How do I iron clothes faster?

Ironing time is mostly waiting — for the iron to heat, for it to cool, and for creases that shouldn't have formed. Sorting by temperature removes the waiting, and drying clothes properly removes much of the ironing.

What you'll need

• Iron and board
• Spray bottle of water
• Hangers (optional)

Step by step

1. Sort the pile by fabric temperature: synthetics first, then silk and wool, then cotton, then linen.Irons heat quickly and cool slowly. Going low to high means you never wait.
2. Iron everything slightly damp, or use a spray bottle.Moisture is what relaxes the fibres. Bone-dry cotton takes several times as long.
3. Start with the largest flat areas.Backs of shirts, trouser legs, the body of a dress. The big areas are quick and give you most of the visual result.
4. Do the fiddly bits second: collars, cuffs, plackets.Collars from the point inwards, both sides, to avoid pushing creases towards the tip.
5. Iron in long strokes along the grain of the fabric, not in circles.Circular motion can stretch the weave, particularly on knits.
6. Hang each item immediately as you finish it.Folding a warm item puts a new crease straight into it.
7. Let clothes cool on the hanger before putting them away.Warm fabric creases easily. Five minutes on a hanger sets the finish.
8. Avoid ironing where you can: shake clothes out and hang them straight from the machine.Most creasing happens in the drum after the cycle ends. Getting them out promptly avoids the majority.

Tips

• Hanging a creased garment in a steamy bathroom relaxes light creases without any ironing at all.
• Iron shirts inside out if they have prints or dark colours, to avoid shine and protect the print.
• A clean soleplate makes a real difference. Descale the iron regularly and wipe the plate — residue drags and marks fabric.
• Fill the iron with distilled or filtered water in a hard water area. It spits and clogs far less.

Common mistakes

• Ironing hot fabrics first — You then wait several minutes for the iron to cool for anything delicate.
• Ironing bone-dry cotton — It takes far longer and creases are harder to remove. Damp is much faster.
• Folding items while still warm — It sets a fresh crease into what you've just finished.
• Leaving washing in the drum after the cycle — Most of the creasing happens there. Hanging promptly avoids much of the ironing entirely.

Questions people ask