How to iron clothes without an iron: simple and quick ways

Caring for clothes during a power outage seems like an impossible task. However, there are actually many answers to the question of how to iron clothes without an iron.

The Real Simple publication told us about all the effective methods. And OBOZREVATEL divided them into two groups - those for which electricity is not needed at all, and those where it is indispensable, but which do not directly involve an iron.

Ironing without electricity

Heated water and tools at hand can help you smooth out wrinkled clothes, even during a power outage. Here are some ways to do it.

Hot shower

Don't waste time when taking a shower or bath. Hang the items you want to iron on hangers in the bathroom. The water vapor will smooth them out by itself. You can also arrange a separate steam room for your clothes. Place them on the hangers in the same way, turn on the hottest water possible - preferably through a shower rather than a tap, close the door and wait for the room to fill with steam - it will take about 10 minutes. You do not need to turn on the hood. You can leave the clothes to steam for 15-30 minutes, after which they will be perfectly smoothed.

A saucepan or kettle

This is also a way to steam things, but it's a little more complicated than with a shower. Boiling water in a medium-sized pot or kettle and holding the item over the steam is one option. Another is to pour the water out of the pot as soon as it boils and use the bottom as you would a regular iron. Make sure the bottom is completely clean and don't grab the handles with your bare hands.

Homemade smoothing spray

There are factory-made products that you need to spray on your clothes to smooth them. But you can also make such a spray at home. Here are a couple of tried-and-true recipes.

• 1 cup of boiled, bottled, or preferably distilled water;
• 1 teaspoon of fabric softener;
• 1 teaspoon of medical alcohol.

Pour all the ingredients into a spray bottle and shake well. Distilled water will not leave stains, fabric softener will soften the fabric, and alcohol will allow the product to dry faster.

• Distilled, bottled or boiled water;
• white vinegar;
• essential oil (optional).

This product will take a little longer to dry, so make sure you allow plenty of time for it to work. Mix one part vinegar to three parts water in a spray bottle. If you like, add 2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil to flavor the product and get rid of the vinegar smell. Dose the oil very carefully to avoid staining. Spray the liquid on the item and let it dry.

A damp towel

This method is suitable even for delicate items made of wool and silk or knitwear. Wet a towel and wring it out very well so that it is only slightly damp. You can also spray it with water from a spray bottle and wait for it to soak in. You can also heat the towel a little to help it work better. Lay out the clothes on a washboard and cover them with a damp towel. You can run a cold iron over the top.

If there is electrivity, but no iron

Sometimes it happens that you don't have an iron at hand. It's broken, you're not at home, etc. You can iron without it.

Dryer

You can put heavily wrinkled cotton items in the tumble dryer for a short time with a damp (not wet) towel or a couple of ice cubes. Turn the machine on high for 5-10 minutes. This will create a small amount of steam that will smooth the fabric. Take out the items as soon as the cycle is finished, otherwise they will wrinkle again.

Hair dryer

An ordinary hair dryer can work wonders for wrinkled clothes in just a few minutes. Hang the item you need on a hanger, moisten all the places you want to smooth with water - preferably bottled water rather than tap water - and blow dry it on a medium setting. Keep the hair dryer at a distance to avoid damaging the fabric.

Hair straightener

No wonder this device is called an iron - it can save your clothes in an emergency. What's more, a hair straightener is much better at working on collars and cuffs than a traditional iron. Make sure that the plates of the device are clean and free of styling products. If they need to be cleaned, wipe the iron with alcohol. For delicate fabrics, use the low temperature mode; for cotton or linen, you can choose hotter settings.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL told you how to remove old greasy stains from clothes with home remedies.

Only verified information is available on the Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!