Do you roll your eyes when someone mentions ironing, because you think that skill is impossible to master? People usually hate ironing because they think it is complicated. Others are simply afraid of ruining their clothes. The truth is that ironing can be fun only if you follow the rules. Learn how to iron clothes properly, using our easy step-by-step guide for beginners:

Invest in a good iron.

If you want to iron clothes safely and with quality, you must first invest in a good iron. The best irons heat up quickly and remove creases with ease. Have you ever ruined your favorite thing because of a bad iron? If so, it's time to experience a real ironing revolution.

The ST-53 Portable Handheld Garment Steamer by Smartek represents a revolution in garment care, featuring a electromagnetic pump that releases efficient steam without spilling a drop at any angle. Whether your curtains need a clean look or your dress got wrinkles in the closet, you can achieve professional-grade garment care at home or during travel, using this portable device.
 
The ST-53 Portable Handheld Garment Steamer heats up in less than 1 minute and once heated, it’s almost impossible to damage any material using a clothes steamer. Besides, the Smartek steamer is perfect for trips because it is portable and a small convenient size so it easily fits in a suitcase.

Hurry and get it along with more unique products in your winter subscription box by BREO BOX. 

Make sure it’s clean. 

There’s nothing worse than starting to iron your favorite dress, only to have your dirty iron leave stains. Every time before you start ironing, check if the base plate is clean and that the metal plate won’t stick. If your iron is already dirty, you can use distilled water to clean it. Also, you can try wiping stains with baking soda and water or use white vinegar to get it off the base plate.
 

Check the care labels before ironing.

The care labels are very important so that you know how to iron things. Some clothes can't be ironed, so it's best to find out before you start ironing and ruining your favorite clothes. If you are a total beginner and you’re not sure what the symbols on the care label mean, search for icon explanation online.
 
First of all, make sure that the items can be ironed. Check for the iron-safe symbol. If there is no such symbol, check the material. Generally, a low setting is suitable for acetate or rayon, while high settings are suitable for cotton. Also on almost every piece of clothes, you can find a symbol of an iron with one, two, or three dots in it, meaning you should use low (about 230 degrees), medium (about 300 degrees), or high (about 390 degrees) heat. If you see an ‘X’ through iron, DON’T IRON THAT ITEM! 

Photo by Immo Wegmann on Unsplash

Unbutton and unzip garments.  

This is a simple rule. Always unbutton and unzip clothes before ironing. Why? Because the buttoned or zipped clothes won’t sit right on the ironing board. Also, try to avoid common mistake: never iron over buttons and zippers.
 

Set up the ironing board.

In addition to a good iron, you will also need a good ironing board. First of all, make sure that the ironing board is of good quality and that it stands firmly. You certainly don't want to be unstable while ironing and get hurt. If you set it too low, you might also get a backache. To avoid the injuries, buy a lightweight ironing board that is adjustable to position the height properly.
 

Heat the iron. 

An iron needs to reach a certain temperature so that you can use it properly. Do not use the iron immediately after turning it on, as it will not have any effect. Make sure you give the iron enough time to heat up and reach desired temperature. If required, do not forget to pour water into the iron. Also, be careful how you handle the iron when it is completely heated.
 

How to iron denim and pants.  

It's not that hard to iron denim. If you are a beginner, try ironing jeans first, before a silk blouse or cashmere sweater. For ironing denim material, you need to use the highest steam and temperature settings. If you don't have steam function on your iron, you can use water spray bottle. It would be great if your iron had the steam burst option to eliminate creases.
 
Pull the pants over the pointy part of the ironing board, pull the pockets inside out and lay the legs down on the ironing board one at a time. If you have to iron the dress pants, use a gentle touch and press the iron on the fabric, not rub. As a beginner, it’s totally fine to use a towel or fabric between the iron and your clothes.

How to iron velvet.

Velvet dresses are beautiful, but very demanding when it comes to ironing. Basically, the velvet material shouldn’t be ironed. Because they're easy to damage, ironing on the wrong side will prevent crushing and even removing the texture. In this case, a garment steamer is a better option than the classic iron.
 
The Portable Handheld Garment Steamer by Smartek works great on delicate materials. It’s almost impossible to damage any material using a clothes steamer. Get it in your winter subscription box by BREO BOX and discover more cool gadgets.
 

When you finish.

Never forget to unplug the iron when you're done! Never grab the iron by the metal part while it is fully heated. Allow the iron to cool down completely before storing. Irons usually take about 45 minutes to an hour to cool down, so make sure to place them someone safe and away from kids. 
 
If you have used water, don’t forget to drain the tank after each use. When the iron is cool, clean it manually or turn on the self-clean function.