What Not to Do When Ironing?

Now for the reason that you are here, what should you NOT do when ironing laundry! Here are our top ten things that you should never do.

• Not emptying the water after using the iron.

While you may think it’s not that big of a deal to leave water in the iron, it can lead to you using dirty water on your next load of laundry. The last thing you want is to have to start the task of washing items from scratch!

• Ironing fabrics that are too dry. It will be a much harder task and you could damage the garments.

It is a common misconception that garments must be done dry before they can be ironed. In fact, if they are too dry, there is a higher chance of burn marks, which could lead to irreparable damage.

This is why it’s recommended to have a spray bottle close by and to use the steam function on your iron. This also helps when removing tough creases, as a bit of dampness can loosen things up and remove the crease with little heat.

• Using hard or untreated water if you live in a chalky water area.

If you are using hard water, this will be transferred to your clothing.

If this is the case, it is always best to use fabric ironing water, as it eliminates the chance of new dirt being ironed into your items. If you use hard water, you will find that your clothing will be slightly rougher to the touch, which no one wants.

• Ironing items without an ironing board cover or on another random surface.

We know it can be tempting to quickly use the kitchen surface when you are in a rush, but your clothing will tell that tale all day long if you do. Ironing items without a padded board can lead to long-lasting creases and even damage to the underneath surface.

• Wearing clothing too quickly.

You may be surprised to read our next point: you should never put on freshly ironed clothes immediately. This is because the fabric is at its most delicate when warm. If you stretch it out of shape, you could have a misshapen garment forever.

Leave your items for long enough to cool down, and you will find that the freshly ironed finish lasts for longer.

• Not planning the order in which you tackle the pile of ironing.

Another mistake that people commonly make is just ironing things in any order.

This is not a good idea as each item should be treated individually, with the wrong heat causing damage if you are not careful. You could extend the unwanted task even longer if you need to wait for the iron to cool before treating a delicate item.

Sort your laundry into piles before you start, and go from delicate to more robust.

• Letting your iron get grubby over time.

This might sound simple, but you would be surprised by how many people don’t clean their iron.

If you let dirt build up, this will transfer to clothing items and, in the worst cases, leave a permanent stain which is embedded into the fabric.

• Not using the mist function on your iron.

Another way to add some good dampness into your clothing is by using the mist function on the iron.

This will also mean you can use a lower heat setting with the same effects which will ensure your clothing stays in great condition for longer.

• Not checking that items are 100% clean before you start to iron them.

Hard to treat stains. Red wine after a night out, food stains from a teething baby, or even muddy paw prints.

If these are not properly removed before you iron the clothing post-wash, you may find yourself inadvertently locking in the unwanted design forever. Check that items are completely clean and ready to be finished before you iron them.

• Ironing clothing using circular motions.

Last not not least is the way that you iron the items. Most people think circular motions are ok but they can actually cause the fabric to strain over time.

Ironing should be done in an up and down motion that matches the natural flow of sticking and fabric fibres.

Is There an Alternative to Ironing at Home?