#ironclothes

You may be obsessed with buying expensive irons in most cases. However, not interested in spending too much money on ironing boards. 

When ironing is not up to the mark, you may wonder what the hell is going on. I suggest you use a wider ironing board for better results. 

Are wide ironing boards better? Wide ironing boards always allow you to iron without any trouble. Polishing extra-large garments, removing wrinkles, and quilting is more comfortable with such size. They may be a little bit pricy, although buying them may be a profitable investment for you.

Does it sound fun to you? Read the whole article! 

Pros of wide ironing boards

Polishing extra-large garments

First of all, take a look at your apartment. Is it full of fancy drapes, beddings, curtains, and comforters? If so, pick a wider ironing board instead of buying smaller ones like tabletop or ironing blanket. 

On smaller surfaces, it's too difficult to process extra-large fabrics. Most importantly, your house may be a wonderful nesting place of bed bugs, dust mites, and fungus! Removing them from longer garments is pretty challenging, provided that you use a tiny board. 

Therefore, buy a wide ironing board. Are you worried about space in your apartment? Luckily, these can be folded and keep behind doors or in closets easily. So, purchase them without any hesitation.

 Better for quilting

For a quilting lover (like my wife!), buying a wide ironing board is necessary. With such a board, you can process joins quickly. 

Surface of a standard-sized ironing board is 14 by 48 inches. You may need a wider surface during quilting. Remember, the wider, the better! It's simple.

Better ironing result

If you prefer to iron on bed or table, you may observe wrinkles in garments even after ironing. Polishing tough spots of clothes on uneven surfaces may be challenging for you. You may notice scorch marks in the worst cases.

Therefore, purchasing an ironing board is crucial. However, when the board isn't wide enough, you may not treat all garments quickly. So, buy a wider ironing board, although it is somewhat expensive. It will-

Make ironing easier for you.

Keep garments safe.

Save you a lot of time.

Allow you to balance and move without any difficulty.

Smooth garments within minutes.

It may be a nightmare when your favorite garments shrink. So, you should know whether ironing shrinks your clothes or not.

Does ironing shrink clothes? No, ironing doesn’t shrink

clothes in most cases. However, you need to ensure the right setting for every fabric. At high temperatures, iron may shrink synthetic fibers, like polyester, nylon, or spandex. In contrast, natural fabrics like cotton or wool don’t shrink when ironed. However, at extreme temperatures, cotton may shrink.

 What does iron do to clothes?

 During ironing, hot soleplate weakens the bond between particles of a fiber. Therefore, when iron presses the fabrics, it can be reshaped easily. In this way, iron forces fabrics to retain their shape overages.

 Now, you may know that iron doesn’t shrink clothes. Then, what are the specific roles of ironing to clothes? Take a look-

Iron removes wrinkles from clothes.  

It helps to rectify bad spots from clothes.

Helps fabric to retain their shape over time.

It keeps the fabric smooth.

 So, ironing never shrinks clothes in normal condition. But, in extreme situations, it may shrink synthetic, like polyesters or spandex. Even it may stretch clothes, if treat at extremely hot temperatures. 

 Why do clothes shrink?

Shrink can be defined as the overall change in the appearance or properties of clothes. In general, natural fibers shrink more compared to synthetic one. Synthetic fabrics are popular because of their anti-wrinkle, stiffness nature. 

If you wash natural fibers, cotton, wool with extremely hot water, they may shrink. Therefore, it is always recommended to wash them with either cool or warm water. Another cause of shrinkage is the rough movement inside the washing machine.

 Your favorite cotton sweater may shrink if you use iron or dryer at hot temperatures. Such a situation can shrink polyester, spandex, and nylon too.

 Hence, the main reasons behind shrinkage are-

High temperature of dryer and washer.

Rough movement in washer.

Extremely high temperature of iron.

 Does ironing stretch clothes?

 No, ironing can’t stretch clothes. However, you can straighten your cotton shirt with an iron. 

First, wet your t-shirt in cool water.

Use your hand to remove excess water from garment. 

Now, lay it on an ironing board. Choose a robust ironing board to     do so. You can pick a reading table or your bed. 

Keep your iron on low to medium heat and press it on the fabric.     Cover the whole area and go in every direction. Flip the t-shirt over and     iron the back too.

Leave your fabric flat on the ironing board and give it the last     tug. Spread it out using weights around borders. 

 How to prevent clothes from shrinking

 Check care label

Are you struggling with ironing clothes? After a hard day at the office, it isn't easy to iron. 

