How to Iron Dresses: Our Step By Step Guide
As with many things in life, there is never an absolute correct way to do anything! Indeed, this applies to the topic of this blog on how to iron dresses. There are a range of factors to consider when ironing dresses from the type of material used through to the cut, design, and style of them. However, we would advise that when ironing a dress care needs to taken to iron it in a certain sequence of steps to achieve the best professional outcome and to avoid awful creasing. This task should start at the the top then gradually work down to the bottom. We demonstrate this in six steps below:
STEP ONE
Having selected the dress you wish to iron, the best thing to do is to take off, or loosen any belts, ties, bows etc. and to iron or steam these items first. After they are ironed or steamed put them on a hanger as this way you know where they are and they all get kept in one place. Before you attempt the next step it’s important to loosen all buttons, open all zips and all openings so to be ready for the task ahead.
STEP TWO
Starting a the top, the collar is the first area to tackle on the dress after the belts, ties, and bows etc. have been done. It goes without saying that a well-ironed collar not only sits and fits better on the body, but it also looks much more professional and certainly adds to the overall appearance of the look you are trying to achieve.
Before you start, you may decide to add a spray of starch to achieve a more stiff and rigid look to your collar. This, for many, is an absolute must to achieve the desired professional appearance and finish.
For those who decide to skip the starch altogether, they opt for simply laying the collar face down on the ironing board or flat surface and then run the ironing over it. For others, they prefer to spray water, or use steam on the collar and then iron flat. These techniques are great depending on preference and the look you are trying to achieve.
Regardless of the technique you choose, we would recommend you start from the outer edges of the collar and then work your way to the middle. Next, turn the collar over and then give this side a good press. Now you’ll be ready to fold the collar down neatly. You can also use your index finger and thumb to mould the collar into a strong shape. Either way, you should be left with a smooth and professional finish to your collar that is ready to either wear straight away, or ready to be put on a clothes hanger and then stored neatly away in your wardrobe.
Our Tip:
Experience has taught us that when ironing collars, it’s always best to start at the outer corner first and then work inwards. This is works best to avoid unsightly creases and wrinkling to the collar area. It is also important to be careful not to apply too much pressure from the iron on the collar to avoid any damage.
STEP THREE
It is by no means unusual for dress to have all kinds of loose flaps and material on the front and on the reverse side, and even around the edges. There may also be lining on the dress that will have to be factored into to how you go about ironing it. Remember, dresses come in all shapes, sizes, and forms and can be complicated with multi- layers, frills and ruffles, and can also have lots of interfacing as part of features and detail that make up the overall design of a particular dress. Whatever the reasons for these features and details, they will all have to be either ironed, pressed or steamed out to achieve a professional ironing standard.
Our Tip:
It’s probably best to start on these features and details by ironing them on the reverse side first. Then turn the dress the right side up and do the same on this side. It’s important not to forget to iron the edges of the dress too! A hand held steamer can also be useful to tease out all those tricky features on a dress.
STEP FOUR
After all the work is complete on the features and the details, the next step is to iron the yoke of the dress. Start on the reverse side, iron the yoke flat using some pressure, using some steam to flatten this area, if required. If the right side requires some pressing, then it’s best to use a clean and slightly damp cloth to cover the yoke area and then press down with your iron whilst applying some pressure.
STEP FIVE
Travelling down the dress in a decending sequence from the top down to the bottom, the next area to tackle on the dress is the sleeves. These are best ironed flat against an ironing board. To avoid folds and creases occurring, try using your hands to smooth out any creases and wrinkles to create a flat and professional finish. A blast of steam may be used to set a visible crease along the edge of the sleeves. Now it’s time to flip the sleeve over and repeat on this side, if required.
If the dress has cuffs, it’s important not to forget about them as they are a part of the dress that is seen. Start on the inside of the cuff and then rotate the iron around. Repeat this on the other cuff to complete the process.
STEP SIX
The final part of this task is to iron the actual body section of the dress. There is a reason why this should be left until last and this is because this area is the largest part of the dress and will be vulnerable to creasing easily owing to its volume. The best way to iron this area is to rotate the garment gently but also firmly around the ironing board until every part is ironed to a professional standard. Steaming this section will also aid to keep it flat and professional looking for longer.
FURTHER IMPORTANT KEY STEPS WHEN IRONING
i) Always ensure your iron is clean before you attempt to iron clothing and other items. Failing to do so may lead to less desired ironing outcomes, leaving your clothes and other items marked and stained, which is never a good look!
ii) Always check the care label to ensure the fabric and materials you are working with are safe to iron. The care labels are usually stitched into the items during the manufacturing process, making them easy to find. These labels will give you an understanding on how clothes and other items should be laundered and what temperature you should set your iron for the best ironing results.
iii) It is typically recommended to start off ironing items that need the lowest temperature settings first and then work up to the ironing items that progressively need more heat. This will reduce the chance of either damaging or burning your items.
iv) Be sure to smooth out all wrinkles and creases as you go to avoid inadvertently ironing them into place. The best way to approach this is to run your free hand firmly across the fabric to make it as smooth as possible.
v) For a professional ironing finish and outcome, always take the time to iron both sides of a garment or item. The best results are achieved this way, although if your using a modern steam generator iron you may only need to iron one side only to achieve perfect results.
vi) Avoid at all times leaving your iron unattended and never let it resting on any one spot of an item for any length of time, as this could lead to marks, stains, or even cause a fire.
vii) Remember, it’s good ironing practice to either wear your freshly ironed garment immediately after ironing or to hang it on a clothes hanger and store it away in a ventilated storage space.
Experiencing difficulties managing your day-to-day domestic tasks and routines for whatever the reason? Why not contact us here at Pressed not Stressed! We are available Monday through ’til Sunday to take your enquiries, answer your questions, and to book your Laundry, Ironing and Cleaning appointments and orders.
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