Just bought my first iron

[The Wingnut]

Never, ever, ever apply an iron directly to anything you value! Always use a cloth between the iron and the item to be pressed. This will prevent the aforementioned transfer of dirt to the garment, it will prevent iron 'shine', and will soak up excess starch that might otherwise stick to the soleplate of the iron and transfer elsewhere, causing browned starch marks.

I've been ironing my clothes for 4 years now, I was taught by someone who has been doing it all his life. I don't dry clean clothes unless they're stained beyond my ability to remove it, or are retaining odors. Repeated dry-cleaning isn't necessarily good for garments, especially vintage.

Scented linen waters are a nice touch, and have a somewhat more pleasant effect than cologne. Give it a try...but don't put cologne in your iron! It'll crack / fatigue the plastic. Don't ask me how I know.

 

[jamespowers]

What's an iron? [huh]

Regards,

J

 

[Orgetorix]

What's an iron? [huh]

Regards,

J

It comes after the driver and before the putter.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

What's an iron? [huh]

Regards,

J

its that thing your wife uses to hit you on the head with......

 

[jamespowers]

It comes after the driver and before the putter.

Aha! Now I know the iron he is referring to. What's the number of the iron? I can't put distilled water in mine. [huh]

Regards,

J

 

[JamesT1]

http://www.customshirt1.com/ASK/laund01.html

Scroll down the page and you will get a great deal of information on how to iron a shirt.

 

[GentlemanFarmer]

Tony,

On a shirt, when ironing the side with the buttons - put the buttons face down and iron over the back of the buttons.

BTW - I was in CAP too, though as an adult. Low and slow for the USAF.

 

[Flying Scotsman]

I used to hate ironing until mine broke, and I had to borrow the neighbor's one night. That's how I learned that having a *good* iron to start with makes all the difference...

http://www.rowenta.com

It's a positively sensual experience to iron a good shirt with a Rowenta iron. Toss out that $25 Sears thing and get a decent iron, and the job is about a zillion times easier (and with much better results).

Oh, and I *never* send my good shirts out for dry-cleaning. I think someone else somewhere said it best...a $250 shirt will look like a $25 if you have it dry-cleaned.

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

Tony,

On a shirt, when ironing the side with the buttons - put the buttons face down and iron over the back of the buttons.

BTW - I was in CAP too, though as an adult. Low and slow for the USAF.

Great fun, wasn't it? I got to fly a Stinson L-5 and to ride in one of the FAA's DC-3s and a DeHavilland Canada Beaver. I'll have to take up flying again when I lose some poundage.

 

[Tango Yankee]

A nice little essay on The Pleasure of Ironing a Fine Cotton Shirt can be found here. His method may not be the "approved" method but it works for him.

Cheers,
Tom

 

[carebear]

You are probably past this step, but I didn't see it posted.

- REMOVE CLOTHING BEFORE IRONING -

I had brand marks when branding wasn't cool.

 

[Barbigirl]

~

I abhor ironing. EVERYTHING that needs to be ironed goes to the cleaners. Money is no object to me in this area.

I only iron when I am sewing and as little as possible.

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

Forget ironing! Just turn on the shower to the hottest it will go, hang up what needs to be ironed and close the door until there's no more hot water! This really does work, and you won't get burned!

 

[Orgetorix]

Forget ironing! Just turn on the shower to the hottest it will go, hang up what needs to be ironed and close the door until there's no more hot water! This really does work, and you won't get burned!

There are more efficient ways.

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

There are more efficient ways.

Yes, but are they free??

Seriously, I have always wanted a steamer like that. Vintage dresses seem to wrinkle quite easily.

 

[Orgetorix]

Yes, but are they free??

Seriously, I have always wanted a steamer like that. Vintage dresses seem to wrinkle quite easily.

No, they aren't free. But they can be had cheaper than retail from you-know-which-site.

 

[jamespowers]

I abhor ironing. EVERYTHING that needs to be ironed goes to the cleaners. Money is no object to me in this area.

I only iron when I am sewing and as little as possible.

Now you are talking. That is my kind of ironing.

Regards,

J

 

[Archie Goodwin]

Better than an iron

After Katrina came and shook things up around here, it was difficult to find a decent cleaner. I got tired of ironing, so on a suggestion from my mother I bought a steam press from Amazon. It is better than and iron, and my shirts look better than the ones that come from the laundry. I've pretty much given up on using a professional laundry in favor of my steam press.

 

[carebear]

I assume you can do trouser creases with that as well?

 

[vonwotan]

How did you learn?

How ever did you all learn to use an iron? I just recently purchased what is supposed to be an excellent iron with all the bells and whistles. From time to time I will attempt to learn and to iron my own shirts so they will last longer. Unfortunately I cannot buy shirts off the rack so I try to keep them around for as long as I can.

Once upon a time I had a larger budget and had them hand pressed by our cleaning woman. Gentle washing and hand pressing will make the shirts last a very long time, the cleaners tend to do them in in no time, and anything colorful becomes dull after the first trip to the cleaner.

I am trying to wash and press my own shirts, and thought I was doing well, but I've just left burns? stains? on the collor of one of my favourites...