 For a beginner, ironing could be a nightmare. So to save you from this crisis, I'm giving you some tips.

Why don't you take a look at these tips? Are you ready? 

 Let's go! 

Pick a Good Iron

There are so many renowned irons in the market. Try to pick the best and efficient one. Don't think too much about the price. Instead, consider this purchase as an investment for your home and family members. 

 If money is not a problem for you, buy a steam generator iron. This iron can process clothes much quicker. This is because it has a larger water tank, allowing you to iron hours after hours. In addition, its powerful steam burst can offer you wrinkle-free clothes in minutes.

 Buy An Ironing Board

 Buy an ironing board that fits you. Are you worried about spacing in your tiny apartment? Don't worry. There are so many types of ironing boards in the market. Choose one that suits you the best. You can pick-

Small ironing board

Medium ironing board

Large ironing board

Extra-large ironing board

Over-the-door ironing board

Wall-mounted ironing board

Tabletop ironing board

However, you can use a reading table or your bed too. But, ironing on these surfaces is tricky. For example, ironing on the bed may cause a fire. Therefore, buying an ironing board is a must for a newbie like you.

Read The Instruction Manual

 Perfect ironing isn't an easy task. So, try to read and understand the instruction manual of your iron. It will help you to understand the optimal temperature and steam settings for your clothes. 

A modern-day iron comes with many options, like auto shut-off, self-clean, anti-calc, and anti-drip. Understanding those features assist you in reducing the ironing time by a significant margin.

Moreover, clean your iron regularly according to the manual. A clogged iron can never process clothes easily. 

If you lost your manual, visit the manufacturer's website to download it.  

 Use Washer And Dryer Correctly

 Using the perfect setting in the washer and dryer can make the ironing process a lot easier. If you can't set the ideal setting, ironing will be tough and damage clothes for good. Therefore, follow the instructions below-

First thing first, check clothing tags before washing them. If the label says gentle wash, do it. 

Don't overload your washer and dryer with clothes. If so, some delicate fabrics may ruin. Don't go crazy in such a     situation. 

Avoid using harsh detergent. Rather pick a liquid softener. 

Use laundry bags. It will save your clothes from the rough movements in the washing machine.

After washing, always air dry clothes instead of using the dryer. Using a dryer at a hot temperature may permanently damage some clothes, like polyester, spandex, and linen. 

 Iron Clean Clothes

Before ironing, always check whether clothes are dirty or not. Ironing dirty clothes is a huge waste of time. Moreover, ironing will fix the stain or dark spot on the clothes permanently.

Therefore, if your garments are dirty, clean those first. 

Use a Pressing Cloth

 t's totally common if you don't know what pressing cloth is? Pressing cloth is a material that protects your clothes from extreme heat of soleplate. 

Unfortunately, some fabrics can't endure high temperatures. So using pressing clothes for those fabrics is a must.

 Always use pressing cloth for ironing silk, new synthetic, PVC, and leather fabrics. Using a pressing cloth means-

Smooth finishing of your clothes.

It protects your dress.

Protect clothes from shiny marks.

Protect soleplate of iron from starched cloth.

Quicker ironing.

If you don't have pressing cloth, use silk organza, 100% cotton shirt, or old bed sheet cover. It's so simple! You don't need to buy them online or from the store. 

Some of you may be a great fan of the polyester garment. You always pack your fancy polyester shirt, pant, or sleeveless dress with you when you travel. Why do you do so? Yeah, it is wrinkle-resistant, durable, and always fancy wearing. I have no problem with that as I am a big fan of this fabric too.

Can you iron Polyester? Yes, you can. But, it would help if you kept the temperature at a lower level. Try to fix it around 300 F or 148 C. Otherwise, iron will destroy the fabric.

Are you curious to know more? Luckily, you are in the right place.

Come with me!

Table of Contents [show]

What is Polyester?

Polyester is a synthetic fabric derived from petroleum. It is one of the most popular fabrics in the world for the following issues-

It is Durable

Moisture-resistant.

Extremely strong.

Can be easily washed and dried.

Wrinkles resistant and can retain their shape over time.

Non-biodegradable.

Easy to clean.

However, Polyester doesn’t give a premium feel. Therefore, one may feel uneasy in hot weather. For such weather, try to wear something softer. So, never forget it when you want to buy a dress.

Is ironing Polyester safe?

It’s a difficult question to answer. If you can’t set the temperature to a lower level, ironing may ruin your dress. In fact, Polyester can’t resist high temperatures.

