How to Get Iron Marks Out of Clothes (Fix Scorch and Burn)
Even when you are concentrating on your ironing and being careful, it is possible to be distracted. When that happens your favorite blouse goes up in smoke. Ironing is not without its risks and should be done at a time when you'll be alone.
How to get iron marks out of clothes: One option you can use when mistakes have led to iron marks on your clothing is to use hydrogen peroxide. A cotton ball filled with this liquid can and a gentle but firm rubbing motion can remove some basic iron marks with ease.
To learn more about removing iron marks from your clothing, just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about in order to fix those mistakes and get your clothing looking like new again.
Fixing Iron Marks 101
Why Does My Iron Leave Marks On My Clothes?
One of the most common reasons why your iron leaves marks is that it is set at a temperature that is too high for the fabric you are ironing. The high heat can damage a lot of fabrics by leaving shiny marks or even scorch the material.
Another reason why your iron will leave marks is that you had forgotten to drain all of the water out of the steam reservoir the last time you used your iron. The inside of the reservoir rusted and the rust flakes get transported to your clothing through your use of the steam function.
Then, when you leave your iron in one spot for too long, the heat of the iron will scorch the delicate fabric beneath it. Or the delay in moving your iron melted the polyester fibers in the clothing item you were ironing.
When you iron synthetic materials, there is always the risk of melting those fibers or distorting them because the iron is just too hot. If you get black streaks on your clothing, then the iron is just the tool used to create them.
The source is some sort of residue left on your ironing board or somewhere on the clothing. That residue was either not removed by the wash or placed on your clothing by the chemicals you used in your was, etc.
Iron Scorch Marks
These scorch marks can come from a variety of sources. You delayed in moving the iron, accidentally left the iron to answer the phone or it fell over as you moved away from the ironing board. Or you may have accidentally, possibly on purpose, drop it on the carpet you never liked.
There are a lot of reasons why those scorch marks appear and one you may not have thought of is that the spray starch you used burned. If that is the case, your clothes should not be damaged.
There are many solutions to this issue and usually, it will take a little elbow grease to remove the stain. Especially if it is the spray starch that is the culprit. The trick is to know when you can repair the damage and when it is too late to do anything.
The latter issue usually ends up taking place when the scorch marks are on your carpet. Once they get in, they are basically impossible to remove. The level of damage will determine if there is a ray of hope in removing that scorch mark as will the type of fibers that are used to make the carpet.
Do Iron Marks Wash Out?
Some iron marks can be washed out but it may take several washings and your results may vary. Also, some iron marks may be deep into the fibers and washing alone won't do the trick.
You may need to enlist some help from other products to get those marks out. A lot will depend on the type of fibers that were given those marks. Natural fibers seem to be the easiest to remove iron marks. You would have to know the fiber content of the material before proceeding with any of the possible solutions.
If the clothing item is a blend, a lot will depend on the number of synthetic fibers in that blend. If those synthetic fibers have melted then you will be looking for a new clothing item.
Some flattened fibers can be lifted up again but some of the treatments for iron marks involve heat which poses a risk for synthetic fibers. Also, you do not have to use your washing machine to wash out those marks. Using a bowl or tub of water will suffice or even running water from the tap.
Those options open you up to more solutions that may remove those iron marks.
How to Remove Iron Marks from Clothes
The good news here is that there are a lot of solutions you can try. If one doesn't work, you do not give up but simply move on to the next option. One solution is to put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide on the marks and let that soak in between 5 and 60 minutes.
Never let the stain dry and continue to add the peroxide or you can add ammonia. When the soaking time is up, flush with water and then launder the fabric like you normally would.
If you happen to lightly scorch your clothing, do not delay in applying the remedy. Rub in some laundry detergent, then wash right way in your washing machine. Use liquid laundry soap and oxygen-based bleach.
Or you can wipe the scorch stain right away with vinegar and a clean cloth. This option is best used when you are planning to wear the item right after you are done and the scorch mark is very slight.
These are not the only solutions you can try as fuzzy or wool fabrics tend to get scorched from time to time. When it is only the fringe that is damaged, snip off the scorched fringe or rub the area with a toothbrush. But if the scorch marks have hit the fabric, you have lost and maybe only a dry cleaner can get the mark out.
When scorch or other mark appears on colored fabrics, use a white cloth and some vinegar to remove it. The cloth should be white so you can see if you are making any progress or not. repeat as necessary then wash the vinegar out.
If that solution doesn’t work, then you will need to soak the item in oxygen bleach, if it is allowed, overnight using warm water. Wash in the morning. As you can see there are a lot of solutions you can try and we have not t=scratched the surface of those solutions yet.
Shiny Iron Marks On Black Clothes
When you start to see those shiny iron marks appearing on your black clothing, you should recognize that your iron is too hot. Or you were ironing an uneven area of your clothing.
For example, a pocket, folded areas, and so on can be ironed differently than the rest of the clothing item creating shiny marks. The fibers have been flattened or compressed and that is another cause of those shiny makers.
It won’t be just your iron that causes those shiny marks as the pressure of sitting down for long periods will do the same thing. It is going to be an issue you will face eventually whether you iron a lot or not.
One way to avoid these marks and keep them from appearing is to choose clothing made from fibers that won't develop those marks or to double-check your heat settings when you go to iron your clothing.
