Here are five clothing care and laundry tips that will help you look your best with as little ironing as possible. By having your laundry sorted correctly before washing, you will also reduce wrinkles in the dryer. Lightweight items dry much quicker than heavier fabrics such as denim. The more time fabrics spend in the dryer, the more likely they will be overheated and wrinkles become deeply set. The permanent press cycle has a gentle cool-down period that is best for synthetic fabrics that don’t need higher heat. The cooling-down period lets the fibers relax to their original shape. Even cotton and linen fabrics that can be dried on high heat should not be allowed to overheat because wrinkles will be deeply set and require more ironing to smooth. Always remove the items while still slightly damp and hang to dry. As soon as you remove a piece of clothing or linen from the dryer, give each item a strong snap to remove any clinging smaller items and start smoothing out wrinkles. Shirts and blouses should be hung on a proper hanger and the seams, collar, cuffs, and button plackets should be pulled straight to smooth out the wrinkles. If the shirt has gotten too dry, a fine misty spray of clean water will help loosen the fibers. Clothes and linens that cannot be hung should also be snap-straightened and then hand-pressed on a flat counter. Then, fold neatly while continuously pulling any seams or edges straight. A fine spray of water will help relax the fibers, but don’t let the items get too wet. Clothing should always be returned to the closet or drawer as neatly as possible after wear. In most cases, shirts, pants, and skirts may be worn a few times between washes. After wearing, hang garments so air can circulate to help remove moisture, relax fibers, and lessen wrinkles. You can also use one of the many wrinkle removers on the market. Just a quick spray of Downy Wrinkle Releaser or Magic Wrinkle Remover and you could be out the door. Again, allow the garment to dry after spraying before you put it on to wear. If the garment is damp and you sit down, you’ll have permanent wrinkles.
