We collect tips from experts to improve our relationship with this household task and remove marks from clothes more efficiently

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The Christmas that Pablo became independent, his uncle gave him an iron and the Kings left him a post under the tree. "I thought they would suit me very well, but the years have passed and everything is still locked in the cupboard where I kept it". He is now a teacher at a high school in Maresme and since he left his parents' home he has not ironed anymore: "I used to do it because it was part of the family chores, but now I find it unnecessary". Irene is a graphic designer and lives in a shared flat in Barcelona. He just turned thirty and doesn't use it either: "I'm lazy. I try to iron quickly when I take the clothes out of the washing machine. I shake it well and try to dry the shirts on a hanger so they don't wrinkle so much." 


The most hated task


Pablo and Irene's animosity towards the grill is not exceptional. According to a recent survey by appliance company Puntronic, seven out of ten respondents say ironing is their least favorite household chore, even less than cleaning the toilet. Why do we like it so little and do it less and less? According to ARA journalist and fashion specialist Joan Callarissa, the main reason is that we don't know how to do it correctly. "It is true that we all have little time and that we can survive in unironed trousers, but wrinkled clothes are a bad cover letter and can give the image of a careless person." For professional organizer Clara Massons, seeing wrinkled clothes in the closet can be a source of stress. "When you see that shirt you said days ago you would iron in the drawer, it reminds you of all the work you have to do and it can make you anxious. Ironing is taking care of your clothes and it's a way of thanking him for protecting you, keeping you warm and giving you security," he says. How can we improve our relationship and our skills with this appliance?



1. Find the right iron


The three questions we have to ask ourselves when buying an iron are how many clothes we need to iron, how much money we want to spend and how much space we have at home. If we do little ironing, have little space and little budget, the best option is a conventional steam iron. Central ironing is a good option for families with a lot of clothes or for people with little time, as it is faster than conventional ironing. However, they are bulkier and more expensive. Experts recommend the center iron because it produces continuous steam and more pressure and with a single pass it smooths clothes and does not damage them. Vertical irons can be useful for straightening curtains or hanging shirts, but if the clothes are very wrinkled they will not do us any good.



2. Prepare the essential 'kit'


The professional organizer Clara Massons advises that, if possible, we have a space in the house dedicated to this activity. "One of the laziest things they do is open the ironing station, so if we always have it ready we will be more constant. If we don't have space, a room with light will be enough." In addition to the iron and iron, it is also important to have an ironing kit that includes a clean cloth to prevent marks, a spray with water to moisten the clothes and a brush to remove lint from clothes or hair accumulated from pets. 



3. Wash and spread carefully


To be able to iron well, the clothes must first be washed and dried properly. Experts recommend not clogging the washing machine or spinning and using fabric softener. When laying out, place the clamps in the seams or in areas that are not very visible so that the marks are not noticeable and arrange each piece carefully, without them touching each other. And even if it stretches well, it is necessary to iron most of the pieces, but it will save us time, since they will be less wrinkled. Masons points out that when we collect the clothes and leave them in the bin, we don't leave them in a ball and avoid a lot of them accumulating, because the weight of the pieces will cause them to wrinkle more. 



4. Read the labels


The clothes we usually buy are not of very good quality and to take good care of them with washing and ironing it is very important to read the labels and know what fabric we are working with, say the experts. A good choice of the new garments we purchase can reduce the ironing time. And to get it right, you need to read the label. Fabrics made of natural cellulose fibers, such as cotton or linen, are the ones that wrinkle most easily, followed by synthetic fibers such as polyester or nylon. If we run away from the iron, the ideal is to choose clothes with at least 25% lycra. 



5. Protect clothes from marks and burns


When ironing, it is recommended to do so with the clothes turned to avoid burns and unwanted marks. To better protect it, it can also be ironed on a protective cloth such as a clean cloth or those sold in specialized stores. Clara Massons advises that if we don't have time to separate the clothes by fabric, it would be best to always iron at a gentle temperature to avoid accidents. 



6. Start with the seams 


Experts note that it is important to start ironing at the seams and the clamps that give shape to the garment. It is necessary to do it with light movements, without pressing too much or going very slowly, following the direction of the fabric to avoid deformations and bags. For shirts, the order to follow is the neck, back, sides and sleeves so as not to wrinkle what you ironed before. And in the case of trousers it is better to start from the upper part of the waist. For the laziest, a trick is to always start ironing with those pieces that are more "nice" to us, such as cloth napkins, for example, and leave the most complicated for the end, when we've got the hang of it. 



7. Store clothes at a distance


To maintain order it is essential to have buckets to leave the clothes folded when ironing and then move them to the wardrobe. In the case of shirts, it is best to put them on a hanger. So that it doesn't wrinkle in our wardrobe, we have to leave space between the clothes for them to breathe. Masons recommends the famous vertical fold popularized by professional organizer Marie Kondo, where clothes are visible to the naked eye and don't wrinkle as much. You should always wait for the clothes to cool down before storing them in the wardrobe to avoid moisture. 



8. Find a motivation


Playing music or a podcast while ironing is a great way to find motivation. In addition, you can create a pleasant atmosphere with incense or an essential oil to disconnect from worries. To avoid back pain, Massons advises putting one foot on a stool and alternating the position and consolidating the ironing as a moment of meeting with the partner, children or roommates in which while one irons the other he can fold his clothes and find a place to talk. "It is also very important to be consistent. Reserve a day and time each week in the agenda. Even if it seems impossible, it can become a pleasant habit", says the order expert.