Iron Settings: How To Iron Any Fabric Properly – The Tidy Life Blog

Ironing The Clothes

How hard can it be, right!? This was my exact thought right before I melted a hole straight through my favorite scarf.

Unfortunately, I learned this and everything else I know about ironing the hard way.

When I was younger, I randomly found a Rowenta iron on sale for an insanely cheap price. Rowenta irons are amazing, but also very powerful. I went home so excited about my new purchase. I then proceeded to take a scarf out of the closet and test out my brand new iron!

I knew nothing about ironing at this point. So I basically just plugged that bad boy in and went to work. Within 5 seconds, I completely melted the scarf ONTO the ironing plate! I hadn’t even thought to look at the heat settings. I’m also not even sure why I thought ironing a scarf would be a great idea anyway.

After this complete disaster, I decided that I needed to do some research on iron settings and fabric. In this article I’ll be sharing with you what I learned about iron settings and how to iron 10 of the most popular fabrics around!

By the way… I still have that same Rowenta iron to this day. They last forever!! This is not an affiliate link, I just really love my iron!

Let’s begin your wrinkle free journey!

Read all the way through, or jump to the section you”re looking for!

---

Pin me for later!

What Do Ironing Symbols Mean?

Fabric care labels are often overlooked when purchasing and caring for garments. This is mostly due to the fact that people are unsure of what the ironing symbols on the label actually mean. Before ironing the clothes, you want to start with this first. There are a universal set of laundry symbols. No matter where you purchase your garments, the label should have these same symbols. These symbols will guide you to using the appropritate iron settings.

---

Iron Settings by Fabric

Listed below are 10 popular fabric categories with a brief description on how to effectively iron each one. I have also listed the appropriate ironing temperature. The exact temperatures aren’t usually needed with most irons as they just have just a few basic settings which are a lot easier to follow. The main thing you want to pay attention to is if the fabric should be ironed at a low, medium or high temperature.

Spandex/Lycra

135°c/275°F

Spandex & Lycra materials usually do not wrinkle easily. I tend to stay away from ironing these materials all together. If you take your items out of the washer as soon as they are done and hang dry, they shouldn’t require ironing at all.

Acetate

143°c/290°F

Acetate is another delicate fabric to iron that requires a low iron setting . If done improperly, you can create shine marks. To prevent this from happening, the item should be ironed using a pressing cloth and ironed inside out. It is also suggested to iron while the item is slightly damp.

Triacetate

200°c/390 F

Triacetate is very similar to Acetate material. The iron settings are just slightly higher. Follow the above instructions for Acetate when ironing this material.

Polyester

148°c/300°F

Polyester is a very popular fabric. Because of its synthetic fibers, it is suggested to iron using a pressing cloth. Spray with a water bottle before ironing or use a steam iron to help release the wrinkles easily.

Viscose/Rayon

190°c/375°F

There will usually be a setting on your iron for Rayon. Viscose & Rayon require a pressing cloth as a barrier between the iron and the fabric. It is also better to iron this fabric while damp. When ironing these materials, it is best to move the iron at a quick pace to prevent marks.

Cotton

304°c/400°F

Cotton also works well with the fabric slightly damp. Cotton is easy to iron and can withstand more heat.

Linen

230°c/445°F

Ironing linen requires a steam iron and high heat. Most often than not, your linen garments will have three dot ironing syjmbols. If you do not have a steam iron, spritz the linen with cool water before ironing. A pressing cloth is a good idea since you will be using a higher heat setting with linen.

---

How do you iron something on cool?

The lowest setting on an iron is about 275 F, this would be considered a cool ironing setting. When in doubt always start with the lowest temperature and add heat gradually. Doing this will save you from ruining your delicate garments. If your item is extremely delicate (i.e. a beaded dress) iron it inside out with a pressing cloth on a cool heat setting.

Effective Ironing Routine

It is best to separate like fabrics into groups when ironing the clothes. Once this is done, start with your iron on the lowest setting. When your iron has warmed up you can begin with your low heat fabrics and gradually work your way up to your high heat items. This way, you won’t have to worry about your iron becoming too hot, or having to wait for it to cool down in between groups.

Using a pressing cloth

Pressing clothes are used to protect your delicate items from melting or scorching. They provide a barrier between your iron and garment. They can be made out of many different materials such as

• Muslin
• Teflon
• Mesh
• Silk Organza
• Wool

To learn more about the different types of pressing cloths and their uses read this article! Click Here!

To

Ironing Tips

Ironing clothes CAN be challenging if you don’t have any experience. Once you know your ironing symbols and how to iron different fabrics, over time it will become like second nature. In conclusion, here are some of my favorite tips!

• Separate into groups of like fabrics
• If in doubt, start with a low heat setting
• Always read your ironing symbols before ironing
• Use a pressing cloth when needed
• Not all irons are created the same, aways read the manual that comes with your iron before use.
• Never iron velvet!
• Use the narrow end of your ironing board to iron shirts that require more detailed ironing (i.e. button ups)

If you loved this article, make sure to sign up for my monthly newsletter and check out some more of my cleaning & organizing articles!