Remove Wrinkles from Clothes Without an Iron

Your clothing is wrinkled, but you don't have an iron. Luckily, there are several ways you can remove wrinkles from clothing without an iron. This article will show you a few ways in which to get your clothes wrinkle-free.

10 Second Summary

  • Dry clothing in a dryer with an ice cube for 15 minutes. Hang the clothes up afterwards.
  • Hang the clothes up in a bathroom and start a hot shower. Close the doors and wait 15 minutes.
  • Use the bottom of a heated pot as a makeshift iron.
  • Use a flat iron as a makeshift iron on small sections of clothing.
  • Pass a blow dryer over damp clothes. Use the lowest setting possible.

Steps

Using Alternative Means to Remove Wrinkles

  1. Put the clothing in a clothes dryer with an ice cube. Tumble drying clothing is a great way to remove wrinkles. Put the setting on medium, and dry the clothing for about 15 minutes.
    • Hang the clothes up right after removing them from the dryer so that wrinkles don’t come back. Or wear them right away. If you leave the clothes in the dryer for a long time after the cycle ends or toss them into a clothes basket, the wrinkles will probably return.
    • Put a couple ice cubes into the dryer or mist the clothing with water before drying them. [1]The ice cubes will melt, and turn into steam, which will help remove the wrinkles from the clothing. Or you could put a damp sock into the dryer with the wrinkled clothing. [2]
  2. Try putting the wrinkled clothing in the shower. Many people have found this method will remove wrinkles fast. Start the shower, and put the water on hot. Close your bathroom door so the steam can’t get out.
    • Then, hang the wrinkled clothes on the shower rod. Seal the bathroom (the smaller the better) for air leaks -- shut windows, block the space under the door.
    • It takes about 15 minutes of steam to get rid of wrinkles, though. You also have to make sure you don’t get water on the clothing, so direct the shower head away from the clothing. Make sure your shower rod is clean so it won't leave any marks on the clothing. You could hang the clothes on the rod itself or on a hanger you put on the rod. [3]
    • Get the clothes as close to the heat and water as you can without getting them wet. It’s not good enough to just hang them in the bathroom a distance from the shower head. So you don’t waste water, you could try this method while you’re actually taking a shower.
  3. Buy a wrinkle-removing spray at the store. You can find common wrinkle-removing sprays at the grocery store. The clothing needs to be damp for the spray to work, but it will remove wrinkles. Or you can make homemade sprays.
    • Hand the clothing up, and spray it. Gently pull at the fabric to get the wrinkles out after spraying. [4]
    • Store-bought sprays like this work best on clothing made out of cotton blends. You don’t want to use a wrinkle-removing spray on delicate fabric like silk, as it could leave a water spot. Test the spray out on a small piece of the clothing before you spray the entire thing.
    • You could also make a homemade spray with water and a small amount of vinegar. Put it in a spray bottle and douse your wrinkled clothing with a light spray. If you try vinegar, be aware it could leave a smell. Instead of vinegar, you could add a small amount of fabric softener to the water. Keep a bottle in your desk at work for quick touch-ups before a presentation or in the car for long trips.
    • After spraying your clothing, it’s best to hang it to dry. Also, make sure you just dampen the clothes. If you soak them, it’s unlikely to work well. You could hang them outside, although that works best for whites, as sunlight can bleach colors from clothing. [5]

Using Makeshift Irons

  1. Try using the bottom of a heated pot as the iron. Take a pot the size that you would boil noodles in. Boil water in it. Then, dump the water out. Use the bottom of the pot as an iron.
    • The downside of this approach is that you have to be careful not to burn yourself, as well as the clothing. And the heat will be inconsistent because the pot could cool fast and is a circular shape.
    • Still, it's better than wearing a wrinkled shirt, and this method should help you remove at least some wrinkles.
  2. Use a flat iron as an iron. Usually, flat irons are used for curling your hair. However, you could also use the device to iron at least a small section of clothing. A flat iron works really well for reaching areas that are very hard to iron, such as a shirt collar.
    • It's also useful that the iron clamps down on the clothing, meaning it will apply more direct heat than another method, such as a blow dryer.
    • Make sure that you clean the iron first. If you leave hair products on it, like hairspray, they could mar your clothes. Be aware that the products could transfer from your hair onto the iron with each use.[6]
    • You could burn your shirt if you press the flat iron onto the clothing for too long, so be careful. You should not use a curling iron with a round barrel for this.

