Joan Wilen and Lydia Wilen
Joan Wilen and Lydia Wilen are folk-remedy experts and home tipsters based in New York City. They have spent decades collecting “cures from the cupboard” and are authors of several books, including Secret Food Cures.
Knowing how to iron without an iron can help you look nice, in a hurry.
We’ve discussed how knowing how to iron is important to make a good impression. However, you may find yourself with wrinkled clothing, a need to make a good impression, and no iron and ironing board available. You may possibly just not have the time needed. Never fear, we have the tips and tricks to teach you how to iron without an iron.
In the following excerpt from the book Household Magic by Joan Wilen and Lydia Wilen the authors explain how to iron without an iron for a range of clothing and fabric articles in your home.
The late humorist and author Erma Bombeck once said, “My second favorite house[1]hold chore is ironing. My first being hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint.” If you agree with Erma, here are some ways to avoid dealing with the iron…
After washing, hang your pants by the ankle end, not by the waist. The wet weight of the pants hanging down will take out most, if not all, of the wrinkles.
Set a hair dryer on high heat and hold it about eight inches away from the wrinkled section of a vinyl tablecloth, shower curtain or shelf paper.
While the hair dryer is on, pay close attention. When the plastic seems soft and pliable, shut off the dryer and use your hand to smooth out the wrinkles.
While your washable sheer curtains are in the wash, dissolve a packet of unflavored gelatin in a cup of boiled water, and add it to the final rinse cycle.
The protein in gelatin has a relaxing or softening effect on the fabric, doing away with wrinkles. (If only it worked that way with skin!)
When you have to wrap a gift and the piece of ribbon you want to use is creased, don’t bother to take out the iron and set up the ironing board. Instead, carefully run the wrinkly ribbon over a clean, warm lightbulb.
◆ Nobody likes to iron sheets. But you don’t really have to if you take them out of the dryer promptly—while they’re still warm— and put them right on the bed. They’ll look and feel freshly ironed.
◆ If the sheets are cool by the time you make the bed, put them back in the dryer for a few minutes with a clean, damp washcloth. When the sheets are warm again, make the bed as soon as possible.
Keep Your Freshly Ironed Clothes Smooth
◆ Roll silk scarves around the empty cardboard tube from a roll of paper towel, plastic wrap, aluminum foil or gift wrap.
◆ Take a paper towel tube and cut a slit all the way across lengthwise. Slip the slitted tube on a hanger and hang any just-ironed linen or delicate article of clothing that’s likely to crease.
◆ Hang one or two towel rods on the inside of your linen-closet door. It’s perfect for storing tablecloths and keeping them wrinkle-free.
For additional food tips and other advice for your home, purchase Household Magic from Bottomlineinc.com.