When you go to iron, you should not assume you know the right setting. Instead, read the clothing label to make sure you have the right setting on your iron. If you don’t err on the cooler side of the scale, not the hotter side.
Then use a well-padded ironing board and then turn the clothing item inside out to iron. A final prevention method would be to use a pressing cloth as a protective layer.
Removing Black Iron Marks from Clothes
The first step you need to take is to see if the iron plate is scorched or has black stains on it. If it does, then you should either try to clean those stains off or buy a new iron. You may be putting those black stains on your clothing unknowingly. Using a clean iron is the way to prevent many of those stains from taking place.
To clean the black marks off your iron, just use a simple cleaning solution and finish the job by rubbing a little vinegar over the area that was stained. For our Aussie readers, Panadol or Panamax rubbed onto the iron while it is still hot will work as the cleansing agent.
Don’t be afraid of any smoke that arises that is a normal reaction. When the stains are on clothing, you have several options to try, but we make all these solutions without guarantees. Your results may differ.
The first option would be a mixture of lemon and salt. Sprinkle some salt over the stain and then add some lemon juice. Use an old, clean toothbrush to do the scrubbing, then put in direct sunlight to let the area dry. Once the stain is gone, you can wash normally.
Or you can try baking soda and laundry detergent and start with using some clean running water to soak the area. Do this while having the clothing item turned inside out. Then wash the item like normal.
Next, combine 3 tbsp of baking soda with 1 cup laundry detergent in a gallon of cold, clean water. Soak the stain for half an hour then wash like you normally would for that fabric. Let the clothing sundry.
Finally, you can try vinegar and salt and you start by running water over the stain. Again turn the clothing item inside out. After that, sprinkle vinegar directly onto the stain and then add the salt.
When done, leave the clothing item in the sun with the stain facing it. Once 30 minutes have passed, the stain should be gone and you can wash the clothing item normally.
How to Remove Iron Marks from Carpet
The first step is to identify the type of fibers the carpet was made from. Those fibers will dictate the cleaning method if a cleaning method is possible. If the iron marks are not severe and the carpet is made from natural fibers, you can start by soaking it in water.
Use cold water and 24 hours to do the soaking. Then dry according to the instructions on the care label. If that doesn't work, you can try to use vinegar and put some on a clean cloth. When that is ready simply dab the carpet to see if the stain or mark comes off. If you see progress keep doing this until the stain is gone.
Your next option is to try adding a little vinegar to your washing machine and wash the carpet according to the instructions on the care label. Then you can try the steam function on your iron. Just keep the iron from touching the carpet and blast some steam at it.
If the marks are light, then the steam should remove them. A final option would be to use hydrogen peroxide. Soak a cloth with that liquid then lay the cloth over the stain and iron the cloth. Repeat until the stain is gone.
All of those possible solutions will work only if the carpet is made from natural fibers. For carpets made from synthetic fibers turn the carpet upside down and place a vinegar-soaked cloth over the stain. Then holding the iron above the cloth using the steam function to remove the marks.
The other solution you can try is to rub the stain with hydrogen peroxide. However, if the fibers are damaged by the heat, all of these solutions may not work. This is a trial and error situation. No guarantees are being made here for any solutions we include in this article.
How to Fix an Iron Burn On Polyester
These solutions are for both polyester and rayon material. The first step is to use an old clean toothbrush and brush the burnt area. After that is done, turn the fabric inside out or upside down and place it on a cloth. Once there, drop some hydrogen peroxide onto the cloth. You only need a little bit.
Next, add 2 drops of ammonia and let the mixture soak a little. While you wait between a few minutes and an hour, keep adding the two liquids. Don’t let the material dry. Rinse with warm water but do not use hot. The latter temperature will spread the stain.
After all of that, wash the material according to the care label to get rid of the ammonia, etc., and then wash again using oxygen bleach. If the polyester and rayon cannot be washed, then you turn to vinegar and a clean white cloth.
Moisten the cloth with vinegar and rub the stained area. Start from the outside of the stain and work your way in. Then rinse by wiping the area with another clean cloth made damp with water. Repeat until the stain is gone.
One thing to remember is that scorch marks are to be treated asap. The longer they sit, the harder they are to remove.
Fixing Melted Polyester Fabric
There is, after all of this good news, some bad news. When polyester fibers have melted during ironing it is impossible to repair them. That conclusion is the same if the polyester fibers become shiny or hard.
Light scorch marks may be possible to remove but that is not a consistent result. You can try the different solutions already mentioned for polyester but do not hold your breath. Your results may be different and that is good if the burnt marks are removed.
If the fibers have melted, do not waste your time or energy. This includes extreme burnt or scorched marks as well. We checked several sources and their answer was all the same-- once you burn, melt, damage the synthetic fibers, you will need to replace the clothing item.
This conclusion is for polyester, rayon, acrylic, acetate, and other synthetic-fiber-made clothing, etc. All you can do is be very careful when you iron synthetic materials. Watch your heat settings and always err on the side of the cooler temperatures.
Some Final Words
Mistakes do happen especially when you are ironing delicate clothing items. It never seems to fail but if you apply the right solutions you can rectify those mistakes and keep your clothing looking great. Just don’t let yourself be distracted as you iron.
