Ironing clothes is a skill that all of us should know. We need to know how to properly iron our clothes because whether we’re going to work or just going out to meet friends, it’s always nice to look presentable.
Don’t you just love seeing someone wearing nice clothes? It’s not just about the brand of clothes that we’re wearing; rather it’s all about how a person presents himself.
Wearing clean clothes that have been ironed can already boost your confidence, plus people will appreciate your overall look.
Now, learning how to iron your clothes isn’t that easy. You just don’t put your clothes on the ironing rack and iron away. It’s much more than that.
There are many things to consider before you can call yourself a pro at ironing clothes. One of the most critical skills that you need to know is the type of temperature you will need to use.
Why is this important, you may ask?
Well, being able to properly select the correct setting on your iron can either make or break your task. From having well-ironed clothes to smelling burned clothes will actually determine if you did a good or bad job.
Remember this – knowing which temperature to use will make your ironing task easier, faster, and will give you amazing results.
Not knowing which temperature to use will probably make your task frustrating. You surely don’t want to smell your favorite shirt burning, right?
We have to thank technology for creating easy-to-use irons today. Can you imagine using the old type of iron that our grandparents used to have?
Today, most of the irons that we have in the market contain a sliding scale that will tell you the right temperature for different types of fabrics.
Just in case, it’s better to have a list of the right temperature setting for different fabrics, and we’ll be sharing it with you, plus we’ll also include some important tips that will definitely help you.
Your Guide to Ironing Temperature Settings for Fabrics
Fabric: Acetate
Iron Setting: 1
Ironing Tips: It’s best to press it inside out while it is still damp.
Fabric: Acrylic
Iron Setting: 3
Ironing Tips: N/A
Fabric: Beaded
Iron Setting: 1
Ironing Tips: Place the beaded fabric on a plush white towel; then press inside out using a pressing cloth. This is to prevent damaging the beads.
Fabric: Cashmere
Iron Setting: 3
Ironing Tips: Remember not to press directly. Instead, use steam iron only. In case you have any hard, set-in wrinkles, it’s best to press inside out using a pressing cloth.
Fabric: Corduroy
Iron Setting: 7
Ironing Tips: Even if we’re using a high setting, you still need to place the fabric on a plush white towel. Then proceed to pressing it inside out. You can also turn the fabric over and then use steam.
Fabric: Cotton (lightweight)
Iron Setting: 5
Ironing Tips: For lightweight cotton, press dark colors inside out. This is to prevent the fabric to getting those shine marks that we hate.
Fabric: Cotton (heavyweight)
Iron Setting: 7
Ironing Tips: It’s best to press the fabric while it is still slightly damp. For dark colored cotton, press inside out to prevent shine marks.
Fabric: Damask
Iron Setting: 5
Ironing Tips: For Damask, you can use a pressing cloth between the fabric and the iron. This is to prevent snagging long fibers.
Fabric: Lace
Iron Setting: 3
Ironing Tips: Same with Damask, you can use a pressing cloth between the fabric and the iron to prevent snags and pulls.
Fabric: Linen
Iron Setting: 5
Ironing Tips: Iron inside out of the dampened fabric for the best linen finish.
Fabric: Nylon
Iron Setting: 1
Ironing Tips: Always use a pressing cloth so you will have extra protection between the Nylon fabric and the iron. Remember that the Nylon burns easily.
Fabric: Olefin
Iron Setting: 3
Ironing Tips: N/A
Fabric: Polyester
Iron Setting: 3
Ironing Tips: N/A
Fabric: Ramie
Iron Setting: 3
Ironing Tips: While still damp, iron inside out.
Fabric: Rayon
Iron Setting: 3
Ironing Tips: Iron inside out so you can prevent shine on rayon fabric.
Fabric: Satin
Iron Setting: 3
Ironing Tips: You can press inside out using a pressing cloth that you will put between the iron and the fabric. For Satin, remember NOT to use steam because it can leave watermarks on the fabric.
Fabric: Sequined fabric
Iron Setting: 2
Ironing Tips: NEVER iron! Sequins will easily melt. Use light steam and stream inside out.
Fabric: Silk
Iron Setting: 3
Ironing Tips: Press inside out. Don’t use steam because like Satin, it can leave watermarks on some silk fabrics.
Fabric: Synthetic Blends
Iron Setting: 3
Ironing Tips: It’s better not to iron this type of cloth. You can choose to steam if you have fabric wrinkles. If the wrinkles are stubborn, then choose to place the fabric on a plush white towel, then press inside out using very light touch.
Fabric: Velvet
Iron Setting: 3
Ironing Tips: Try to use a damp pressing cloth and place it between the iron and fabric. Then, iron inside out to prevent snags and shiny marks.
Iron Setting Guide for Temperatures in Celsius and Fahrenheit
In any event that your iron model uses a different scale, then this guide will help you.
- Cotton: 204 C/400 F
- Silk: 148 C/300 F
- Acetate: 143 C/290 F
- Viscose/Rayon: 190 C/375 F
- Linen: 230 C/445 F
- Triacetate: 200 C/390 F
- Wool: 148 C/300 F
- Polyester: 148 C/300 F
- Acrylic: 135 C/275 F
- Lycra/Spandex: 135 C/275 F
- Nylon: 135 C/275 F
Managing the Temperature of Your Iron
The skill of ironing clothes takes time. In fact, in the long run, you would find yourself creating your own routine and practices when ironing clothes.
Some people would love to segregate clothes according to color, some according to the fabric. Other people just iron whenever there are clothes that need ironing.
Additional tip from us, unless you are just ironing one garment, then it’s better to separate your clothes according to the fabric. Why is this so?
By doing this, you will be able to start ironing clothes that require the lowest temperature first, and then move to the next level. Plus, this will make your task more organized.
In any event that you will need to switch back to a lower temperature, then it’s still okay. Just allow the iron to cool down before you use it again.
Before you know it, you may find yourself enjoying the task of ironing clothes. Do you have any additional tips? Don’t forget to share them with us!
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