Can You Steam Cotton? (How to Iron and Steam Cotton Shirts)
To steam or not to steam. When it comes to fabric care and a busy schedule many people are looking for better ways to get their laundry work done. Steaming different fabrics can save you some ironing time if you have chosen the right fabric to steam.
Can you steam cotton? It is possible to steam cotton but this method works best on materials that are lightweight, sheer, or delicate like chiffon or silk. The best way to steam cotton is to use a 1500 to 1800 watt iron that has a good steam function on it.
Keep in mind that cotton needs higher heat and lots of steam to get those wrinkles out.
To learn more about steaming cotton just continue to read our article. It is not as easy as you may think and may create more work for you on laundry day. It only takes a few minutes to get up to speed on this issue.
Steaming Cotton 101
Can You Iron Cotton?
Yes, you can iron cotton and this is the best way to get wrinkles out of cotton shirts. The only drawback is that the ease of this method will depend on the thickness of the fabric. Make sure your iron has a high-temperature range. You will need it.
If you do not like to iron, you can try the old shower and steam method to get those wrinkles out but buying or renting an actual steamer is the better way to go. You do not waste water and you do not make your bathroom a better environment for mold or mildew.
The option you choose will depend on your schedule and your preferences. If you opt for an actual steamer your budget will influence which model you buy. It is always best to pay a little bit more as the quality will bring you better results and the steamer will last longer.
Ironing is labor-intensive and it may not always work the way you want it to.
Do You Have To Iron Cotton Shirts?
You may not like the answer to this question as some people look at ironing as a chore and not a pleasant experience. Yes, you do have to iron cotton shirts. Especially if they are made from 100% cotton.
Cotton wrinkles very easily and a good wash and dry does not help you stop those wrinkles from coming back to your cotton clothing. Whether you like ironing or not, it is the best way to remove wrinkles from cotton clothing.
There is an exception to this rule though. If you like wearing cotton bends and do not like to iron, make sure that fabric blended with the cotton fibers are synthetic fibers. These will help you avoid ironing as polyester and other synthetic materials resist wrinkles and keep your shirts looking great.
When you iron your cotton shirts, blouses or dresses, etc., make sure to read the care label. The manufacturer will inform you of the right ironing temperature. Not all cotton fabrics are the same and need cooler or hotter irons to make sure they are wrinkle-free.
Can You Iron Cotton Yarn?
It may be possible and you really should read the care label that came with the yarn first before attempting. Not only will those labels grant or deny permission to iron, but they should also provide you with the right temperature level to use.
If there are no labels then use the lowest temperature setting recommended for cotton yarn. Normally, you shouldn’t have to iron cotton yarn but if you do, play it safe and err on the side of caution.
Then make sure to place a slightly damp cloth over the yarn to keep direct heat from ruining the material. Also, when you are done ironing, do not hang the yarn up. Hanging will only stretch the material and make it harder to use or distort the shape of the clothing item the yarn was used to make.
Cotton yarn may be as difficult to iron as regular cotton can be. With different fabrics, there is always some nuance that makes you work a little bit harder than other fabrics when ironing.
Is Cotton Hard To Iron?
Dress shirts made from cotton are hard to iron. What makes it difficult is that the cotton material doesn't release those winkles as polyester does. That means you have to spend more time ironing a cotton dress shirt than you would a shirt made from a synthetic fiber.
Then there is the other side of the story which says that cotton and other natural fiber clothing are the most iron friendly fabrics you can iron. That may be so but if you iron wrong you could put creases or more wrinkles onto the cotton clothing which are then harder to remove.
Part of the difficulty of the ironing process is in the type of iron you use. You want to make sure it is a top-quality iron if you are working on a lot of cotton clothing items. They also have a better steam output which comes in handy when dealing with cotton.
The faceplate is important and you have 5 to choose from-- aluminum, non-stick, palladium, stainless steel, and ceramic. Just remember that the high price doesn't always guarantee you have a top-quality iron and a low price does not mean you have an inferior one.
Iron Cotton Setting
As you know, different fabrics require different settings. Picking the wrong setting either makes your work tougher or you ruin your clothing. This is why it is vital you know the iron temperature setting for your cotton items. Not every cotton item will be ironed at the same heat level.
Lightweight cotton should require your iron to be set at level 5 while heavyweight cotton should be ironed at level 7. That is for those people who have irons with only those settings. To help those people with other fabrics, here are the settings you need.
For those with actual temperatures listed on their irons, the cotton setting is usually around 400 degrees F but be a little cooler for lightweight cotton and possibly a little higher for heavyweight material.
Then for those irons that have their temperatures listed in centigrade or Celsius you want to use the 204 degrees C mark or within a few degrees of that setting. Now if you are lucky to have the name of the fabric on your iron, just move the dial to cotton and you are good to go.
For those unlucky enough to not have any temperature level on your iron, and some people still use old fashioned irons, be thankful that cotton needs a hot temperature to iron and you can heat those irons until you think they have reached 400 degrees F.
Iron Cotton Temperature
In the previous section, we already told you that the ideal temperature to iron cotton is around 400 degrees F but as you saw, some cotton fabrics on some irons have 2 settings. That means you have a little leeway when ironing cotton fabrics.
