9 ways to unwrinkle your clothes without an iron
No iron? No problem.
We’ve all experienced that horrible feeling of dressing for an important engagement only to discover that the shirt we were planning to wear to that job interview, big meeting or dressy event is full of wrinkles. As much as we’d like to believe otherwise, a shirt will not unwrinkle as you wear it. But there’s no reason to panic! We’re going to show you how to get wrinkles out of clothes without an iron.
Some of these methods may surprise you, and some will come in especially handy when you’re travelling. So let’s get to it.
Unwrinkle clothes in the dryer
Curious how to get wrinkles out of clothes without spending your whole morning tending to each garment? Toss ’em in the dryer. First, check your garments’ labels for the laundry symbols to determine whether you can safely tumble dry them. If you can, spritz the items with water and toss them in with a damp item or two (like damp socks). You can even throw a couple of ice cubes into the dryer. When they melt, they give off steam that’ll help your garments ditch their wrinkles.
Use a hair dryer to get wrinkles out of clothes
Lay the wrinkled item on a flat surface and blast hot air with your hair dryer. Keep the dryer a few centimetres above the fabric. Like magic, the wrinkles will disappear before your eyes. You can spritz or flick a few drops of water on the item before blowing it dry to help soften it.
Steam away wrinkles in the shower
You know how to hand-wash clothes when you’re away from home. Now learn how to unwrinkle a shirt when you’re travelling. Hang the wrinkled item in the bathroom when you shower. Shut the door to create a sauna effect. It may take up to 20 minutes of hanging in the sauna-like atmosphere to completely remove the wrinkles.
Use a hair straightener to unwrinkle clothing
A flat hair iron works really well on stubborn wrinkles, especially for hard-to-iron areas like collars, cuffs and sleeves. Just make sure your device isn’t rusty, stained with hair products, or holding loose hairs. And be careful of the heat setting and the pressure you use. You don’t want to damage your clothing or burn yourself.
Release wrinkles with a damp towel
This is such a simple method, but it totally works. On a flat surface, place a damp towel over the wrinkled clothing. Use your hands to press down and smooth out deep creases. Hang the item to air dry.
Try spray vinegar
You can actually make your own DIY wrinkle-release spray using white vinegar. It’s cheap, gentle and chemical-free. Mist the wrinkled garment with a mix of one-part vinegar and three-parts water, then let it air dry. Vinegar in your washing machine is also a great way to deodorise and clean clothes.
Steam out wrinkles with a kettle
Did you know, you can get wrinkles out of clothes with nothing more than a teapot? Boil water in a kettle, then hold your garment about 30 centimetres away from the steam. Voilà! Wrinkles are gone.
Make an iron out of a saucepan
Boil some water in a metal saucepan. When it reaches a rolling boil, toss the water down the sink. You’re going to use the bottom of the saucepan as an iron to smooth out the wrinkles in your garment. Make sure the bottom of the pot is clean, though, and be careful because it’s going to be hot.
Tuck it under a mattress
Here’s how to get wrinkles out of clothes with nothing but your mattress. Lay your garment on a flat surface, smooth out the wrinkles, and then roll it up like a burrito. Slide your fabric burrito under the mattress and wait 15 to 30 minutes. Remove it and – surprise! – no more wrinkles.
Written by Lois Alter Mark and Lauren Diamond. This article first appeared in Reader’s Digest. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, here’s our best subscription offer.
Image: Getty Images