The first place to start is to learn the basics of ironing including the correct iron temperature for different fabrics and proper techniques. After that, it’s time to acquire the correct equipment.
Heating PerformanceSteam CapacitySoleplate SurfaceCord Length and Weight
Most pressing cloths are made from 100 percent white cotton to withstand heat and prevent dye transfer to the item being pressed. A pressing cloth can—and should—be used with both a dry or steam iron. The cloth should be large enough that no part of the iron’s soleplate touches the item being ironed. You can purchase a ready-made cloth or simply get a square of muslin from the fabric store or use a clean, smooth, white, woven kitchen towel. When you get ready to buy an ironing board, consider size, weight, and storage. Or, perhaps an off-the-shelf or custom built-in ironing board is best for your family. There are wall-mounted cabinets with a drop-down ironing board and under-the-counter pull out models. In addition to how it looks, there are some other things to consider. Teflon-coated cotton covers will not stick to your clothes and make it easy to clean away any build-up of starch or sizing from the pad. The best pad is one lined with heavy felt. It will hold its shape better than a foam-lined pad. That’s why you need a sleeve ironing board. It is essentially a miniature ironing board that has a raised pressing area so you can slip a long sleeve over the pressing surface. The pressing surface is narrow enough that you can iron the entire sleeve without causing a crease. The sleeve ironing board is placed on top of a flat surface or your regular ironing board. The sturdy wood or metal board is padded and usually has a cotton cover. Some have two surfaces for different-sized sleeves. Many folds flat for easy storage. If you don’t wish to purchase a sleeve board, you use a padded seam roll to slip inside a sleeve during pressing. The seam roll is a bit more awkward to use, but it will work to prevent creases. The ham is slipped into the curved area to act as a support so that the heat and pressure from an iron won’t create a crease. A pressing ham is quite important for smooth curved seams and darts in women’s clothing. A good pressing ham has two sides one made of wool, the other cotton fabrics for use with different ironing temperatures. The wool side is used for pressing woolen, synthetic blend, or other fabrics requiring low to medium temperatures. The cotton side for inserted next to cotton, linen, or fabrics requiring medium to high temperatures.