However, it’s okay if you know how to iron a polyester dress and do it properly. First, observe the temperature panel of your ion. Now, move it to the polyester setting. Some irons may use a scale of 1 to 3. Set your iron to scale 1 or 2. Otherwise, place it at 300 F or 148 C. Now, ironing is safer for your fabric.

For better understanding, visit the manufacturer’s website.

Safest Temperature to iron fabric

You have already known the safest temperature to iron Polyester. However, I am presenting you with two tables to understand the perfect temperature and scale for each fabric for your convenience.

I hope you will find these tables handy.

Are you searching for a great iron for your home? Then, Black + Decker D2030 may be the best purchase for you. Like Sunbeam Steam Master, it is manufactured in China. However, it has gained so much popularity in the US because of its impressive performance.

In this article, I’ll describe the features, specifications, pros, and cons of this product.

Let’s dive in!

General Overview

According to manufacturers, Black + Decker D2030 is one of the most trusted models in the ironing industry. With this iron, you can get professional results for almost any fabric.

This model comes with a convenient LCD. So, you can control the steam burst and temperature setting with the touch of buttons.

Its steam burst is quite powerful. So, you can easily vertical steam your clothes.

The stainless steel soleplate moves smoothly over fabrics without damaging them. Moreover, it is the perfect one to work for a longer duration.

Lastly, the 3-way auto shut-off keeps you and the iron always safe. So, you are safe from any danger caused by iron.

Features

Large Water Tank

Its water tank can hold 10 to 12 oz. of water. That’s a great advantage in this price range. You can iron more fabrics without refilling the water tank again and again. So, it can save time and free you from hassle.

Medium Range of Power

It comes with a wattage of 1500, comparatively lower than other irons in this price range. However, it heats up quickly, and steam works for a longer period.

This iron can reach the highest possible temperature within two minutes. So, it won’t be tough for you to process tougher fabrics, like polyester.

Intuitive Dial

The design of D2030 is super simple. Anyone can operate this iron, thanks to its handy LCD. The days of moving temperature knobs are gone.

However, the position of steam dial is somewhat awkward. As a result, I faced difficulty while operating this iron.

Ergonomically Designed Handle

The ergonomically designed handle never hurts your elbow. So, you can iron for longer hours.

I never found difficulty using this iron. However, the handle of Rowenta DW6080 is more convenient compared to this one.

Stainless Steel Soleplate

Its heavy-duty soleplate can glide smoothly over fabrics t. In addition, this stainless steel base can effectively remove bad spots with less effort.

Digital LCD Display

The digital LCD lets you set the steam burst and fabric setting only by touching buttons. With this LCD, you’ll have no problem fixing the optimal settings.

Moreover, this display will show “ready” when it reaches the set temperature. Thus, you can start working as soon as the display shows it.

Variable Temperature and Steam

This useful feature will allow you to select temperature and steam features according to the fabric type. That means no more wastage.

For heavier fabrics, you can set high temperatures and steam easily. Such features will save a lot of time.

Vertical Steam

With its powerful steam, you can vertical steam your favorite dresses. So, don’t buy an ironing board.

However, it has only 31 steam vents in the soleplate, which is comparatively lower than that of Rowenta DW6080 iron.

Surprisingly, its steam burst is pretty impressive. During series steam, I had to wait for only 7 seconds after one steam to get another. It creates almost 24 gm. /Min of steam, which is not that great.

Rowenta iron may be a wonderful choice for your home. It can save you with wrinkle-free polished garments. But, if you don’t know how to clean this iron properly, you may end up with a damaged one very soon. So, always take good care of it.

Cleaning Rowenta iron

There are several ways to clean your iron. Check the following tips and tricks to improve its lifespan.

Cleaning with baking soda

Baking soda is one of the most widely used materials in the cleaning industry. You can use it to clean your Rowenta iron too.

First, turn off your iron and let it cool.

Now, take ½ of baking soda in a container. Add some water to make a paste. Don’t pour too much water.

After making the paste, apply it on soleplate and wait for few minutes.

Take a clean towel and clean the soleplate carefully. You can use water if needed. Clean the steam holes carefully. Otherwise, you may face problems during your next ironing.

Leave the iron for several minutes and let it dry.

Cleaning with vinegar

Vinegar is another good cleaner. Do you use it often? You can use it for cleaning water reservoir of your Rowenta iron too.

First, unplug the iron from power connection. Let it cool if it is too hot. Hot iron may hurt your skin. So, be careful.

Check out the steam vents on soleplate for white residue. Clean those with a toothpick. Don’t use metal items as they will distort the soleplate.  After cleaning the soleplate properly, vinegar will work better.

