Can You Iron Satin? (How to Iron Satin Dress Like a Pro)
That dreaded ironing. While it may give you a few moments of peace and time to think, it is a tedious job and one that many women just do not look forward to doing. But with a little willpower, you can iron your different fabrics and get them looking sharp again.
Can you iron satin? Yes, satin can be ironed but you have to be careful when you do it. Then to iron satin, make sure to cover the garment with a cloth, use the steam function on your iron and low heat. Then your satin garments should turn out just right.
To learn more about ironing satin fabrics just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about and more. Ironing satin like a pro just takes a little know-how and practice.
Ironing Satin 101
Ironing Satin
As you already know satin can be ironed. The only problem is if you don't do it correctly you can end up melting the fabric or doing other damage to it. A hot dry iron is not the way to go.
Also, you cannot put direct heat onto satin items. That means you need to keep the cloth damp as you work and put a thin cotton rag or towel over your satin items when you go to iron them.
Then you can use your steam function if you do not want to make the material damp. Make sure to use your satin setting or low heat if your iron doesn’t have that option. Once you have done all that, you can iron like normal.
What Setting to Iron Satin
All you need to use is low heat when you iron satin. All irons should have that setting, even the oldest models. Low heat protects the fabric and makes sure you get the wrinkles out every time.
If your one of the lucky iron owners then you may have a model that comes with a satin setting on it. That is the setting to iron your satin clothing or other satin items.
Just move the dial to that setting and you are good to go. Ironing satin is not difficult once you get the hang of it. The key is to keep the fabric protected from direct heat at all times.
Ironing may not be the most glamorous job in the world but that task does produce some very good looking results. Those results help to motivate you each time you have to do some ironing.
What Temperature to Iron Satin
When ironing satin you need to avoid high heat. The fabric is too delicate of a material to be able to withstand high temperatures. So when you are ready to iron your satin clothing make sure to put the dial to low heat if you do not have a satin setting.
Then make sure to keep the garments away from direct heat. If you think that means holding the iron above the garment then you would be mistaken. All it means is to use a good clean cloth or towel and place it between the iron and the garment.
The wrinkles will come out this way and you do not risk losing your favorite satin clothing or other items. Its a little tricky to iron satin but it can be done if you are careful and know all the tricks of the trade.
What to Iron Satin On
This is no big secret and you do not have to buy special equipment when it is time to iron satin fabrics. You can use your regular ironing board with no trouble at all. Your ironing board is perfect for the job.
Or you can use your kitchen or dining room table if you do not own an ironing board. Just make sure to put an ironing cloth down first to protect your table from the heat of the iron.
Also, you can turn your satin items inside out to further protect the exterior from any iron damage that may come if you do not move the iron quickly enough. Ironing satin just needs a few precautions taken then you can iron like you do any other clothing item you own.
How to Iron Satin Dress
The first step in this process is to determine what kind of fibers your satin was made from. Remember satin is a type of weave and not a type of fiber. Satin clothes can be made from a variety of fibers, some natural and some man-made.
If the satin dress is made from silk or acetate fibers it is best to not iron those clothing items and send them to the dry cleaners. Next, do a test to see if your warm dry iron will do any damage to the fabric. A hidden spot will suffice for this test.
After the test, turn the dress inside out and place a clean cloth over it. When that is done, use short quick strokes, lifting the iron after each one. Sliding the iron may cause you some different problems.
Start with the thickets parts of the dress first and work your way to the thinnest. Then when you are done let the dress cool on the ironing board for 5 minutes and then hang the dress up.
One warning, never press a soiled or dirty dress as the iron will set the stain and it may be impossible to get it out.
How to Iron a Satin Pleated Skirt
This is more of a time-consuming task than it is a complicated one. Time-consuming because you need to do one pleat at a time and you have to let that pleat cool before moving on to the next one.
To begin, you start at the hemline and move the iron up to the waistband. Make sure to raise the iron up as you go and shoot some steam onto the garment. You want the satin to remain moist throughout the ironing process.
