Keeping clothes wrinkle-free starts before you even put your clothes into the washing machine. Make sure to read the care instructions on the tag to find out the best way to wash and dry each item of clothing. Here's some more information on how to get rid of wrinkles:
Wash Cycle
Use hot or warm water and the permanent press cycle for man-made materials such as polyester. If the machine doesn't have a permanent press cycle, use cool to warm water. Shake out clothing before putting pieces from the washer into the dryer. Avoid stacking clothes while loading the dryer.
Dry Cycle
Clothes should be dried until moisture is removed and don't over dry, since wrinkles can "set" into the fabric. That's the case for both natural and made-made materials. Take permanent press items out while slightly damp and hang them on a non-rust hanger. Flatten down creases and wrinkles while on the hanger.
After the Dryer
Avoid piling clothes into a heap–hang them or fold them fresh out of the dryer. Read the clothing label again before ironing. For a quick wrinkle releaser, mix 1 teaspoon of fabric softener in one cup of distilled water in a mister-type squirt bottle. Spray until damp and then tug at the wrinkles. If no fabric softener is available, use plain water. Dry the garment with a hair dryer while flattening out wrinkles.
Ironing
Set the temperature according to the care instructions on the garment label. Inspect the garment for stains first, because they can become set if ironed. Iron to adjacent sections, and avoid creating more wrinkles by ironing the same place twice. If heavily wrinkled, spray the item with starch before ironing. Do not overuse starch which can cause more wrinkles when the garment is being worn. Sometimes a light spray of water is more effective.
Alternative Wrinkle Removing
Hang a wrinkled garment over a bar in the shower to help release the wrinkles. Use a blow dryer afterwards to help smooth out further. Typical irons use as much electricity as 10 to 18 light bulbs. Save energy by starting at the lowest iron setting and work your way up. Utilities suggest ironing at night, according to The Daily Green, when electricity is cheaper and loads fewer.
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