Trying Something Different Against Wrinkles

  1. Use a blow dryer. In order for a blow dryer to work, you need to dampen the clothing first. Don't douse it. Just make it a little wet, perhaps with a spray bottle. Then, turn the dryer on the lowest setting. A plastic focusing tip really helps.
    • Hold the dryer about two inches away from the clothing so you don’t make it too hot. You don't want to burn the clothing or otherwise damage it.
    • You could also hang the wrinkled clothing first, and then direct the blow dryer’s heat on it, again standing one or two inches away.
  2. Roll or flatten the clothes. Maybe you're in a situation where you don't have any way to apply heat or steam to your clothes. You're in luck. You could try rolling or flattening it.
    • Take the wrinkled clothing and roll it up very tightly. Make it look like a burrito. Then, place it under a mattress or something else heavy for about an hour. When you remove the clothing and unroll it, there should be fewer wrinkles.
    • Alternatively, you could flatten the clothing with a damp towel. Place the wrinkled clothing on a flat surface. Dampen a towel (or a paper towel if you don’t have a bath towel). Put the towel on top of the clothing (where the wrinkled area is). Press down. Then let it dry. [7]
    • These methods will take a little longer than usual, but with some smoothing from your hands through the towel, your clothes should be relatively wrinkle free.
  3. Use a tea kettle. Steam removes wrinkles, so you could boil water in a tea kettle. You want to hold the clothing about 12 inches away from the tea kettle’s steaming spout, though, or you could damage the clothing. [8]
    • One benefit of this approach is you can drink a cup of tea afterwards! This approach works well for small problem areas on the clothing.
    • If you have a larger wrinkled garment, it’s best to use the steam from a hot shower instead.



Tips

  • If you need to go over seas or travel, you can make more space and have fewer wrinkles by rolling it instead of folding it.
  • If you have an iron, but only have time to iron one thing, make it the collar. It's too close to your face to ignore. People will be sure to see the wrinkles.
  • Don't use stretching methods too much, otherwise your clothes will stretch out.
  • When traveling, unpack tomorrow's clothes straight to the towel hangers in the shower area for 'automatic' touch ups when showering the next morning. Plus, then you can also check to see if they need more major work, including a steaming shower for the night.
  • Using a dryer sheet in the dryer method will prevent static cling in your clothes, and may add a refreshing scent if you choose the right brand.
  • The shower rod method takes a lot of trial and error--don't start with an expensive item of clothing, as it may get soaked.
  • Put something heavy on the wrinkled area of clothing and place it on the wrinkled area. Repeatedly press down on it for about ten seconds.

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Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.diycraftproject.com/2015/07/how-to-remove-wrinkles-without-iron.html
  2. ↑ http://laundry.reviewed.com/news/6-ways-to-iron-your-clothes-without-an-iron
  3. ↑ http://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/Remove-Wrinkles-Without-Iron-31999801
  4. ↑ http://www.slate.com/articles/life/the_short_cut/2014/11/fixing_wrinkled_shirt_without_an_iron_easiest_methods_for_removing_wrinkles.html
  5. ↑ http://lifehacker.com/de-wrinkle-your-clothes-without-ever-touching-an-iron-518105006
  6. ↑ http://stylecaster.com/how-to-remove-wrinkles-without-iron/
  7. ↑ http://www.whowhatwear.com/how-to-remove-wrinkles
  8. ↑ http://www.aol.com/article/2014/12/03/how-to-remove-wrinkles-without-an-iron/21002439/
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