Ironing Tips Martha Stewart Lives By For Crisp Laundry Linens

If you've been trying to get those sharp laundry lines on your clothes and are tired of laundry hacks that are just a waste of time, these ironing tips shared by Martha Stewart will help you get your clothes wrinkle-free and smooth. In a TikTok video, she laid out five pieces of ironing advice, including starting with damp fabric, protecting delicate items with terry cloth, using the shape of your iron to get around buttons, keeping the iron constantly in motion, and hanging items right after ironing.

The first tip is to always ensure your clothes are slightly damp before ironing. Creases are easier to remove on damp clothes than dry ones. Spray some water on dry clothes with a spray bottle before you start ironing. However, you should never iron directly over clothes made from silk and wool. The best way to iron wool is on medium heat with a damp cloth over it while silk is best ironed on the lowest heat possible or with a steamer. You shouldn't iron directly over fine linens, either. Place a terry cloth towel on top of the cloth to protect them, then iron.

Ironing a cloth with buttons can be difficult. Stewart recommends you use the pointed edge of the iron to work around the buttons so you don't miss any wrinkles in that area. Also, don't let your iron sit on a particular spot while ironing to prevent scorching your fabric. Iron in a constant back-and-forth motion and avoid circular motions as this can stretch or distort your cloth. Finally, ensure to hang your freshly ironed clothes to let them dry.

If you're determined to make your laundry day a breeze, there are some other tips you can follow. A key one is to try to start with as little wrinkles and creases as possible. Using a fabric conditioner or drying your clothes on the minimum setting are great laundry hacks to get wrinkle-free clothes. Also, make sure to check your fabric's care label before ironing. Who else is in a better position to tell you how to take care of a material than the people who made it? Care labels typically inform you of the right iron setting and washing methods for individual clothes, setting you up for laundry success from the start.

You can also avoid that shine that typically appears after ironing synthetic materials by turning the item inside out before ironing or using a pressing cloth. This shine is caused when an iron on a high heat setting melts the fibers in the fabric. It's almost impossible to fix this issue, so avoiding it in the first place is the best step to take. Finally, never iron dirty clothes or use a dirty iron as this will cause the stains to hold fast on your clothes and become very difficult to remove. Finally, make sure to clean your iron regularly and ensure your clothes are well-laundered before ironing.