Iron

Whether it's your first time ironing or you've been doing it since you could hold up an iron, here's an overview laced with handy tips to make for wrinkle-free clothes.

Steps

 * 1) [[Image:Iron_214.jpg|thumb]]Check the tag. It should say if it can be ironed and also tell you what setting to use on the iron.
 * 2) [[Image:Iron_990.jpg|thumb]]Fill the iron's water reservoir (if it has one) with rainwater or distilled water to minimize mineral buildup on the iron and on the clothes. If you want to add a pleasant scent to your clothes, soak a few sprigs of lavender into the water before you put it into the iron.
 * 3) [[Image:Iron_845.jpg|thumb]]Set the iron on the right setting. Plug it in and let it sit upright. Wait until it heats up. Many irons have a little light that will light up to show the iron is heating up and ready to start. It will go out when the iron has reached the right temperature.
 * 4) *If you're ironing more than one garment and they require different settings, organize the garments so that you start with the coolest setting first and work your way up. It's much faster to heat up the iron than to wait for it to cool off, and if it's not cool enough you could ruin the fabric.
 * 5) Place a piece of aluminum foil on the ironing board. The foil will heat up so that it's almost like ironing the garment from both sides at the same time. You can also purchase a silver ironing board cover that accomplishes the same task.
 * 6) Put the piece of clothing on the ironing board. Put it wrong side out (so that the side that touches the iron is the same side that touches your body). If the fabric is cotton or silky rayon, put the right side out instead.
 * 7) Spray starch. This is optional, but will make your clothes feel more "crisp". You can make your own starch spray by completely dissolving one tablespoon of cornstarch in two cups of water. Put this solution into a clean spray bottle and lightly mist the fabric right before you iron on that spot.
 * 8) [[Image:Iron_441.jpg|thumb]]Start ironing. Always keep the iron moving; never let it sit still over any part of the garment. If there's a stubborn wrinkle that refuses to iron out, spray some water on it and iron over with steam. Begin at the big areas and finish with the corners. Once you iron a section, move the garment away from you. If you move it towards you, it may wrinkle as you lean over it and possibly push it against the ironing board.
 * 9) *acrylic knits - since they can warp when wet and warm, let the fabric cool and dry completely before moving it
 * 10) *corduroy - hold the iron just above the garment so that the steam thoroughly penetrates the fabric, then smooth it along the ribs with your palm.
 * 11) *pleats - hold them in place with paper clips (just be careful that the clips don't snag or damage the fabric)
 * 12) *sleeves - use a sleeve board; insert the sleeve board in the sleeve so that you can iron it without creases; if you don't have a sleeve board, roll up a towel and put it snugly inside the sleeve, then iron.
 * 13) [[Image:Iron_689.jpg|thumb|Turn the fabric over.]]Turn the fabric over and iron the right side. This will ensure that the right side is immaculate and any creases you accidentally create are ironed to the back, where it matters less. However, ironing both sides is optimal. If you used the aluminum foil as outlined earlier, you may not need to iron the other side. Cotton and silky rayon shouldn't be ironed on the wrong side at all. Polyester can be ironed on either or both sides; if in doubt, iron the wrong side and stop there. For delicate fabrics or those with vibrant colors you'd like to preserve, try to get all the wrinkles out by ironing the wrong side (ironing on the right side can give dark colors an unwanted sheen).
 * 14) Hang or fold the garment immediately after ironing. Don't forget to turn off the iron and empty the water out. Leaving water in the iron for extended periods of time can cause rust to form inside. That rusty water can shoot out with the steam next time and stain your clothing.

Tips

 * Clean your iron regularly so that the steam vents don't become clogged and the metal plate doesn't get sticky. A wet cotton swab can be used to clean out the steam vents.  A soft, damp to wet cloth works well to clean dried starch from the ironing plate that accumulated from the previous ironing session.
 * Keep a clean spray bottle of water handy. You can lightly spray the clothes in advance and put them in a plastic bag. Pull them out one at a time to iron.  Moist clothes iron easier.  Do not leave them in the bag as they will mildew (and be ruined) after a few days.
 * For areas like the seat area of pants that are difficult to iron directly, you can hover over the area as close as possible with the iron set on high steam. Carefully tug on the material to straighten it out and release the wrinkles. Keep those hands away from the steam!
 * If you want to crease your pants, don't do it with the pants inside out. For best results, just iron them right side out.

Warnings

 * Don't make grilled cheese sandwiches with your iron, or iron your hair - it gets the iron dirty. These uses are also fire hazards; be extremely careful if attempting this. If you're going to use your iron for anything other than fabric, use a separate one just for that purpose. And if you do need to iron your hair, you should use a straightening iron and not an iron mainly for fabric. Please don't use an iron to cook food with.
 * Watch the iron. Carelessness may result in burning yourself or other items.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Clean an Iron
 * How to Clean the Steam Iron and Its Base Plate
 * How to Press Pants
 * How to Iron Pants
 * How to Press a Shirt
 * How to Make an Ironing Board Cover
 * How to Make and Use Iron on Transfers

Sources and Citations
planchar ropa
 * VideoJug.com: How to Iron a Shirt - Original source of images, shared with permission.