Make sure the pleats remain flat against the ironing board and stretch it a bit with your hand. Once you are done, hang the skirt on a pants hanger and let it fully dry. The results make the time-consuming task more enjoyable. Just make sure the skirt is completely dry before wearing it.
Ironing a Satin Stole
The key step in this process is to make sure the shiny side is down. It is possible to put scorch marks in the fabric when you are ironing it and turning the shiny side down prevents those scorch marks from being seen.
Short quick strokes also help protect the stole from being harmed. You do not want to slide the iron back and forth, just lift and bring it back to the point you want to work from.
Move the iron quickly so that the heat does not harm the stole. Then make sure you have covered the stole with a clean cloth to protect it from the direct heat. Satin in any form is not compatible with direct heat.
Then let the stole cool before hanging it up to finish drying. You can use steam if you want or you can dampen the stole a little with a spray bottle to keep the stole moist as you iron.
How to Iron Satin Tablecloths
There is no real difference in ironing a satin table cloth and ironing satin clothing, except one. The same instructions apply above and will help you keep your satin tablecloth looking perfect when the guests arrive.
The one exception is for you to move your ironing board next to your kitchen or dining room table. As you iron move the ironed portion of the tablecloth onto the table to keep it from falling to the floor and getting dirty or more wrinkles.
If you have a built-in ironing board then fold the tablecloth up and get the wrinkles out. Then go after the creases. This step allows you to let the tablecloth fall to the floor. When you are done do not fold the tablecloth up too tightly or you may get more creases you have to get out when you want to use the item again.
How to Iron Satin Ribbon
- Step 1 - Place your iron on low heat or the satin setting.
- Step 2 - Take a spray bottle and mist the shiny side first then flip the ribbon over and mist the backside. You do not want the ribbon to be too wet, just moist enough to handle the iron.
- Step 3 - Hold the end of the ribbon with one hand and place the tip of the iron near that hand. Then gently pull the ribbon so that the rest of it slides underneath the iron.
If twists occur before the ribbon slides under the iron, stop what you are doing, lift the iron up and untwist the ribbon. Then start over. Let the iron sit on wrinkles for a few seconds before pulling again.
Can You Iron Satin Robes?
Yes, it is possible to iron satin robes. The good news is that there is no new technique to learn when doing this task. You will need to set your iron on low or satin before starting as well as turn the robe inside out.
Then start with the thickest parts of the robe before you iron the thinner parts. You can always pull the rope out of its place and iron it more like a ribbon than satin fabric. Or just iron it like other satin clothing.
When you iron your satin robe make sure to cover it with a clean cloth and move your iron quickly as you work. Don’t slide back and forth but slide forward and lift to go back.
Can You Steam Satin?
Yes, you can and this is one of the preferred methods of getting wrinkles out without using an iron. Place your satin items in your bathroom and turn on your shower. You can take a shower at the same time or not. The steam will work either way.
Then wait about 20 minutes before checking the clothing. If the wrinkles are gone shut off your shower, turn on your exhaust fan, you don't want mold to grow at this time, and let your clothes dry.
If the wrinkles are not gone, then let the clothes remain in the bathroom and continue the steam treatment. Check the garments after about another 10 minutes before shutting the shower down. You can always go longer than an extra 10 minutes but check them after this period has expired.
How to Steam a Satin Dress
The first method would be to use the steam function on your iron. Lift the iron up a few inches above the dress and hit the steam button. Just dampen the area you want to iron and get the wrinkles out. The ironing cloth should not keep the steam away from the dress.
The second method would be as described above. Use your bathroom and shower to get the wrinkles and creases out of your satin dress. This just takes a little time and no real effort on your part
You can use a steamer instead of your shower but be careful about the direct heat issue.
Some Final Words
Ironing is not an exciting task but it certainly has you looking good when you wear the results. Satin is not an exception to the rule and when you follow the guidelines mentioned above your results should be top-notch.
It takes a little time to iron satin because of its vulnerabilities. Just keep the fabric away from direct heat and you should not have too many issues to deal with. Also, use low heat to make sure you do not scorch the fabric.
