How to Iron a Shirt
When first impressions count you want to make sure the shirt you have decided to wear is making the impression you want and doesn't look like it has been sitting on the floor for the last few weeks. Follow these steps and you will be dressed to impress.
SPACE
1. First find an area that is well lit with a clean floor to set up the ironing board. Place the board so the wide end is to your right, if your right handed and near an electrical plug. Set the ironing board so the height is about your waist height.
SETUP
2. Fill the water reservoir of your iron to the line with cold water. Plug in your iron and set the temperature to the setting that is recommended by the care instructions on the shirt. Set the iron on its end point up or on a stand while it heats up.
COLLAR
3. When the iron is hot turn on the steam feature. Hold the shirt by the collar right side of the shirt facing you and spread the collar out on the ironing board. You will be ironing the underside of the collar first. Press the collar from the point edges to the middle. Turn the collar over and press the other side the same way. Fold the collar over and if it needs it, gently press the fold.
UPPER BACK
4. Next take the shirt and pull it onto the tapered end of the ironing board so that the back yoke is flat on the board and the board extends a little into one sleeve. Pess half of the yoke. Turn the shirt around and place it on the board so that the un-ironed half of the yoke is on the board. Smooth the yoke out with your hands so that it is flat and then press it with the iron. If the entire yoke will lie flat, you can iron it without changing positions.
SLEEVES
5. Be sure the fabric is flat on the sleeves, first flattern one cuff on the ironing board and iron it. Then take that sleeve by the seam and lay the sleeve flat on the board. Start at the top of the sleeve and work down to the cuff. Repeat the process on the other sleeve.
BODY
7. With the collar to your left, place the left side of the shirt on the ironing board. Pull the shirt flat on the board and iron through to the placket and the rest of the left front of the shirt. Rotate the shirt towards you so that half of the back is on the ironing board. Smooth it out with your hand and then iron it. Keep rotating, smoothing and ironing until you come to the right front of the shirt. Iron the top and the rest of the shirt.
STORAGE
8. Now place the shirt on a hanger. Make sure it is hanging straight and the the sleeves are flat and folded softly toward the front. Buttoning the collar button and the first button or two will help the shirt keep its shape. Hang it in the closet with space around it so that other clothes dont crush your hard work.
