Ironing wool clothes requires a gentle approach to prevent damage. Always use a low heat setting and a pressing cloth to protect the fabric.
Essential Steps for Ironing Wool:
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Prepare Your Iron: Set your iron to the lowest heat setting, ideally marked "wool," "silk," or with two dots. Many irons offer a steam setting; if yours does, utilize this carefully. (Woolmark, Philips)
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Protect the Fabric: Place a pressing cloth – a thin cotton or muslin fabric – between the iron and the wool garment. This prevents direct heat contact, which can scorch or shine the wool. (Woolmark, Philips, wikiHow)
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Ironing Technique: Iron slowly and gently in straight lines, avoiding back-and-forth motions. Apply light pressure. For best results, use steam carefully. (wikiHow, Quora)
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Inside-Out Ironing: Consider ironing wool garments inside out to prevent damaging the outer surface. This is especially helpful for delicate fabrics. (Flex Suits)
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Addressing Seams: When ironing seams, pay particular attention to prevent creasing. Using a pressing cloth and low heat is crucial. (Reddit)
Tips & Considerations:
- Always test your iron's setting on an inconspicuous area of the garment first.
- For stubborn wrinkles, consider using a spray bottle with distilled water to lightly dampen the pressing cloth.
- Avoid using too much pressure, as this can flatten the fabric or leave marks.
- If your wool garment is labelled "dry clean only", it's best to avoid ironing altogether. (The Spruce)
