Ironing clothes has become less common with each passing year, but even so, it’s nice to have wrinkle-free clothes every now and then.
Luckily, clothing expert Noor de Swart, founder and CEO of Super Label Store, has shared five simple yet effective tricks that can save you hours of ironing time each week while keeping garments looking crisp.
The expert explains that different fabrics respond differently to moisture, heat, and handling. Clothing quality also plays a significant role in wrinkle resistance, with higher-quality fabrics that have good fiber content typically resisting wrinkling and holding their shape better.
Overall, de Swart reveals that patience makes the biggest difference. “Most wrinkles happen when we rush the drying process. Taking a few extra minutes during laundry day saves hours of ironing time later.”
Shake before hanging
The expert explains that proper drying methods make the biggest difference in preventing stubborn wrinkles from forming in the first place, and recommends shaking garments vigorously before hanging them up.
“This simple step relaxes the fibers and removes many creases that form during the spin cycle. Most people just pull clothes from the washer in clumps, which sets wrinkles that become harder to remove later,” she observes.
For particularly wrinkle-prone items like cotton shirts and linen pieces, de Swart suggests hanging the clothes on the line or drying rack while they’re slightly damp, not soaking wet. “When fabrics dry completely from a soaking wet state, they often dry with deep-set wrinkles. The optimal dampness level is when clothes feel cool to the touch but don’t release water when squeezed.”
At this point, she recommends smoothing each garment with your hands, pulling gently at the seams and edges. This may seem old-fashioned, but de Swart explains that fabric responds very well to this technique, as the natural body heat from your hands helps relax the fibers.
Add vinegar to the rinse cycle
According to de Swart, adding a quarter cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle also helps keep your clothes wrinkle-free.
“Vinegar breaks down detergent residue that can make fabrics stiff and more prone to wrinkling. You may be wary of this technique, but I guarantee you won’t smell the vinegar once clothes are dry.”
Tricks to avoid wrinkles when using your dryer
For those using dryers, the expert warns against the most common mistake – overfilling. “Clothes need space to tumble freely,” she advises. “Remove your garments while they are still slightly warm and hang them immediately – this timing prevents new wrinkles from forming.”
She also reveals a surprising technique for stubborn fabrics, such as cotton or linen items that always wrinkle – placing a clean, damp washcloth in the dryer with nearly-dry clothing and running the dryer for just 10 minutes. “The small amount of steam helps release creases without damaging fabrics.”
This leads to another unexpected tip, this time involving your bathroom shower. “If you need to quickly de-wrinkle something, hang it in your bathroom during a hot shower. The same principle applies here – steam helps de-wrinkle some already dried clothes, and it works wonders with delicate fabrics,” the expert reveals.
Another tip from the expert is to avoid using high heat settings, as it actually sets wrinkles instead of removing them. A medium or low heat setting may take longer, but it will ultimately help preserve the fabric’s natural structure.
Properly store your clothes
If you store clothes in drawers, de Swart recommends rolling instead of folding certain items. “T-shirts, casual pants, and knit fabrics actually store better when rolled, as this technique prevents hard creases from forming along fold lines,” she explains.
And when storing shirts on hangers, she recommends always ensuring the top button is fastened, as this will help maintain the collar shape and allow gravity to pull out many wrinkles naturally.
What to do when traveling
You may have already noticed that your clothes are usually wrinkled after traveling, even if it’s just a couple of hours. But the clothing expert has a simple trick that will help your clothes arrive in better shape at your destination – tissue paper.
“When packing a suitcase, place tissue paper between layers of clothing to create a buffer and help prevent deep wrinkles caused by pressure.”
