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5 ways to make ironing easier
How to make ironing less of a hassle and keep your clothes looking fresh
If you don't have the time or energy to tackle your ironing pile, don't despair. Understanding how to iron properly can help you get the job done much more quickly.
Whether ironing leaves you steaming mad, or you're someone who finds it relaxing and therapeutic, read on for tips to make it easier.
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1. Make sure you're using a good iron
While you might not want to splash out on an iron, it is worth buying a decent one.
A steamier iron will smooth away creases easily, while, if you're struggling away with an iron that doesn't give out much steam, you'll likely end up with nothing but an aching arm. The very best steam irons, those that earn our Best Buy recommendations, start at £50. Great Value steam irons, which aren't necessarily the absolute best but marry good performance with a lower than average price, start at £20.
Higher-end models may come with useful features like automatic shut-off, which turns the iron off after being left stationary for a set time as an extra safety measure.
Our steam iron reviews go into detail about the differences between the best and worst irons.
It's also important to take care of your iron, boring though it might sound. Descale it as often as the manufacturer recommends to avoid limescale building up and limiting steam flow. And clean the soleplate with a soft cloth. Don't scrub away at the soleplate or you could scratch it, which could lead to it snagging on your clothing.
Find out more about how to maintain your iron
2. Buy a good ironing board
While some people do resort to making makeshift ironing board at home (make sure you use an appropriate, safe surface if that's you), you won't get the best results without a proper one.
A good ironing board provides a stable, smooth surface, which allows the iron to glide over clothes, resulting in wrinkle-free garments.
We've spent hours testing different ironing boards so that you don't have to, and can tell you which ones are more stable, easier to fold and more adjustable than others.
For a decent ironing board, you usually need to spend at least £30.
You can also buy small table-top ironing boards, which could be useful if you're unable to stand, although we haven't tested these as they're not as common.
Our experts put full-sized ironing boards through a range of tests to help you get the right one – discover the best ironing boards
3. Hang your clothes swiftly after washing them
Cut down on ironing (and potentially eliminate the need to iron some items at all) by hanging your clothes immediately after taking them out of the washing machine, before they have time to develop wrinkles.
4. Learn how to iron your clothes properly
Many people don't realise there are specific techniques to follow when ironing. For instance, avoid wiggling the iron, as this can stretch your clothes; stick to straight strokes instead. Also, make use of the water spray button, a common feature on most irons that makes clothes easier to smooth out.
For an extra-crisp finish, try using a starch spray. You can make your own by dissolving one tablespoon of cornflour in two cups of water and then spraying it on your garment a few seconds before ironing. This not only helps achieve a fresher look but also keeps your iron soleplate clean.
Find out more about how to iron – including a video on the best way to iron a shirt
5. Buy a garment steamer instead of an iron
If the main barrier to you ironing is the effort or physical strength required to set up an ironing board, but you still have clothes that need ironing, you could buy a garment steamer, also known as a clothes steamer.
These are handheld devices, designed to give clothes a quick refresh when they're lightly crumpled. A garment steamer won't give you a crisp, pressed finish, but it will still improve the appearance of crumpled clothes. A garment steamer can also be a better choice for some delicate fabrics like silk. If you buy a sufficiently lightweight garment steamer, you may be able to take it away with you if need be: for example, if you're going to an event such as a wedding, and your accommodation can't supply an iron.
The average price of a garment steamer is around £50. You can also buy pricier, upright models (the type you may have seen staff using in clothes shops). These are designed to offer professional results at home, but we don't test these as the smaller ones tend to be much more popular.
Find the best garment steamer according to our tests
Ironing mistakes to avoid
Doing the following can scupper your ironing:
- Using the same temperature for everything There's a reason clothes have laundry labels. Make sure you shift to the correct temperature when ironing, unless your iron automatically adjusts based on the material.
- Not turning clothes inside out Have you ever noticed a slight sheen on your clothes after ironing? That can be caused by excess heat. To avoid this, turn your clothes inside out before ironing. If your clothes typically go into your laundry basket and washing machine inside out, don't bother turning them the right way round before hanging.
- Letting large items hang over the sides of your ironing board and get wrinkled all over again If you're ironing large items such as curtains or tablecloths, try setting up a couple of chairs next to your ironing board. This way, once you've finished ironing one section of a large item, you can simply place it gently onto the chairs while you move onto the next section.
Should you stop ironing your clothes?
The easiest way to cut down on ironing is to avoid it altogether. A 2023 survey by Lakeland found that 30% of people aged between 18 and 24 don't own an iron and never iron their clothes at all, the main reason being that 'their clothes didn't need ironing'.
If you've read our advice above and still have zero intention of ironing, choose fabrics in wool, nylon or acrylic.
How to care for your garments: discover useful washing machine programs and which ones you should use for wool, polyester and other fabrics
