To iron or not to iron the bedclothes, considering that the first use will wrinkle them? There are several arguments for ironing: A hot iron kills dust mite larvae and bacteria that survive the wash, especially if you set the temperature to 60°C. This is especially important if you have small children. Ironing patches the fabric, which prevents the fibers from splitting and increases the linen’s durability. And it softens the fabric.
Finally, ironing makes the bedding look aesthetically pleasing – this is relevant if you have guests staying over, for example.
We’ve put together a list of tips on how to iron your bed linens quickly and correctly.
General Guidelines
Make sure the iron’s surface is clean before you iron it. If there is dust on it, wipe it off with a dry, soft cloth.
You need a big ironing board for ironing bed linen. The table is also suitable – the main thing is not to spoil it with a hot iron, steam and water.
Linens should be ironed lengthways, not crossways. Take it off wet, tightly rolled up into rolls. When the sheets are dry, put some lukewarm water in a sprayer (colder water is less easily absorbed) and spray a little on the fabric.
Terry towels should not be ironed, or they will lose their softness.
Attention ! If you see a stain or other pollution before ironing, you must not iron such linen – otherwise the dirt will penetrate the fabric, and you will not be able to remove it.
The same goes for streaks and dark marks which are left on the sheets after washing – for example if you have used inappropriate detergent.
How to iron duvet covers
Procedure:
Fold the duvet cover into quarters;
Iron it on one side, then turn it over and iron the side again;
Turn and turn the duvet cover inside out, so that the open sides are on the outside;
Repeat on both sides;
Continue until the sheet is straightened out.
How to iron sheets with an elastic band
If the perimeter of the sheet has an elastic band around it, it becomes several times more difficult to iron. The easiest way to do this is to pull the sheet over the mattress and iron it immediately before using it.
If you are used to keeping ironed linen, iron the sheet on the mattress and carefully fold it in half, then tuck one corner into the other on all sides, and finally in half again to match the corners. You will end up with a rectangle – fold it the same way you fold a normal sheet, without the rubber bands.
How to iron sheets without an elastic band
Fold the sheet once for width and once for length. So you get a compact rectangle. Align and straighten corners and edges. Iron a folded sheet, then turn it over. Unfold the sheet, fold the ironed surfaces inwards, and repeat the procedure on two new sides.
How to iron pillowcases
No problem with these types of linen. As the pillowcases are small, they do not need to be folded in half.
Turn the pillowcase inside out – this will help ensure that the inside fold is properly ironed out.
Linen material
Also ironing depends on the material. Linens made of natural fibers are ironed from the front side. Try to prevent scorch marks. Linens made of synthetic fabrics must be ironed on the wrong side.
Iron on the wrong side of the fabric and underwear that is decorated with embroidery. Place a soft mat under decorative items. Embroideries need to be ironed separately. Then the front side of the garment should be ironed without touching the embroidery.
If dark-colored material was used to make the sheet and duvet cover, iron the linen from the underside. Ironing from the outside can leave glossy iron stains on the surface.
Flax
Linens must be ironed with a damp steam iron at a temperature between 180 and 230°C. To avoid the appearance of shine and marks from the iron, iron the linen on the wrong side.
Satin
Only the underside of the sheets should be ironed on satin fabrics. Do not humidify the fabric additionally. Heat the iron to 200 °C.
Knitwear
Put the iron to the knitted items carefully, and after ironing wait until the fabric has cooled down.
For jersey fabrics, use a lukewarm iron over the linen or moistened gauze. This material stretches easily – do not move the iron too much, or the fabric will be deformed.
Silk
Iron your silk linen on the wrong side of the bed – otherwise you risk damaging it. Do not splash water on when ironing, otherwise streaks could appear on the surface. If you need to moisten your linen, spray it with a spray gun and wrap it in a plastic bag for at least 1 hour. This will ensure that the fabric is evenly moistened.
Do not cut off labels from the manufacturer that indicate which ironing temperature is appropriate for this linen. The lowest temperatures are usually the best for silk fabrics.
You can usually see the iron’s pattern with one or two dots on the label. If the point is one, it means that the temperature for ironing should not exceed the 1 symbol mark.
Synthetics
Such linen can be ironed with a warm iron. A moistened gauze can be used. We recommend that you iron synthetic fabrics over linings.
Where to store ironed linen
Choose a spacious laundry drawer where all items and accessories won’t press against each other.
If you moistened the sheets while ironing, wait until they are completely dry. Then place it in its place.
In order to improve the durability of laundry, do not use it immediately after ironing, and wait until it has lain for 3-4 days.
When folding pillowcases and sheets, change the fold area to prevent premature deterioration of linens.
And if you want your washing and ironing to always smell nice, put a bag of dried plants between your clothes.
