The process of removing shiny iron marks from clothes can seem impossible when you consider the clothes’ fabric. The shiny marks can be due to repairable scorches onto the natural fibers which cotton is among them. As for the polyester fabrics, there might be shiny marks due to the melted or flattened fabric. However, for the melted fabric, removing the marks can be impossible. When you want to remove the shiny iron marks from your clothes, there is a procedure you should follow. Here is what you need to do:
Identify Available Fabric Content
When your cloth gets a shiny iron mark, first identify what fabric is the cloth made of. It helps one to know what are the possible solutions to be used in eliminating the mark. You should identify fabric when you check at the label from the cloth since they are always indicated. However, when you don’t find the label from the material, then try to inquire from other sources so you can know what the fabric content of the affected cloth is. There are also facts about the fiber of clothes, and you should be aware of these.
Fiber Facts
- Cotton can allow for air to circulate freely but not polyester
- Cotton tends to fade faster compared to polyester when they undergo normal conditions for laundering
- Polyester fiber is more durable compared to cotton
- Polyester might irritate the sensitive skin
When identifying if the marked cloth is made of polyester or cotton, there are some tests you can practice. They are; burn test and water test.
Water Test: you can dampen fabric in water then fold it to the crease. Polyester won’t hold the crease, but cotton will keep. The test is, however, not accurate often mostly if the fabric is blended with cotton and polyester.
Burn Test: You can get a small fabric piece to use in testing using the burn test since it is incredibly accurate. The burning cotton will produce a smell of burning leaves, and its flame is easily blown away like that of the candle, and their ashes crumble. When polyester material is heated, it produces the sweet smell, and their ashes may stick onto other substances rather than crumbling.
After identifying the fiber on the cloth, you can then remove the shiny iron mark from them using some procedures. However, fibers are either human-made or natural, and they have different ways to ensure the mark is removed. But before that, you can still avoid shiny marks when ironing and this is what you can do.
Avoiding Shiny Marks When Ironing
After knowing the clothes label, you should know the procedure required for washing and ironing them. When you are not sure of which fabric it is, always iron with a low temperature and you can increase as you continue. When using the best steam iron, they reach maximum temperature faster, so make sure the temperature is low.
Apply the high quality, padded, and best ironing board purchased using the ironing board buying guide and ensure you iron both in and out for the fabrics that have a high shining tendency. You can, however, follow the clothing iron buying guide to make sure you follow the recommended steps and use pressing cloth which will protect your clothes. Pressing cloth helps in creating the layer between the garment and iron to make sole-plate be in indirect contact with your garments.
If the shiny iron mark is already in the cloth after you have ironed, then the following procedures can help top remove the marks:
Natural Fibers
You can use:
Water Plunge: you can plunge fabric in cold water for almost 24-hours then remove and dry as per the description from the manufacturer’s description.
Vinegar Cloth: insert a garment in vinegar then dab it on the shiny part then dab a clean water damped cloth on the mark again. Alternate vinegar and water until the mark are no more.
Vinegar Washing: have the marked cloth rewashed with small vinegar amount and detergent where less vinegar than detergent.
Steam: release the steam on the shiny mark while holding the iron above the garment. It will remove light marks provided there are steam iron features.
Use Of Hydrogen Peroxide: insert clean cloth in hydrogen peroxide then place it onto the shiny iron mark and iron over the cloth piece. If the mark is still there, repeat the process for best results. You should always know when to use dry vs steam iron when ironing.
Man-made Fibers
They can be restored using hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar.
Vinegar Steam: dab the clean cloth on vinegar the squeeze to remove excess. The fabric’s wrong side should face up on your ironing board and place the dabbed vinegar cloth on top. Hold your iron on top as it produces steam which will penetrate the fabric. Turn back the fabric in its side then rub shiny marks with the grain and fibers will be restored.
Wiping With Peroxide: dampen light hydrogen peroxide cloth and rub it on the shiny mark the launder that fabric.
When ironing your garments, always know when to use steam generator vs steam iron so you can avoid creating the shiny marks. You should also not purchase iron because it is cheap, never bother on cheap vs expensive but always consider the quality and steam iron features which are best for your clothes.
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