What’s worse than ironing? Not much, most of us would say. But our answer is Ironing with an iron that’s not in top form! Here are some easy fixes…
Baby your iron: If the underside of your iron tends to stick to your clothes when you use it, try this trick. Wait until the iron is cool, then put some baby powder on a cloth and coat the iron’s bottom (or carefully sprinkle it on). Once it’s coated with powder, turn on the heat and watch the powder disappear. At this point, the iron should no longer be sticky.
Reflective power: Place one sheet of aluminum foil—shiny side up—between the ironing board and the fabric ironing board cover. The foil will reflect the heat from the iron, so your ironing will get done faster and better.
Better water spray: Lightly spray your clothing with warm water (not room temperature)—this will help the iron’s heat penetrate the clothes quicker and work out those problem wrinkles.
Clogged iron solution: If your steaming iron tends to sputter or drip, it might be clogged with mineral deposits. (If it’s sputtering brown or white drops, use distilled or bottled water in future ironings.) Clean your iron by filling the water portal with a mixture of one part vinegar to three parts water and then turning up the temperature to its highest. Run the iron over an old towel to be sure the solution is forced through all the vents. Let the iron cool, empty it and refill it with clear water to rinse. Dump the clear water, and leave the iron empty until its next use.
Our favorite way to avoid ironing: Pull your machine washables out of the dryer before they’re completely dry (eight to 10 minutes should do it) and hang the items carefully on padded hangers or with a pants hanger (hang pant legs from the ankle end) in a ventilated area. Most items will dry wrinkle-free. You might eventually need to find a new use for your ironing board.
Thanks to Hunker.com for help with these tips.
