Introduction: How to Iron and Crease Your Dress Pants
Hello everybody! Today, I will be showing you how to iron and crease your dress pants for that special occasion in which you want to be the person in the room with the best looking pants. Although this method can be used with many styles of pants, be advised that these instructions are based for dress pants. Before I begin, you will need the following materials:
- An iron.
- An ironing board.
- A sink.
- A somewhat wrinkled pair of dress pants, like the first photo above.
Step 1: Getting Started
First off, find a sink and fill your iron up with cold water. You should use cold water because the iron will heat up the water later on. Try to fill it to the maximum amount of water that the iron can hold. If you accidentally wet your cord, dry it well before plugging it into the wall (Safety first!).
Step 2: Checking the Label
Next, check the label on your pants to determine the best settings for your iron. You do not want to burn your nice pants, but you also want the iron to be effective. Due to the poor quality of my camera, you probably cannot see it, but my label says: 60% cotton / 40% polyester.
Step 3: Adjusting the Iron
Next, plug in your iron and adjust it based on the material of your pants. Since the pants I am ironing are more cotton than polyester, I will turn my dial to use more of the cotton setting then the polyester setting. If there is a steam setting on your iron, turn it on, because the steam will be more effective for making a good crease.
Most irons typically have a light or some kind of indicator telling you when the water in the iron has heated to the optimal temperature for your use. If this is not the case for you, wait 3-5 minutes before using your iron.
Step 4: Lining Up the Seams
Take one of your pants legs (which ever one you prefer), and line up the seams, so that one seam is exactly on top of the other, like in the picture above. Have your ironing board out at this point.
Step 5: Creating a Crease
Then, lay one pants leg on the ironing board and, with a finger and applying steady pressure, create a crease, sliding your finger from the top of the pants leg to the bottom. Do this for both sides of the pants leg. Make sure the seams are still one on top of the other!
Step 6: Now Comes the Ironing!
When your iron is properly heated, pick it up, and while holding your pants on the ironing board, glide the iron across the surface of the pants, removing wrinkles, then iron the creases you made with your finger. CAUTION: BE CAREFUL NOT TO BURN YOURSELF! IF YOU ARE NOT SURE ABOUT THIS PART, ASK SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO IRON TO PHYSICALLY HELP YOU! Keep the pants as straight as possible to prevent ironing wrinkles into your pants. You may have to glide the iron back and forth several times to make sure the creases stays in your pants leg.
Step 7: Now the Flip Side!
Now, once that side of the pants leg is properly ironed, turn it over on the back and repeat the process in Step 6 to ensure both side are equally ironed.
Step 8: Again?!
Once the pants leg you started with is complete, take the opposite pants leg and repeat steps 4 through 7 exactly as you did with the first pants leg, so they will match. How can you have the best looking pants with unmatched creases?
Step 9: Ironing the Back
After your pants legs are wrinkle-free and creased, turn the pants over to the back where the back pockets are. Iron the wrinkles out of the back pockets, but do not be too concerned about not getting out all the wrinkles, as it depends on the stitching of your back pockets. After this, turn your pants over to the front where the button and zipper flap is, and iron out any wrinkles there, too.
Step 10: Quick Check!
After you are finished, turn the iron all the way off, and check to see that all visible wrinkles are gone and that your pants leg creases are clearly visible.
Step 11: Excess Water
Take your iron and pour out any excess water still left in the storage compartment. Leaving water in your iron could lead to mineral build-up, which could, in turn, block the steam holes at the bottom of the iron and, possibly, contaminate fresh water put into the iron, which could get on your clean clothes. It is important to do this after every use of the iron, unless all of the water turned to steam while in use.
Step 12: Storing the Iron
Then, place your iron in a space free of flammable materials. You should double-check to make sure all settings are turned off. To make sure it is safe to touch, leave your iron for about 2 to 3 hours before attempting to put it away.
Step 13: Finish Like a Boss!
Lastly, you can put away your ironing board and admire the wrinkle-free, creased pants that will make you look spiffy where ever you have to go! Thank you for viewing this instructable and I hope it was helpful!
