The problem with sleeves is that, unless you have a sleeve board, you’re forced to iron two pieces of fabric at once – usually something that's best avoided.

Fabric suitability: Some garment steamers specify they can be used on ‘delicate fabrics’ and others go into more detail about which fabrics they can be used on (sequins, beads etc) so buy one that will suit your wardrobe. Always empty the water from your iron while the iron is hot. This will reduce the moisture that remains in the water compartment. Doing this will also ensure you unplug the iron before leaving the house. To avoid pesky iron marks, you should always try to turn clothes inside out before ironing them. If you're a forward thinker, simply flip garments inside out before you wash them - this will help prevent fading, too. A basic rule of thumb is that delicates, synthetics and silk should be ironed at low temperatures, wool on medium, and linens and cotton on high. If you dry your shirts in a clothing dryer, pull them out before they are fully dry. Better yet, don’t even place them in a dryer and instead put them on a wood hanger and iron them right out from the washing machine. No need to moisten or use any steam.

Taking the time to organise your laundry basket before you start ironing will save you time in the long run, so it's well worth doing. Start with the garments that need to be ironed on a cool setting. You can then work your way up to your sweatshirts and hoodies. And jeans, if you're a super-keen ironer. Place one sleeve flat on the ironing board with the underarm seam closest to you. If you don’t want a center crease on the sleeve, iron up to the edge but not over the top of it. If you don't mind a crease, iron the whole sleeve including the top edge. Flip the sleeve over and do the same on the other side. Repeat with the other sleeve.

Turn the shirt and iron from the right side to smooth out any remaining wrinkle by ironing in a downward motion. 2. CuffsIf the item you're ironing isn't inside out and it's difficult to remedy (or you just don't have the time), you can always just cover it with a clean pillowcase before ironing to make sure it doesn't get too much direct heat.

On the other hand, if your shirt is too dry, chances are you will not release all the wrinkles when ironing. So ideally you iron a slightly damp shirt. If it is already dry, spray it generously with water, and let it sit in a plastic bag for 10 minutes. Afterwards, you have the perfect fabric conditions for ironing.Instead of reaching for whatever's at the lop of the laundry pile, separate your clothes into different fabrics. This means you won't have to adjust the settings each time you iron an item and be left waiting for the iron to heat up or cool down. Our permanent guides to the best heated clothes airers, best washing machines, best washer dryers, and best tumble dryers may also come in handy.

Continue pinning pleats in place until you have secured a width slightly wider than your iron. Then simply iron flat from the top of the pleats to the bottom, taking care not to iron parts that have not yet been secured in place.Depending on how your embellished clothing is made, getting the ironing wrong could spell the end of a favourite dress. This is particularly true if beads are attached with glue (which can be melted by an iron). It has a thermostat with clear temperature and steam output settings for synthetic (dry ironing), silk (dry ironing), wool (dry ironing), cotton (steam) and linen (steam); plus a steam trigger underneath the handle and a maximum/minimum toggle to increase or decrease the steam output. Breville’s iron isn’t called the DiamondXpress for no reason: you’ll find actual crushed diamonds in the soleplate, which Breville says improves longevity as well as glide. The iron is light and has a slightly smaller soleplate than some of the others we tested; however, the soleplate is wide and multi-directional which makes it very easy to manoeuvre around an ironing board. It was also one of the most stable irons in a standing position and has a nice, soft handle that feels comfortable in the hand. There’s also plenty of steam produced, making it easy to remove wrinkles without too much effort. After ironing, brush down in the direction of the pile. This helps corduroy keep its distinctive texture. How to iron cotton and cotton blends You need to hang up or fold your clothes for at least five minutes to let the press fully set, leaving you with longer-lasting results and reducing the chances of any rogue creases reappearing halfway through the day.