The best way to go about finding the right temperature level is to check the weight of your cotton materials. Lightweight won’t take as much heat as medium or heavyweight cotton fabrics. And on it goes.
Err on the side of caution as you can always raise the temperature if you think you are too low and the winkles are not disappearing as they should. But be careful as you can still go too high and burn or scorch your cotton fabrics.
Ironing can be tricky if you have the wrong iron and the wrong temperature setting. If you know what you are doing, you can make the right adjustments safely.
How To Iron a Cotton Shirt
First off, if you have the budget let the dry cleaners handle the ironing chore. The reason for this is that some times cotton shirts are very hard to iron and they take a lot of work. They are also expensive so ruining them is not a good idea.
Once you are ready to iron, make sure to use a model that has a good steam function. The more steam the easier to iron. Also, do all of your cotton shirts at the same time. That will save time and effort. Make sure to leave the shirts a little damp and set your iron to the cotton setting.
If the shirt dries out, use a spray bottle to dampen the fabric. The moisture makes the cotton relax a little bit and helps get those wrinkles out. You can start with the sleeves if you want or the front of the shirt. There is no real hard and fast rule on this.
Plus, the heel or the fattest part of the iron is the best spot to remove wrinkles. It produces the best steam and has the weight and reach needed to smooth out the fabric. Then replace your worn-out ironing board padding.
An old one will make it difficult to smooth out the shirt. The covers are cheap and easy to put on your ironing board.
Ironing Cotton Tips
The first tip is to make sure you rely on the heel of your iron more than the tip. Using the tip may be easier but it produces less steam and covers little territory. Then as we said, replace your old worn-out ironing board pad and put anew smoother one in place to make sure you are not adding to your troubles.
Next, check the label first before you iron. The manufacturer may have a different temperature level than you think and it is always best to follow those care label instructions.
Then, make sure the cotton item is damp before you put the iron on it. You do not need to saturate the material but spritz enough water on the fabric to make the fibers loosen up a bit.
Your choice of iron is essential as well. If you have a cheap model that doesn’t produce or produces little steam, you are not going to get the best results without a lot of work.
Before you iron and when you wash or dry the material, use a fabric softener. This will soften up the fibers as well and make ironing a lot easier to do. In addition to all of that, if you are ironing thick cotton shirts or other fabrics, iron both sides for the best results. It is more work but the look should be worth the effort.
What Does Non-Iron Cotton Mean?
The title should tell you all you need to know about these types of shirts. These are clothing items that do not need to be ironed before you wear them. The key is to take them out of the washer right away and then put them in the dryer for only 5 to 10 minutes.
These shirts are made from 100% cotton and not a blend with synthetic materials. Also, these shirts tend to not wrinkle as you go about your day. You stay looking good even at a late afternoon meeting. You are not losing any positive characteristics that cotton has when using these shirts.
The drawback to these shirts is that to maintain the non-iron texture, they are dipped into formaldehyde. This is a chemical used to embalm dead people and it is a carcinogenic chemical. So you are taking risks when choosing these shirts to save you about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes of time to iron a good cotton shirt.
These shirts are meant to save you time in the morning but you can iron a shirt the night before, the week before when you have lots of time and still make it to work looking great.
Can You Steam Cotton?
Yes, you can steam cotton and it is one of the more recommended steps to take when you iron cotton materials. You should have a good quality iron that produces top levels of steam if you are not going to go the steamer route.
But if you prefer, you can use an actual steamer to do that part of the ironing task. These steamers can make your work a little easier as they will soften up the fibers to a point where you can iron the clothing easier and make the material smoother.
If you cannot afford an iron with a steamer function or a steamer, then you can always use the old hot shower in the bathroom method. It is not as effective as the other two but it works.
This method is just cheaper and easier to do. Plus, you can do it at the same time as you shower to save on water and time.
How To Steam Cotton Shirts
If you choose the steamer route, do up the top button on shirts, blouses, and dresses after you hang them on a safe hanger. A safe hanger is one that won’t leave marks on your clothing after you are done.
Put the clothes on the standard steamer and fill the water tank all the way to the max line. Plug it in and then make sure the steam is headed in the right direction. For the bathroom method, hang your cotton clothing on the same type of hanger you would use for a steamer.
Then place the clothing in the best place where it will receive the most steam. Turn the hot water on and close the door. Let the steam do all the work and it shouldn’t take too long before the fibers are soft enough.
Finally, a handheld steamer is really good to use when you only want to target specific areas of the clothing. It moves easily and lets you steam the cuffs, sleeves, or front of the shirt without touching the rest of the garment.
Just make sure to use your other hand to hold the targeted areas nice and tight.
Can You Steam Cotton Curtains?
If the curtains are made from really light cotton materials, just wash, dry and iron like you would other cotton items. That means you can use the steam function on your iron to get rid of wrinkles and crease.
If the curtains are made from heavy thick cotton materials, then you should use steam to get the wrinkles out. A handheld steamer would work best but there are no guarantees your results will be as expected.
Steam cleaning may be the best way to remove wrinkles from curtains.
Some Final Words
Feel free to use steam when ironing your cotton clothing. It is one of the better ways to remove wrinkles and make your ironing life a little easier. Just make sure to use a quality iron to get the job done right.
