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Can You Iron Jeans?

There’s nothing worse than pulling out your favorite jeans only to find out that they’re wrinkled. And since jeans are typically made from cotton, many people worry about ironing them since cotton is heat sensitive. You don’t want to find that your jeans have shrunk or become damaged, so can you iron your jeans?

You can iron jeans as long as you use the right temperature setting. You’ll want to use a low-temperature setting or cotton setting if your iron has one. If you’re still worried about damage, use the steam setting on the iron instead.

In this article, you will learn how to properly iron your jeans so you can protect the fabric and still get the wrinkles out effectively. I’ll also explain other ways to get wrinkles out of jeans if you don’t have an iron or are still worried about using it.

Can You Iron Jeans

Can You Iron Jeans?

Yes, you can iron jeans. Ironing jeans is not something that has to be done every time you wear them, as jeans don’t tend to get wrinkled unless they’re left crumpled up in your closet or a laundry basket for a while. But if they do become wrinkled, ironing them is one of the best and easiest ways to get wrinkles out of them.

The important thing is that when you iron jeans, you want to be careful so that you don’t burn or damage the fabric somehow. The denim fabric that is used to make most jeans is usually made from cotton, and if you know anything about cotton fabrics, you know that they can become damaged easily due to heat.

If you are going to iron your jeans, it’s important to use a low-temperature setting on your iron. Some irons even have a setting just for cotton fabrics, so you can use it instead if your iron has it.

Another option you have in addition to using a low-temperature setting is to use the iron’s steam function. Using steam adds a bit of moisture to the fabric, which helps reduce the heat that comes into contact with the fabric, reducing any potential damage.

Does Ironing Jeans Shrink Them?

One of the characteristics of cotton fabric is that it can shrink when exposed to heat, so you may be wondering if ironing jeans causes them to shrink in any way? It’s possible that ironing jeans can shrink them a little bit, so it is so important to use the right settings on your iron to iron your jeans.

That said, jeans are more likely to shrink in the washing machine and dryer than they are just by being ironed. This is because water causes the fibers to relax, and then applying heat to them via the dryer causes the fibers to constrict, causing shrinking.

Cotton should only be dried in the dryer on low heat because higher temperatures cause more shrinking. The same is true for using an iron. If you use a higher iron temperature, then the jeans are more likely to shrink.

Ironing jeans using a high temperature isn’t going to cause them to shrink as far as length is concerned. Instead, ironing them at a high temperature may cause them to shrink in certain places, such as the waist or the thighs. You don’t want that to happen because then your jeans wouldn’t fit right anymore. To iron jeans, only use low heat if you want to prevent shrinking.

Should You Iron Jeans?

Ironing jeans is not as common as ironing other articles of clothing such as blouses. They don’t usually get wrinkled because they tend to hold their shape well. Unless they’ve been wadded up somewhere for a long time, which can cause them to get wrinkled.

If your jeans do become wrinkled, there are other ways to get wrinkles out of jeans besides ironing them. But, ironing jeans is often faster than the other methods and jeans tend to maintain their shape after being ironed. Ironing jeans is not something you should or shouldn’t do; it depends on whether you’re comfortable ironing them.

Plus, some people iron their jeans to make them appear crisper, especially if you don’t wash your jeans after every wear. And if jeans do get stretched out in some areas, ironing them can be a way to sort of shrink those areas back down to size without potentially shrinking the jeans by putting them in the dryer.

How to Iron Jeans

How to Iron Jeans

If you are going to iron your jeans, you need to know how to do it right. I’ve said this many times already, but ironing jeans the right way is the best way to keep the jeans looking their best and prevent potential damage to the cotton fabric. I’ll now share with you the best way to iron your jeans.

Prepare the Iron

The first thing you’re going to want to do is to prepare the iron. Make sure that the water compartment is filled with water to use the steam function for removing wrinkles from your jeans. Then, plug the iron in and turn it to the low heat or cotton setting, whichever is applicable for your iron.

Iron the Pockets

Pockets often get overlooked during the ironing process, but they can be a major source of wrinkles in your jeans. Plus, ironing them can help hold the pockets in place and prevent them from sticking out as you’re wearing them, which is something that most people hate.

To iron the pockets of your jeans:

  1. Turn the pockets inside out and press them gently until they are completely flat.
  2. Tuck them back inside the right way. You can also turn the jeans as a whole inside out so that the pockets are exposed and press them flat that way.
  3. Be aware that applying too much pressure with the iron could leave creases and make the pockets more noticeable.

Press the Waistband

Although the waistband is generally the thickest part of the jeans, it can still wrinkle, especially as the jeans get more worn over time. When pressing the waistband, you’ll want to use a bit more pressure on the iron, but still do so gently to not damage the fabric.

To iron the waistband, you’ll first want to lay it as flat as possible. Then, position the iron over the wrinkled area and press it gently on the area for a few seconds. Continue moving the iron across the waistband, holding it for a few seconds over any area that is wrinkled. If you turn the jeans over to iron the back, leave them unbuttoned so that the button doesn’t cause any creases.

