Ironing a Shirt

Martha demonstrates the proper way to iron a shirt.

Ironing a Shirt

It's one of those chores that most of us would rather avoid: Maneuvering an iron around buttons, tussling with pockets that only seem to get more wrinkled -- the frustration can make you want to pay the dry cleaner to do the work for you. But ironing a shirt doesn't have to be difficult. Here are some tips for making it a manageable task.

Tools and Materials

Well-laundered, damp shirt
Spray bottle
Towel
Heavy iron
Ironing board

Ironing a Shirt How-To
1. Begin with a well-laundered, damp shirt. Cotton and linen should be almost wet when ironing for best results. Spray the shirt with water, roll it into a ball, and keep it wrapped in a towel for up to 24 hours.

2. Spray the shirt with sizing rather than starch -- you will get a neat, but not stiff result. Allow the sizing to be absorbed into the fibers for a couple of minutes before ironing.

3. Using a heavy iron on a high setting and an ironing board with a terry-cloth cover, begin ironing the inside of the cuffs and up the tabs of the sleeves.

4. Turning the tab side of the sleeve upward, iron up the inside of the sleeve. Repeat with the other sleeve.

5. Fit the shirt smoothly over the end of the board, and iron the yoke.

6. Iron the inside-front panels. You can iron right over the buttons and the pocket from the back side of the fabric -- the buttons will be protected from the heat and the pocket will come out smooth.

7. Move on to the right-front panel, the back of the shirt, the side seams, and around to the left-front panel.

8. Spray the collar with a little sizing, stretch it taut, then iron over each side. Fold the collar neatly down, and press along the seam. Hang your impeccably pressed shirt on a hanger, buttoning the top button to hold it in place.

Get the Full Article

Ironing a Shirt

Related Videos 23 Videos