It is an unpopular view, but one that has to be said. A true gentleman knows how not only to tie a bow tie, but also to iron his own shirt. After all, no woman can ever have the same relationship with it as the man who wears it – you.
Try to look on the bright side, though. You know best which spots needed extra attention during ironing. You know best whether you want a sharper crease on the sleeves or not. And it should matter most to you whether you look perfect at a business meeting. And this does not apply only to shirts – it holds equally for chinos and T-shirts.
And do not worry, ironing will not take up much of your time. Once you get the knack of it, you will have a shirt finished in three minutes.
Preparation is the most important thing. Make sure there is water in the iron and find out what temperature to set. If you are not sure, check the label. If you notice the wording “non-iron”, it does not mean you mustn’t iron the shirt. It simply creases less, so the job will go more smoothly. The general rule is that quality cotton shirts are ironed at no more than 150 degrees.
If you want a perfect result, lightly sprinkle the shirt with water a few minutes before ironing. The fabric will become more pliable and the job will go more easily.
And then all you need to do is undo every button and you can get to work.
How to iron a shirt properly – in four steps
1. Begin with the collar. Since it is stiffer than the rest of the shirt, sprinkle it with a little more water. Then straighten it out and, pressing with the back of the iron, work slowly from the centre outwards to the edges. Afterwards return the collar to its natural position and iron over the middle section once more. This helps it to keep its original shape.
2. Next come the sleeves. First iron the cuffs, in much the same way as the collar. Start on the inside and then move to the outside. Afterwards move on to the sleeve itself. Lay it down with the button side facing upwards. If you prefer a sharper crease, iron right up to the edges. Then turn the shirt over and iron the sleeve from the other side.
3. Third in line is the yoke – the panel between the collar and the shoulders. Lay the shirt on the narrow end of the board and smooth the fabric out carefully. Then iron gently from the shoulders towards the centre.
4. Last comes the body of the shirt – the largest and most important part. Begin with the space around the buttons. Iron bit by bit and take your time. Remember to straighten and smooth every section thoroughly before you iron it.
After ironing, hang the shirt on a hanger and let it breathe. If you are in a hurry, ten minutes will be enough.
When ironing, remember that…
• The strokes must not be circular – move the iron back and forth.
• You should press on the back of the iron, not on its tip. Otherwise folds and creases appear which spoil the overall look. The only exception is the space between buttons, where you have no choice.
• You must keep moistening the shirt regularly. Modern irons produce steam; with older ones you will have to make do with sprinkling.
• Do not run the iron over the buttons. You could damage both them and the iron itself.
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