Not all shirts are made of iron.
Some are made from other types of fabric. However, all shirts can be ironed to make them look like new.
There are no single-step methods for ironing non-iron shirts, but they can be broken down into smaller parts. So, can you iron a non-iron shirt?
Unfortunately, you cannot iron a non-iron shirt successfully. Non-iron shirts are usually treated with chemicals to prevent wrinkles from forming.
However, these chemicals are removable by ironing. If you try to iron a non-iron shirt, the chemicals will melt and ruin the shirt.
The best way to remove wrinkles from a non-iron shirt is to hang it up and let it air out.
Contents
What Is a Non-Iron Shirt?
Non-iron shirts are often button-up dress shirts that are made from a blend of polyester and cotton or silk and sometimes rayon.
The cotton fibers are subjected to a chemical treatment that makes the fibers repel water so the fabric does not absorb moisture. This keeps the fabric from wrinkling as easily as other fabrics would.
When formaldehyde is released, it turns into formic acid when it mixes with water; this is the same acid found in vinegar and lemon juice.
The fibers are more tightly woven than in other fabrics, so the fabric feels crispier and does not stretch as much as other fabrics do.
Since the fabric doesn’t easily get wrinkled, it doesn’t need as much care as other dress shirts.
Can You Iron a Non-Iron Shirt?
Non-iron shirts should not need much ironing at all because they are engineered not to wrinkle easily.
However, if they are not hung up properly or if they are stored in a humid place after washing, they may develop wrinkles.
Small creases are frequently caused by wearing the garment during activities that require bending over, like gardening or working in the kitchen.
If garments are scrunched up in the dryer after washing them, they may also develop small creases that are difficult to remove with a regular steam iron.
What Happens If You Iron A Non-Iron Shirt?
Nothing will happen to the clothing other than ruin it. The chemicals that are added to the fabric to prevent the material from wrinkling when it gets wet will melt and damage the fabric if exposed to high temperatures.
Ironing a non-iron dress shirt will not only destroy the garment but will also result in an unattractive burn mark where the clothes were pressed with a hot steam iron.
They are simply termed “non-iron” because they remain wrinkle-free even after being wet or after being washed in the laundry; for this reason, they are ideal for business wear and formal occasions.
Non-iron dress shirts don’t need as much care as regular cotton dress shirts because the fabrics repel water and don’t soak up moisture like cotton does.
Non-iron dress shirts can go months without being washed if they are hung properly after each wearing; this helps the fabric retain its crisp feel even after repeated use.
However, if you iron the shirt frequently, it will wear out faster because the chemicals that are applied to the fabric to keep it wrinkle-free will be destroyed when exposed to high temperatures.
How To Iron A Non-Iron Shirt
Keep Lowering the Temperature Over Time
If you complete everything correctly, you should be able to keep your clothes wrinkle-free by ironing them at a lower temperature each time.
As you go through each item of clothing, check to see if you need to add more heat to your iron. If you do, you can slowly raise the temperature until you reach the right level.
The rationale for lowering the temperature of your iron is to prevent scorching the clothes.
As time passes, your clothes may become softer and less resilient. In this case, you will need to use a higher temperature setting on your iron to achieve optimal results.
This is normal with most irons. However, it is especially true for irons designed for household use because they have a lower wattage than commercial irons.
It’s necessary if you don’t want your clothes to fray when you take them off the ironing board.
Set the Temperature to Low or Medium
As a result, the temperature determines whether or not you will scorch a non-iron shirt; thus, you must set the temperature to low to medium levels to avoid damaging the fabric.
People are often careless when ironing because they are afraid of ruining the clothes they are ironing.
This is not a good habit to develop as it will only defeat the purpose of ironing clothes, which is to keep them looking neat.
If you continue ironing clothes at higher settings, you will eventually damage them; besides, you will just burn your fingers.
Set your iron temperature to low-medium levels to avoid damaging the clothes being ironed.
Throughout this activity, you should always be prepared in case an accident occurs; for example, you should invest in heat resistant gloves to protect your hands from burns.
Make certain that the cloth does not come into contact with your skin while you are ironing it.
This involves adjusting the steam dial on the clothing itself before pressing the heated part of the metal to the fabric.
This will ensure no scorching occurs on the garment.
Iron the Whole Shirt
Many individuals will not iron the entire shirt but only parts that are wrinkled. This is a bad practice that should be avoided.
Because it will only leave you with a wrinkled look after the garment has been washed and pressed again.
The reason this is a mistake is because the creases and wrinkles may reappear on other parts of the shirt after it has been pressed, which will in turn require you to repeat the process of pressing all over again.
It will seem as if you have wasted your time since you will have to repeat the same process over again. Hence, it is advisable that you press the entire garment instead of only part of it.
The best way to make sure that the creases don’t come back after washing is to fold the shirt and then press it from both sides.
This is a necessary, and it is recommended, step for individuals who are wearing white shirts as it will keep dirt from penetrating the surface of the fabric.
Don’t Go Over the Same Spot Again and Again
You’ll also want to avoid going over the same spot again and again because you will end up burning the fabric instead of removing wrinkles from it.
This is not a good idea since it will require additional time on your part to remove the scorch marks.
This is why, while ironing, you should move the iron quickly over the fabric of your clothing rather than making slow movements over it.
Also Read: Can You Iron A Patch On Nylon?
Conclusion
A non-iron shirt is a piece of clothing that is recommended for individuals who have little time to spend on ironing their clothes.
This garment is not susceptible to wrinkles.
Because it is made of synthetic material or a blend of cotton and polyester materials.
It must be noted that you can wash these shirts in washing machines and dry them on a clothes line, unlike other garments that require to be hand washed and dried using dry towels or clothes.
People with sensitive skin should set the iron to a low temperature.
This is because it will help to minimize the risk of burning the skin due to high temperatures in the iron.
Next, iron the whole shirt, taking your time to move the iron over the fabric quickly without applying too much pressure.
This will help to keep the wrinkles at bay for a longer period of time.
This will have the added benefit of saving you time in the long run since you will not need to press your clothing over and over again to get rid of those annoying wrinkles.
It will help you to get a professional finish on the shirt and will also help to keep your clothes looking neat and fresh for a longer period of time.
When it comes to performing ironing tasks, you should always keep in mind that you need to exert patience while performing the tasks.
