesline can help reduce wrinkles, especially if you shake out each garment and smooth the fabric before hanging it. A gentle breeze can also help keep the fabrics supple. Just remember to remove the clothes promptly once they are dry.
3. Use Distilled Water When Needed
Unless your iron is made to use tap water, only put distilled water in the iron. The minerals and chemicals found in tap water can stain your clothing and will eventually ruin your iron. For a separate spray bottle, distilled water is a good choice because it won't leave mineral deposits behind.
4. Keep the Bottom of the Iron Clean
Keeping the soleplate of your iron clean and smooth helps it glide more easily over clothing and prevents dirt or residue from transferring onto the fabric. Check your iron's instructions for the proper way to clean the soleplate.
5. Keep Your Ironing Supplies Together
Have an assigned place for all of your ironing equipment. Knowing you are not going to have to spend twenty minutes combing the house before you even get started will make the chore far less intimidating.
6. Check the Clothing Care Label
Always check the clothing care label before ironing a garment. Some fabrics require a low temperature, while others should not be ironed at all. Turning the iron up to high won't necessarily make the chore go faster — it might even melt that favorite blouse!
7. Iron Delicate Fabrics First
Iron delicate fabrics that need a low setting first, then work your way up to a higher setting. It is faster to use the iron as it is warming up rather than waiting on it to cool down.
8. Iron Clothes While Slightly Damp
Many clothes are easier to iron when they are slightly damp. You can start ironing before the fabric is completely dry, lightly mist it with a spray bottle, or use the steam function on your iron. Just be sure that the fabric can safely be ironed with moisture and steam.
9. Hang Clothes Immediately After Ironing
Properly hang the garment as soon as you are done ironing it. Throwing it into a neat pile to hang later will counteract all of your hard work.
10. Iron Collars, Cuffs, and Pleats First
Iron the more difficult detailed parts of the garment such as the collar, pleats, and cuffs first. It is faster if you save the larger, flatter sections of the garment for last.
How to Set Up an Efficient Ironing Area
There are a few people who love to iron their clothes. They find the task to be very soothing and relaxing. Others consider it an unpleasant chore and do it just when absolutely necessary. They undertake the dreaded task only before the big company meeting or a family friend's wedding. But most people loathe ironing, avoiding it at all costs. They purchase wrinkle free clothing or hire someone else to iron for them, or simply walk around looking rumpled and unkempt.
With a few simple changes to your ironing setup, the chore may not become enjoyable, but it can at least become more tolerable.
Use Good Ironing Equipment
The iron you inherited from grandma with duct tape wrapped around its cord. The ironing board with the broken leg bought at the charity rummage sale. The kids' squirt gun. These might all be items you grab when it comes time to iron. But these things will only make the chore more difficult, make it take longer, and make it that much more frustrating. You don't need to purchase the newest and priciest equipment on the market, but a little investment up front will really pay off for years to come. A good iron, a solid ironing board, and a fine-mist spray bottle are all the basics you need to make the task a little faster and easier.
Create a Convenient Ironing Space
Ironing can be made even more annoying when you have to search the house for everything you need before you can get started. Did you last use the iron when making crafts with the kids, or to kill that cockroach? Is the ironing board out in the garage being used as a tool bench, or is it still part of the fort in the playroom? Was the spray bottle last used to water the plants, or to spray the neighborhood tomcat?
Knowing everything is already in one area will make just the idea of ironing far less daunting. It doesn't have to be a large or fancy space. A corner in the laundry room or a spot in the basement by the television works great. This is the area where the iron, the ironing board, and a spray bottle can always be found. Maybe add a clothes rack, hangers, and sewing kit if space is ample.
What if your studio apartment isn't large enough for a designated ironing area? Then choose equipment that is compact and easy to store. A small iron and a tabletop ironing board can fit in a bedroom closet, allowing freshly pressed clothing to be hung up right away.
Share the Ironing Responsibilities
Family members might think twice about crumpling up their clothes and throwing them in the hamper if they know they'll be responsible for ironing them. And don't forget to teach the kids how to iron when they're old enough to handle the task safely. After all, do you really want them learning how to press a shirt on the morning of their first job interview, or getting ironing lessons from a college roommate?
Ironing may not be the favorite chore of most people, but with the right tools and preparation it can be less of a drudge.
Disclaimer: You are responsible for any suggestions you choose to follow, or not follow. This advice is offered for consideration with no guarantee of safety or effectiveness. Use this information at your own risk.
Article modified 11/11/2026
This article's author, Julie Baka, is the co-owner of BestDryingRack.com and is active in her region's agriculture, energy, and community organizations.
She grew up assisting her mom and grandmother doing the weekly laundry with wringer washer and an outdoor clothesline on their family dairy farm in Indiana.