On the straight and narrow

Info coutesy of Lynn, Lynn and Mairie of M/V Bobbie, Levi Jones and Cathy Gillespie

Picture this. The guests are all out for dinner and the crew are mentally kicking back for a more relaxed evening when a guest pops upstairs and ask the Stewardess if she could just give her new Versace outfit a quick press.

The stewardess, new to the boat and job takes the proffered silk garment and races into the crew mess in a complete panic. She has just spotted the price tag, still attached, a mere snip at $4500. She is now utterly convinced she is going to burn the fine fabric or iron pleats out or in.

Should she use steam, should she press it, what was this about paper that someone told her?

The engineer, the skipper, the mate and the deckhand just looked at blankly at her. She turned to me, the only other woman on the boat but what did I know about ironing? I was the chef!

In the interests of further helpful ironing advice we chatted to a few people and got their “hot” tips! So the next time you have a pressing engagement there will be no need to get steamed up…

Ironing basics

We all know how to iron don’t we… or do we?

1. Ensure that the iron is clean and free of any baked on residue – for tips on cleaning irons, read "How to clean an iron"

2. Fill the water reservoir with distilled water rather than tap water

3. Always read the labels on the articles you plan on ironing

4. Set the iron to the right setting
   Cotton = hot
   Medium = Cottons blends and wools
   Cool = Polyester, nylon, rayon, silk, acetate, acrylic

5. Always keep the ironing moving on the fabric

6. Begin with the large areas and work out to the corners.

7. Once you have finished ironing a section move it away from you otherwise you can crease it again as you lean against the board

8. For delicate fabrics or those with vibrant colours you'd like to preserve, try to get the wrinkles out by ironing the wrong side (ironing on the right side can give dark colours an unwanted sheen).

9. Point to remember - The lighter the material fabric the lighter the heat. If worried start cooler you can always get hotter later!

10. When you have finished ironing put the ironed article on a hanger immediately
    
    
11. If possible try not to wear garments for at least three hours as they will be more prone to wrinkling again once you've heated the fibres.
    
    
12. Keep a spray bottle of water handy to help you with particularly stubborn wrinkles.

Coping with Different Fabrics

Acrylics knits - since they can warp when wet and warm, let the fabric cool and dry completely before moving it

Corduroy - hold the iron just above the garment so that the steam thoroughly penetrates the fabric, then smooth it along the ribs with your palm.

Linen – Press silk while it is still damp using a warm iron (below 275 degrees), or use a steam iron. Spray starch is a life saver when it comes to ironing linen and it helps stops creasing  when wearing too

Nylon / Polyester – There is always the fear that turn the iron hot enough to actually iron creases out is going to melt the polyester. turn up the iron to the poly setting, always use a damp (ideally) pressing cloth. Don't let the iron touch the polyester, make sure it's totally covered with the pressing cloth.

Rayon / Acetate – specialty fabrics like rayon we always recommend that these are not ironed but rather steamed

Satin –  Always use a low temperature. Turn the back side (inside out) of the dress and cover it with a paper then start ironing, in small even strokes.

Silk – Press silk while it is still damp with a warm iron (below 275 degrees), or use a steam iron. The best equipment for ironing silk that I have used is an ironing board with a blower function on it. Brand name Euroflex - the vacuum fan is switched to go in reverse and air is blown up through perforations in the metal ironing board base and through the cotton cover. It means that the garment is ironed on a cushion of air.

How to iron shirts
First read the label for fabric instructions and care

• When ironing a shirt always start with the cuffs and collars. Start with the collar first. Place the collar face down on the board and iron the back of it. Turn the shirt over and iron the front of the collar and the seam into the fold. Now iron the cuffs, inside first, outside last

• Next iron the sleeves. Start with the highest part of the sleeve near the armpit. Feed the sleeve up the tip of the ironing board and start ironing the back of the sleeve first working your way around to the front.
  Next stretch the lower back of the sleeve across the large, flat surface of the ironing board. Iron toward the cuffs. Flip the shirt over and do the front, making sure to take careful, short strokes.
  If you have a sleeve board use this, if you don't have one, roll up a towel and put it snugly inside the sleeve, then iron.

• With the sleeves done you can now tackle the rest of the shirt, starting with the largest area and working toward the corners. Hang shirt over board so that one front panel of the shirt can be extended flat (collar at narrower end of board). Iron from shoulder to shirttail.

• Hang your warm shirt on a hanger immediately to avoid re-wrinkling it.

How to iron dresses
First read the label for fabric instructions and care

• Begin by stretching the skirt portion of the dress across the point of the ironing board. If you are working with pleats, start at the bottom and work toward the top. Work your way around the skirt with strong, fast strokes.

• If the top of the dress won't stretch across the point of the ironing board, smooth it as flat as possible across the large, flat surface of the board. Start with the back and work your way to the front. On each side, be sure to work from the top down.

• Hang the dress as soon as possible after you iron it.

How to iron pleated skirts
First read the label for fabric instructions and care

• Slip the skirt on to the ironing board with the waist at the narrow end. Start by ironing the waistband and work down to where the pleats begin. Rotate the skirt around the ironing board until you come full circle.

• Straighten the pleats flat against the ironing board, stretching the material taut with your hand. If they are too slippery or wrinkled use rust free paperclips (not plastic coated either) to clip pleats in place or, using straight pins, secure several pleats at a time directly to the board.

• Working up from the hem of the skirt, slide the iron upward toward the waistband, one pleat at a time.

• Every now and then raise the iron a few inches above the pleat and give it a blast of steam. Allow steamed/heated area to cool before moving, this will ensure that the previously ironed pleat is not re-wrinkled.

How to iron trousers and pants
First read the label for fabric instructions and care

• Be sure that you follow this order and use smooth quick stokes.
  Turn the trousers inside out and start at the waistband, ironing the circumference then move toward the pockets. Iron both sides of the pockets. Iron the fly, then the seams of the pants, then the hems

• Turn the trouser inside out again so the correct side is facing out this time. Feed waistline of the trousers onto the ironing board and iron out the wrinkles at the top and front part of your trousers.

• Put the pants legs parallel to the board, with both of them headed in the same direction. Iron each leg without damaging the current creases.

• Iron the cuffs, and hang the pants.