IRONING is a pretty simple task but is detested by many when it comes to household chores.
In fact, six in ten Brits (60%) say they will do anything to avoid it despite almost all of them owning an iron and board.
To help get your clothes crease-free without doing the dreaded ironing, digital department store Freemans has partnered with domestic cleaner Mariya Gurkova at home services business Fantastic Services to provide some top alternative hacks.
And some reduce the appearance of wrinkles with very little effort.
Mariya revealed that a damp towel and tumble dryer are all you need to mimic an iron.
She said: “Put the wrinkled item in the dryer with a damp towel or a few ice cubes and run it on medium heat for about 15 minutes.
“Steam will be generated inside the dryer by the moisture from the towel or ice cubes, which will help loosen the wrinkles and smooth out the fabric. When dried, fold immediately to avoid ironing.”
She added: “You can also use a hair dryer to remove last-minute wrinkles.
“Simply dampen the wrinkled area of the garment with water or a wrinkle-removing spray. Use the lowest setting and pull the fabric taut when drying.
“Hair flat irons can help remove creases from small sections of clothing.”
Mariya also suggests that a hot cooking pot can be used to give your clothes a quick iron.
All you need to do is fill the pan with boiling water, let it heat up the pot and then pour it out. You can then use the base of the pot to smooth out your garments.
But if you’re looking for something easier, you can hang up your clothes in the bathroom while you jump in the shower.
She said: “Taking a hot shower while hanging wrinkled garments in the bathroom will help them smooth out naturally as the steam penetrates the fabric fibres and makes them more pliable.
“An alternative to the steam from a shower is a tea kettle, boil the water and hang the clothing a foot away from the steam.
“Dehumidifiers can also reduce wrinkles in clothing indirectly as they remove excess moisture from the air. However, steam is more effective.
“The drying process after washing clothes can also be assisted by fans to reduce wrinkles as they promote airflow in clothes, helping them dry quickly and evenly.”
And to make her tips work even more effectively, Mariya recommends using her homemade anti-wrinkle spray of vinegar and water.
She added: “Using anti-wrinkle spray in conjunction with these other techniques can relax the fabric more, resulting in the spray being more effective for removing wrinkles.”
