Ironing clothes ranks close behind rush-hour traffic and close talkers as one of life’s biggest annoyances.
But you may never have to touch an iron again with this simple dryer trick from Leslie Reichert, author of The Joy of Green Cleaning.
The Dryer Method
All you have to do is soak a bath towel in water, ring it out, and then toss it in the dryer with your crinkled clothes for 10 minutes on high. Your clothes will come out wrinkle-free, she says.
“The water in the towel turns to steam, and that moisture—combined with the tumbling—pulls the wrinkles out of your clothes,” Reichert explains.
The hotter the temperature, the faster those creases will disappear. And the fewer items you place in the dryer, the faster and more efficient the smoothing, she says.
That also goes for wet clothes from the washer: “If you pack a dryer, it won’t dry as efficiently,” says Reichert. “Your clothes won’t have enough room to move around in there and lose their wrinkles.” They come out being more creased than if you did two separate loads in the first place.
So what about that wrinkled dry-clean only wool sweater or that blazer?
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You can still use this technique on them, says Reichert, but you’ll need to modify the steps.
Use a smaller hand towel because it’ll hold less. Then turn your dryer’s heat setting to medium, and run it for only 5 minutes.
That’s enough time to de-crinkle your clothes without shrinking or damaging the fabric, Reichert explains.
The Shower Method
If you don’t have a dryer, the old-school shower-steam method also works—as long as you do it right, she says.
Hang your garment for 5 to 10 minutes in a steam-filled bathroom so it can absorb plenty of moisture. While it’s damp, smooth out the wrinkles by rubbing your item against a hard surface, like a flat tabletop or wall.
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Wait 30 minutes while it dries. If you put on the piece right away, it’ll still be damp and crease when you sit down or roll up your sleeves.
