Ironing and Pressing, Aren’t They the Same Thing?

The terms ironing and pressing are sometimes used interchangeably but they are not the same thing. One removes wrinkles and the other is used most often in clothing construction.

Some modern fibers have dramatically decreased the need for ironing; knits can be washed and hung on hangers to dry, which greatly speeds the chore of weekly washing and caring for clothes.

Natural fibers like cotton and linen -my favorite go-to summer fabric- require ironing to achieve that crisp look. When I put on a linen dress or blouse, it has to be well-ironed and free of wrinkles. As the day wears on, I’m fine with the creases and wrinkles that develop. The wrinkles from wear provide character, comfort and a breezy, carefree look.

Admittedly, the thing about ironing natural fibers is it takes time. I don’t mind it so much as I prefer natural fibers. I also don’t care for the dry-cleaning process. So, I work it into my schedule; not with happiness but I accept that it’s necessary for a polished appearance.

What’s the Difference Between Ironing and Pressing?

Pressing is brief, iron contact with the fabric, using an down and up motion of the iron. After sewing a seam, you ‘press’ it open by using downward pressure of the iron against the middle of the joined fabric. Pressing is also used when a garment needs just a ‘touch-up’: to re-define a trouser crease but without putting a ‘shine’ to the fabric as can happen with gabardine or certain twill-weave fabrics. Shine equals amateur, not good.

Ironing is a back and forth motion while you hold the iron in contact with the fabric. The process removes wrinkles, helps collars look smooth and puts a crease in trouser legs. Ironing allows curtains and draperies to hang correctly; without unsightly creases from the package.

One thing I do advise is investing in a quality iron and not a lightweight one. Why? Because the weight of your iron can help smooth the wrinkles. Let the iron do the bulk of the work, not your hand or arm. My personal preference is a professional steam iron, firstly because I sew often and secondly, the heavier weight helps with the variety of fabrics I use. Rowenta is my go-to brand. Disclaimer: I do not receive any compensation for naming the company, I just have not found another brand that can provide a better iron that I’ve been happy using.

An Easy Ironing Method

Here is a method that makes quick work of ironing clothing. For a man’s shirt or woman’s blouse, if you follow this order you’ll be able to produce a crisp look in no time. By using the proper heat setting, and steam, if needed for the fabric of your garment, you should be able to finish a shirt in five minutes or less.

Collar and Band

A collar sits on the collar band, and this is connected to the neck edge of the shirt. Iron the collar band on the inside or outside, just to provide some body.

Collar: underside first, then laying it flat against the ironing board, iron from one point to the other. Do not fold the collar, yet. Next, the the yoke- across the shoulders and top of the back. An easy way is to hold the yoke each shoulder, fold it at the seam across the back and lay flat against the ironing board, as shown in the photo below.

Cuffs: cuffs before the sleeves, with the point of the iron facing inside the sleeve, in a circle. Don’t iron the cuffs flat otherwise you’ll get a cuff crease, which you never want. Shirt cuffs should wrap around the wrist, not lay on top with an ugly crease at the halfway point.

Sleeves

The area that most people really dread: sleeves. It’s not nearly as difficult as you might think! Holding the shirt with your left hand inside the collar, with your right hand, guide the sleeve from the cuff up to shoulder and lay it flat on the ironing board. The sleeve should fall into a natural fold as you place it on the board, let the pleats guide you. Take care not to iron over the cuffs or the shoulder yoke. Iron both the front and back of each sleeve, pressing the pleats flat.

Body of the shirt

The best for last: the body of the shirt. Drape the right front of the shirt at the neck edge over the pointed end of the ironing board, resting the right front on the board. Iron from the hem edge upward, and across the front. Using the point of the iron, slide between each button to iron the front opening edge. Don’t iron the collar.

Make your way around the shirt, ironing the seams, while repositioning the shirt on the board. Now for back; start at the bottom working up toward the yoke. If there are two small pleats at either shoulder the top of the back, these should be ironed flat. If your shirt has one large pleat in the middle of the back, iron upward and into side of the pleat with the point of the iron: make a brief press on top of the pleat.

Finish the body with the left front, making sure all seams are flat and you have not missed any areas.

The Final Press

For the collar, instead of ironing we’ll press it: it is a little tricky, but you can do it! Place the front edge of the shirt, wrong side on the board as you fold the collar the way it will be worn. You’ll use the press motion, briefly down and then up, on the collar just to where it meets the shoulder/yoke area. Only long enough to give a sharp edge when the collar lays against your neck.

The reason you don’t want to press the entire collar is there is a natural ‘roll’ added to the collar that should form along the back of the neck area. The collar should conform to the shape of your neck.

So, although ironing and pressing are not the same thing, we combined the two to achieve a wrinkle-free garment that allows the beauty of its fabric and construction to shine.

Done! And you should be proud how polished you’ll look wearing it. It’s always worth the effort.