How To Get Wrinkles Out Of Your Clothes Without Using An Iron
There are days when pulling out an iron feels like more work than your outfit is worth. Maybe you’re running late, maybe the iron is buried in a closet, or maybe you’re traveling and don’t have an iron on hand. The good news is that wrinkles are surprisingly easy to tame without the most common tools. These tricks rely on steam, gravity, and a little patience to get wrinkles out. And some of them might make you question why you still have an iron at all.
Let The Shower Do The Work
This one sounds almost too easy, because it is. Hang your wrinkled clothes in the bathroom while you take a hot shower before getting dressed. Close the door and let the steam build up. The moisture relaxes the fabric fibers in your clothes, allowing wrinkles to fall out naturally. After about ten minutes, gently smooth the garment over with your hands. It works best on lighter fabrics like cotton and blends, and it costs nothing except the water you’re already using in your shower.
Borrow Heat From Everyday Appliances
If you’re careful, other everyday items that heat up can help. A hair dryer on low heat can relax wrinkles when held a few inches away from the fabric. Keep the garment slightly damp and keep the dryer moving constantly to avoid damaging or burning your clothes. This works best for small areas like hems or shoulders of shirts. It’s not a real replacement for ironing, but it can save an outfit in a pinch.
Put Ice In The Dryer
Toss wrinkled clothes into the dryer with a damp washcloth or a few ice cubes. Set it on medium heat for about ten minutes. The moisture from the ice or cloth creates steam, while the tumbling action helps release wrinkles. Remove your clothes as soon as the ten minutes are up and hang them up or lay them flat to dry. Leaving them in the dryer too long can undo all your progress and make them even MORE wrinkly. This method is quick and works well when you need to get wrinkles out fast.
Try This Simple Spray Bottle Trick
Lightly mist wrinkled areas with water using a spray bottle. You don’t want the fabric to get soaked, just slightly damp. Then, gently pull and smooth the fabric with your hands. Hang the item and let it air dry the rest of the way. As the water evaporates, the fibers will relax and reshape themselves without wrinkles. This is especially helpful for collars, sleeves, and any clothes with a few wrinkly spots that don’t need a full refresh.
Use The Bottom Of A Warm Pot Or Pan
This one feels a little old-school, but it works in a pinch. Heat a pot or pan on the stove, then remove it and let it cool slightly so it’s warm, but not hot enough to burn you if you touch it. Place the flat bottom directly over wrinkled fabric and press gently, moving slowly like you would an iron. The heat relaxes the fibers, while the smooth surface on the bottom of the pot flattens them. This hack is especially useful for collars, hems, and small, wrinkly areas when nothing else is handy.
Use A Flat Surface And Gentle Pressure
Sometimes gravity needs a little help to pull wrinkles out. Lay your wrinkled clothes flat on a bed or table and smooth it with your hands. Then, place a clean towel on top and press down on it firmly, using your palms. You can also sit on the towel for extra pressure. It sounds silly, but it works surprisingly well for lighter wrinkles. It’s quiet, simple, and requires no heat or electricity at all.
Hang Clothes While They Cool
This trick is one you might not realize you’re already doing. After washing or drying, hang your clothes up while they’re still warm. Smooth them gently as you hang them and let gravity finish the job. Wrinkles set as fabric cools, so shaping garments before they dry and cool entirely makes a big difference. This habit prevents wrinkles before they can form, which is way easier than fixing them later.
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Getting dressed in the morning, only to find wrinkles in your clothes can feel like your outfit is ruined. And not everyone has the energy or time to pull out their ironing board and spend time ironing out every crease. These methods work because they work with the natural way that fabric behaves rather than trying to bully it into cooperating. These hacks are practical, forgiving, and easy to do pretty much anywhere. So say goodbye to wrinkly clothes (and maybe your iron too) for good.
Bliss Donahue-Power
