How to iron a shirt?

Now that you’re finally done with that load of laundry, fresh out the machine, it’s time to finish the task with a nice clean iron. But ironing can be tricky, especially with apparel that has folds, different materials, and prints on them. Yes, shirts! It really is very simple to iron a dress shirt to look crisp and fresh when you wear it. However, as is with any skill, technique matters the most.
Ironinga shirt comes with its hard bits: maneuvering the curves, making sure you don’t get a wrinkle in and avoiding any printed piece of cloth or
a tag that might burn out if the iron touches it.
Read on to find out the mysteries that a dress shirt holds and you can Hansel and Gretel your way out of it in a snap!

Start with reading the label:

Almost all shirts come with a label or tag of some sort, which specifies information related to the material with which the garment was made. It is important to note what specifications come with a garment you own so that you’re way ahead of any complications that may arise while you’re ironing it.

The temperature ranges and warning signs and instructions are crucial. Do not take them lightly and adjust your iron accordingly. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so try starting the ironing off with a lower temperature and work your way up according to how the material responds.

Be cautious about stains:

Stains, heavy or light, can ruin clothes better than anything else. One must be extremely cautious while ironing clothes while looking out for stains. Ironing over these stains will probably burn your clothes at worst, or stain them for good at best. It is best to avoid running the risk of ironing over a stain by washing your shirt well, using stain removers, and other softeners. Ironing over moisture that might be present in the material may also harm the quality of your shirt. Hence, be sure you read the instructions on the shirt’s label and dry your shirt completely before ironing it.

Press the collar:

Ironing the collar is the first step you take towards a crisp shirt. Hold down the collar of the shirt flat on the ironing table and run the iron over it with a firm hand on the handle. Iron one side of the collar first, removing all wrinkles as you take care of it. Then, once you’re done, turn the collar over and repeat the same process on this site. Be aware that the collar of a shirt is usually made of firmer material compared to the rest of the shirt and you might have to put in a little more effort to smoothen those wrinkles here.

Press the shoulders:

Leave one shoulder hanging over the edge of your ironing table and bring the other one to the center in front of you. The yoke is the part where the collar meets the body of the shirt. You need to target this area. Iron gently, starting in this region, working your way towards the center of the back of the shirt. Once this part is completed, hang the ironed part of the shirt over the edge of the ironing table and repeat the same process on the other hand.

Press the sleeves:

Lay one sleeve over the ironing table in front of you and let the rest of the shirt hanging over the edge of the table. Smooth out any creases between the two layers of the sleeve in front of you using your palm. Once smoothed out, iron the front of the sleeve first and then the back. Do the same thing to the other sleeve once you’re satisfied with this one.

Press the front and back:

Here comes the tricky part. Start with ironing the front of the shirt, while smoothing out any creases that the two layers of the shirt might have, beforehand. Take care to iron all the spots, especially between the buttons. You have to be careful while doing this part because being too harsh or careless might rip the buttons right off your shirt. Once you’re done with both the front panels, turn the shirt over and iron the back of the shirt as well. Take care not to wrinkle the front panels while you’re doing so.

Press the cuffs:

Lay one sleeve flat with the cufflink holes facing towards you. Iron the inside of the cuff first and then turn it over and iron the outside. Repeat the same procedure with the other cuff. Now that you know how to iron your dress shirt like an amateur, go ahead and try it! Be sure to stay safe, though. Turn off the iron after use and unplug it from the socket. Prevention is better than cure.