Iron the Legs

The next step is to iron the legs of the jeans. To do this:

  1. Fold the pants in half lengthwise and line up the seams on the legs.
  2. Iron the outside of the pant leg on top by gently pressing the iron and pushing the wrinkles toward the seam.
  3. Note that you don’t want to iron directly over the seam or you could create a side crease.

After ironing the outside of the pant leg:

  1. Fold it up to expose the inside of the other pant leg and iron it.
  2. Flip the jeans over and iron the outside of the other pant leg.
  3. Flip up that leg and iron the inside of the other pant leg.

Apply Steam

If, at any point during the ironing process, you can’t get all of the wrinkles out, try using the iron’s steam function to apply steam to the wrinkled areas before ironing. Using steam provides moisture to the wrinkled areas. That way, they’ll be more likely to disappear completely when you press them.

Can You Steam Jeans?

Ironing is not the only way to get wrinkles out of jeans, so if you’re worried about damaging your jeans by ironing them, you can steam them instead. There are two ways to steam your jeans, depending on how much time and what equipment you have. And steaming your jeans in this way has nothing to do with using an iron.

Use Your Shower

The first way to remove wrinkles from your jeans by steaming them is to hang them up in the bathroom while you shower. Place them on a pants hanger and hang them from a hook or towel rack. As you take a shower, the hot water and steam will remove the wrinkles from your jeans.

You can also remove wrinkles from your jeans in this way without actually taking a shower. Instead of getting in the shower, just turn the shower water on to hot, then close the bathroom door. Let the shower run and steam your jeans for about 5 minutes.

Use A Handheld Steamer

Sometimes using the shower doesn’t get all of the wrinkles out. Another option for steaming your jeans is to use a handheld steamer if you have one instead of an iron. Using a handheld steamer is a great option if your jeans are heavily wrinkled or have stubborn creases that are harder to remove.

To use a handheld steamer, you’ll still need to hang your jeans on a pants hanger and hang them somewhere in the bathroom or laundry room where you can steam them effectively. After filling the steamer with water, turn it on. When steam starts coming out, run the steamer over any creases or wrinkles until they are removed.

How To Iron Jeans Without An Iron

If you don’t have an iron or don’t feel safe using one on your jeans, there are plenty of other ways that you can iron your jeans. Of course, you can steam them, but unless you have a handheld steamer, this isn’t always the fastest or most effective way depending on how wrinkled your jeans are. Here are a couple of other options you have.

Use A Hair Dryer

Most of us have hairdryers, and you can use yours to remove wrinkles, especially if your jeans aren’t super wrinkled but only have wrinkles in a few places. Before you can use a hairdryer, you’ll still want to dampen the wrinkled areas to remove the wrinkles most effectively,

You can fill a spray bottle with water, then spray any wrinkled areas until they are damp. You don’t want them to be soaked because your jeans may take a long time to dry. Turn your hair dryer to low heat, then aim it at the wrinkled areas.

If your hairdryer has a nozzle attachment, using it can resemble a handheld steamer and you can aim it directly at the wrinkles. If low heat doesn’t seem to be getting the wrinkles out, you can try turning the hairdryer up to medium heat or high heat until the wrinkles go away.

Use A Tea Kettle

Another effective way to remove wrinkles from jeans without iron is to use a tea kettle. Since tea kettles produce steam, they can act as steamers in a pinch. First, you’ll need to fill the tea kettle with water and put it on the stove to boil. While the water inside the tea kettle heats up, hang your jeans on a pants hanger. When the kettle starts steaming, aim the nozzle at the wrinkled areas on your jeans.

Use Wrinkle Release Spray

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Wrinkle release sprays combine water, alcohol, and other ingredients that act as a lubricant for wrinkles.

You just spray it on the clothing and the fibers are loosened, which helps to release the wrinkles.

Use the Dryer

You can also remove wrinkles from your jeans by placing them in the dryer. As long as you only leave the jeans in the dryer for a little while, it shouldn’t cause shrinking. Dry them on low heat for about 5 to 10 minutes, and when you take them out, any wrinkles just be gone.

How To Iron Jeans With Crease

The best way to iron jeans with a crease is to first make sure the jeans are damp. If you dry your jeans in the dryer, you can remove them before they get completely dry or if they’re already dry, you can dampen them with a spray bottle.

While the jeans are damp, you’ll want to fold the jeans to create the crease. You want the crease to go down the center of the leg. Fold the jeans so that the sides, seams, and cuffs line up. This will help the creases of your jeans be as even as possible.

Turn on the iron to the high heat setting. Since the jeans are wet, the heat shouldn’t damage the jeans in any way. Use pressure and iron over the creases that you’ve created to set the crease. If you want to create a permanent crease, you can also starch the jeans by spraying starch over the creases and ironing them. Maintain the crease with future wear by continuing to wash, iron, and starch them.

Conclusion

Although ironing your jeans isn’t something that is done often, they can be ironed if necessary to remove wrinkles. As long as you iron them properly and use a low temperature, you shouldn’t cause any damage or shrink your jeans. If you still don’t trust ironing your jeans or don’t have an iron, there are plenty of other ways to get wrinkles out of them. If you enjoyed this article, please share it with others.

Thanks for reading!