De-wrinkling a garment without an iron
Traveling or in a hurry in the morning? No iron? Here is how to remove creases without a board.
Recommended Materials
- Hanger
- Hot shower
- Hair dryer
- Water spray
Steps to follow
Step 1
The shower technique (ideal when traveling): Hang the garment on a hanger in the bathroom, door closed, while you take a nice hot shower. The water steam will relax the fabric fibers. Once the shower is finished, gently pull on the bottom of the garment to smooth the creases and let dry for 10 min.
Step 2
The hair dryer: Lightly wet the wrinkled areas (with a water spray or your damp hands). Pass the hair dryer set to hot a few centimeters from the fabric while stretching it with the other hand. The heat + humidity make the creases disappear.
Step 3
The hair straightener: It's great for ironing a shirt collar, cuffs or a trouser hem. Use it like a pincer iron. Watch out for the temperature (not too hot for synthetic, test first). Clean the plates well before so as not to put hair product on the garment.
Step 4
The damp towel: Lay the garment flat on a bed or table. Place a clean, damp (wrung out) towel on top. Press with your hands to smooth. Remove the towel and let the garment dry on a hanger.
Step 5
The homemade wrinkle release spray: In a spray bottle, mix water, a spoonful of fabric softener and a spoonful of household alcohol. Spray on the hanging garment, pull on the fabric, let dry. The softener relaxes the fibers, the alcohol helps dry quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the dryer de-wrinkle ?
YES! If you have a dryer, put the dry garment (even wrinkled) with a wet washcloth or 2-3 ice cubes. Run a hot cycle of 10-15 min. The steam created will de-wrinkle the laundry like a dry cleaner. Take it out immediately and hang it up.
Precautions
- Do not burn the fabric with the straightener.
- Do not wet excessively (risk of halos).
