From bathroom steam to a quick kettle hack, there’ a simple ways you can smooth out wrinkles and creases without the hassle of ironing, a fashion expert reveals
There’s only a few things that could ruin an outfit – but creases are top of the list.
We’ve all been there – you put on your favourite outfit, only to realise it’s covered in creases, suddenly you’re debating whether to drag out the ironing board or just hope no one notices but what if you could skip the hassle altogether?
According to Roza Francken, a fashion expert at Aurélien, there are plenty of ways to smooth out clothes without ironing – Better still, most of them involve things you already have at home.
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“People often assume the iron is the only solution, but that’s simply not true,” says Roza. “If you get creative, you can remove wrinkles in just a few minutes, often while doing something else.”
The steam trick
This is one of the easiest options and works while you’re showering involving no extra steps. “If you’re jumping in the shower, hang your clothes on the back of the bathroom door or from the shower rail.
“Keep the doors and windows closed so the steam builds up. After ten minutes, your clothes will look much fresher.” The steam trick is a favourite among frequent travellers.
The wrinkle-release spray
When you don’t have time (or the will) to iron, a homemade spray can work wonders and be made in seconds.
“Mix a teaspoon of fabric softener or even a little hair conditioner with boiled or distilled water in a spray bottle. Lightly mist the creased areas, then hang the garment up. Within minutes, the fabric relaxes and the wrinkles start to disappear.”
However be sure to go easy with the spray as using too much will make it longer to dry.
The kettle trick
This one is similar to the shower trick and works well if you’re already boiling water for a cup of tea – you can double your kettle as a makeshift steamer.
“Hang your clothes on a hanger and, once the kettle has boiled, carefully let the steam rise towards the fabric,” Roza advises. “Don’t hold it too close, though, and wear oven gloves or heatproof mitts so you don’t burn your hands.”
Two jobs done at once – tea sorted, outfit sorted.
Towels to the rescue
For stubborn creases, Roza swears by a simple towel.
“Lay your clothing flat on a hard surface, cover it with a towel that’s been dampened with warm water, and press down with your hands. The warmth combined with the pressure will help smooth out the wrinkles.”
And if you’re short on towels, even a damp paper towel could work.
A quick dryer spin
This one is quite common, if you have access to a tumble dryer – you’ve probably tried this at least once. “Lightly dampen a dryer sheet, pop it in with your wrinkled item, and run the dryer on high heat for just ten minutes,” she explains.
“The key is to remove the garment straight away; leave it sitting inside and you’ll undo all your efforts.” It’s a small energy trade-off for a quick refresh and a whole lot easier than rewashing the load just to smooth things out.