Prepare a mixture of ¼ of vinegar and ¾ of distilled water. Pour it into the water reservoir. If your iron is too clogged, use a larger amount of vinegar.

Plugin the iron and turn on the steam function. Leave the iron for at least five minutes to heat up.

Check the steam button at the front of handle. Push it down and let the iron steam for 20-30 seconds. Repeat this process 6 to 7 times and check whether steam is working properly or not.

Unplug the iron and empty the water tank. Otherwise, minerals will build up in the reservoir.

Now, fill the reservoir with one cup of distilled water and turn it in. Hold the steam button to clean your iron properly.

You may damage your fabrics during ironing. Have you set the temperature knob perfectly? Then, you may forget to use a pressing cloth. Am I right?

What is a pressing cloth for ironing? Pressing cloth is a piece of cotton, muslin, or mesh clothes used to protect dresses from hot soleplate during ironing. It ensures smooth and quicker finishing. Moreover, it saves your precious iron from melted materials.  

Are Pressing and Ironing Cloths the Same?

Yeah, both processes are almost the same. Pressing and ironing both use iron to remove wrinkles from clothes.

However, there is only one difference between them. Pressing means holding the iron on selected areas to remove tough wrinkles. Whereas ironing means cover the whole clothes with an iron to smooth it. So, pressing may be a small part of the entire ironing process.

When to use

You don’t need to use pressing cloth to iron every material. Just use one for the following fabrics–

Silk materials

If you are going to iron a delicate fabric, you should use a pressing cloth. Such thicker fabrics can’t endure high temperatures. So, never forget to use a pressing cloth for ironing silk materials.

A new synthetic material

Always use a pressing cloth when you are going to polish new synthetic material. Artificial fibers can be melted at extremely high temperatures.

Scuba fabric

Scuba is generally used to make leggings, party dresses, and dancewear. You can easily take care of this fabric, and it looks stunningly gorgeous. However, you need to very careful when you are going to iron this synthetic material. Always use a pressing cloth to protect it from damage.

PVC, oilcloth and leather

These fabrics are difficult to process. Therefore, you have to use pressing clothes to achieve smooth finishing. Otherwise, you may lose your fabulous leather jacket.

Dyed cloth

You may be a big fan of dyed clothes. However, you should know that the dying process can ruin the stature of a fabric. So, never iron your favorite dyed clothes without a pressing cloth.

Ironing has become a daily necessity for most people. You might not realize it, but you iron your clothes every day! But with so many different types of irons on the market these days - which one should you get?

 Nowadays, the most famous debate in ironing blogs is to decide which iron is best. This article will clarify the differences between these two types of irons, their pros and cons, and help you understand which one is perfect for you. First of all, we start our journey by describing the most crucial dry and steam iron features, followed by the pros and cons.

Dry iron:

           Dry iron is still now a popular choice among users because of its simple design. As the name suggests, dry irons utilize their soleplate to offer you a wrinkle-free dress.

 Dry iron has the following features:

· No water tank.

· Contains a solid soleplate.

· Non-versatile

· Power may be as high as 1500 watts. 

· Ironing quality is average.

 Pros and Cons of dry iron:

 Like every product, dry iron has the following advantages and disadvantages:

 Pros:

· Lightweight and energy saving.

· Suitable with almost every type of fabric.

· Cleaning process is easy.

· Easy to operate.

· Inexpensive and lasts longer.

· Never leave marks on clothes.

 Cons:

· Steam feature is unavailable.

· Time-consuming.

· No extra features.

· Poor performance on Velvet, Cotton, and Linen.

· Can’t remove all types of wrinkles.

· Fabric becomes rough after ironing.

 Steam iron:

 Steam iron uses steam holes and a steam blast to process clothes. The design of this iron is somewhat different from dry iron because of advanced features like steam vents, steam blast, water tank, and vertical steaming. Interestingly, it comes up with a dual option, which allows you to use it as dry iron. 

 Features of steam iron:

· Great number of additional features.

· Not time consuming

· Power may be as high as 2750 watts.

· Better performance.

 Pros and Cons of steam iron:

Steam iron has some positive and negative aspects too. Check out the following table:

 Pros:

· Allows vertical ironing.

· Versatile

· Have safety features.

· Auto shutdown option is available.

· Works better with stubborn wrinkles.

· Fabric stays smooth after ironing.

 Cons:

· Somewhat heavy.

· Design is a little bit complex.

· Consumes more power.

· Leave marks on the cloth.

· Not suitable with every fabric. 

· Cleaning process is complex.