How To Iron Shirts
Iron shirts make some men tremble in fear. However, with a few simple instructions, ironing a shirt properly will seem as simple as any other everyday task.
Understand The Material
A quick glance at a shirts label will reveal much of its secrets. It should tell you what material(s) make the shirt, and some detailed ones even show the correct settings on the iron.
This will reveal some pretty important information to you. The label should not only tell you what types of material the shirt contains, it may also tell you what setting to place your iron in order to get the best possible results. If you choose to ignore the warnings on the label, your dress shirt could be irreparably damaged.
Your Iron
Look at your iron carefully and understand its capabilities. Most modern irons now come with its own water compartment for steam options. Turn it on. Steam really makes your ironing much easier.
There are also various heat settings for different kinds of materials. The settings are mostly located under the handle.
As you work through the shirt, it is important to note that you should never allow the iron to quit moving. If you do, you will certainly leave a burn mark on your shirt.
Ironing The Collar
The collar is one of the most important parts of the shirt, so take your time to get this right.
With the insides of the collar facing out, lay the collar flat on the board. Iron inwards from the points to prevent the collars from puckering.
Turn the collar over
Fold back the collar to its natural lines and press your iron on it to achieve a crisp looking collar.
Begin the actual process of ironing your dress shirt with the collar. Lay the back of the collar flat on the ironing board and run the preheated iron carefully over the surface of the shirt with a few quick strokes. Turn the collar over and do the same thing to the front.
Your next step is to lay the one of sleeves carefully on your ironing board. Start by stretching the back top half of the sleeve over the point of the ironing board. Smooth the material down with your fingers. Run the iron over the back of the sleeve carefully. Try not to create any excess wrinkles as you iron. Once you are satisfied with the back, switch to the front. Take the bottom half of the sleeve, and stretch it smoothly across the ironing board. Press it and rotate it until all sides have been covered. then it is time to tackle the other sleeve in the same manner.
Now drape the front half of the shirt over the ironing board. Start with your iron at the shoulder of the shirt in smooth, careful strokes. Move toward the bottom of the shirt with strokes of the same manner. Turn the shirt and lay the back as flat as possible on your ironing board. Once again, move with careful, smooth strokes from the top to the bottom of the shirt.
Once you've finished ironing your dress shirt, hang it up immediately. Button both the top and the center buttons to keep it from wrinkling again.
Learning how to iron a dress shirt may seem like a difficult prospect from the start, but beginning with careful, smooth strokes from the collar to the tail will give you a fine looking garment.
