How to Iron a Shirt

This is the age of the wrinkle resistant, no iron shirt. They are popping up everywhere and people seem to love the fact that they no longer have to iron. I am one of those that frequents the thrift stores, and while some of you are dumping your old blouses at the Goodwill, I am scooping them up at unbelievable prices.

 I don't have a problem with ironing. I don't do it all the time, just when I forget to turn off the extra spin cycle on the washer. I think that perhaps more people would be in favor of ironing if they knew how to properly iron a shirt. It only takes me 5 minutes to do this, and when done correctly no part of the shirt gets wrinkled. With a light starch the shirt will last a couple of wearings with out wrinkling.

Here's a quick tutorial:

All you need is a wrinkled shirt and some light starch. You can buy starch at any grocery store for just a couple of dollars.

Set up your ironing board station, make sure you have lots of distilled water in your iron. You're gonna need it!

Start with the back side of the collar. Be sure any collar stays are removed, they will melt! Iron both parts of the collar, on the back side, right down to the shoulders.

Using the end of the ironing board, move the shirt so one shoulder slips over the end of the ironing board.

Iron and release steam while you work your way around to the yoke, and over to the other shoulder.

Don't forget to spray it lightly with the starch as you go along.

Begin again with the front of the shirt, I always start with the button placket. Iron carefully between the buttons from the collar down to the hem. Lots of steam will be helpful here.

Then move the shirt and iron the back portion beginning with the side seam area under the arm, and working your way to center back, then to the opposite side.

Again place the shirt so the button hole part of the placket is facing you and iron from the collar down to the hem.

Next up is the sleeve. Carefully smooth the sleeve completely flat, making sure the back side doesn't have any wrinkles, from shoulder all the way to the cuff. I like to iron the cuffs closed with the button fastened because it saves a step. You can iron them open if you wish.

And there you have it, the finished product!

Happy Ironing!

Designer Mom