10 Easy Ways to Get Wrinkle-Free Clothes (Without An Iron!)
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Who hates ironing? *Raises hand* But loves having wrinkle-free clothes? *Raises both hands*
Growing up, I saw my parents iron their clothes as they got ready for the next week of work, and it always seemed like a chore I didn’t want to do as a grown-up.
As I’ve gotten older and entered adulthood, I still haven't found the unique pleasure in ironing clothes. Don’t get me wrong, I know many people who love it and enjoy it, but I can easily say I’m not one of those people. That doesn't mean I don't have pieces of clothing that I cherish that need that extra care. I also enjoy dressing up and love the crispness of clothing after being ironed. If you have the same sentiments, then you are in the right place because there are ways to have wrinkle-free clothes without an iron.
What is the Biggest Cause of Wrinkles in Clothes?
Wrinkles in clothes happen easily and frequently. Therefore, how they occur is pretty straightforward. Simply, clothing wrinkles are formed through heat and water. Clothing care experts share that the combination of molecules in all fabrics are broken down and then reformed after the garment has cooled down, resulting in pesky wrinkles. Some fabrics also wrinkle easier than others, such as rayon and cotton. Whatever garments you own that always seem to get wrinkled, there are easy tricks to get them wrinkle-free.
10 Simple Ways to Get Wrinkle-Free Clothes Without An Iron
Prevent Wrinkles from the Beginning
We all have those days where we don’t wash our clothes immediately or wait longer than we normally do because of changing schedules—and, let’s be honest—life. This can lead to overfilling your washer and dryer. However, a good rule of thumb is to not do that. Doing this bunches all of your clothes together and already puts them in a wrinkly position. So, one of the easiest ways to get wrinkle-free clothes is to prevent wrinkles from the get-go. This is one of the easiest clothing wrinkle-prevention tips.
Plus, overfilling your washer and dryer can cause damage to your machines and even prevent your clothes from getting properly washed.
Buy a Steamer
Goodbye iron, hello steamer! Steamers have been an excellent alternative to a clothing iron for years now. They’re much easier to use than irons and you will not have to use that awkward ironing table anymore (which also seems like a separate chore just to open up!). There are many steamer options to choose from and are easy to use. Simply fill the steamer with water, plug it in, and smoothly glide it on the garment.
Steamers can also get wrinkles out the quickest, especially if done properly.
Image: Amazon
X-Cel Hand-Powered Model
Rowenta
Considering steamer? This one has raving reviews on Amazon. Rowenta offers various models that suit your clothing wrinkle needs from travel size to a model with a rotating hanger.
The Hair Dryer Method
Yes—say less! You can use your hairdryer to take out pesky wrinkles and not only to style your healthy locks. Tracy Acker, a clothing care expert, shares, “Put the wrinkled item on a hanger, then wet the wrinkled areas with a little water. Turn on the hairdryer and focus the heat on the most wrinkled sections of the garment.”
Be sure to use bottled water rather than tap water, since this could lead to unwanted stains. Also, be careful to keep the hairdryer a few inches away from the garment to prevent any burning or damage. If you use a hair dryer regularly, then this is the wrinkle-free tip for you!
Put It Back into Your Dryer
Wait, what? Isn't the dryer the reason why my clothes are so wrinkly? Yes, this could be one reason, but this time around, you only put in the wrinkled clothes.
Other clothing care experts suggest this tip: Along with the garments that need to be crisped and flattened out, put a wet sock or rag into the dryer, then dry the clothing for 15-20 minutes at a cool temperature. Voila!
This is a hands-free way to get wrinkles out of your favorite clothes.
Buy Wrinkle-Release Spray (Or Make Your Own!)
If you didn’t know already, there is a spray that helps release wrinkles and prevent them. You can find popular laundry brands, such as Downy and Bounce, that offer their version of the spray. Many wrinkle-free sprays have multipurpose uses, such as odor eliminators, static removers, and fabric refreshers. If you’re wary of these brands, you can even make your spray at home.
Clothing expert, AJ Silbermann-Moffitt, shares his DIY wrinkle-release recipe: “Mix one part fabric softener with nine parts water in a spray bottle and use in the same fashion as pre-made products.”
Using the spray, homemade or not, is a very quick fix to release wrinkles, especially when traveling.
The Classic Shower Trick
Maybe you learned this trick years ago, but it is still relevant to this day to get wrinkle-free clothes. I learned it from my mom when I was in school and it’s a good option when you’re feeling a little lazy and don’t want to do much (except take a steamy shower and have the wrinkles fade out on their own). This is extremely less work than ironing, since all you have to do is hang up the garment in your bathroom as you shower. A good tip is to make sure the door is shut to lock in that steam while your clothes are straightening out.
The Wash Cloth Method
This might be new to you, but it is a practical option since you probably already have washcloths at home. Clothing care experts say to “take a fresh and slightly damp towel, spread the clothes on a flat surface, and then lay the towel directly on the clothes.” This method, however, takes the longest, so be mindful when trying this out. To speed up the process, you can wipe or even glide the towel over the wrinkled clothes.
The Hanger Method
This method is more of a wrinkle prevention trick, but once your clothes come out of the dryer, it is best to hang them on a hanger right away, instead of putting them in a pile and waiting to fold them. Of course, this doesn’t need to be done for every garment, but the ones you know that easily wrinkle will save you some time and you won’t have to search for your iron.
Buy At-Home Dry Cleaning Products
Typically, dry-cleaning is a more gentle clothing cleaning process, resulting in fewer wrinkles. You can buy various at-home dry cleaning products, such as Woolite, that are good options if you have clothes that you wear often and need to be dry-cleaned. You can save a lot of money and trips to the dry cleaner as well by using these products!
Carefully read the directions of the product, but most often, all you need to do is spot clean the garment, then toss it in the dryer for 15-20 minutes. Remember to hang the clothing up right away after taking them out of the dryer!
Wool-Dryer Balls
Using wool dryer balls is a sustainable clothing care option that reduces wrinkles and static in clothes. They can also be used as a fabric softener and deodorizer keeping your clothes clean and fresh. These wool-dryer balls from Amazon have thousands of positive reviews and can be used for more than 1000 washes. Again, this tip is more for wrinkle-free clothing prevention, but can make your life a little easier if you dislike irons and hate clothing wrinkles!
Image: Amazon
Wool Dryer Balls
Smart Sheep
Whether or not you’re a fan of ironing, these clothing care tips to get wrinkle-free clothes are undeniably useful. Consider these simple tips, especially when you’re not at home, traveling, or in any future fashion emergencies. Even if they’re not for you, share these tips with your friends who dislike ironing as much as I do!
