If ironing isn’t your favorite chore, there are a few clever tricks to help prevent your laundry from wrinkling. While some fabrics are naturally prone to creases, you can still keep your clothes smooth and fresh by following these simple tips. Try your favorite ones to get rid of this common problem.
Many of these hacks make use of tools you already have at home — like a hair dryer, flat iron, hot pan, or clothes dryer.
1. Hair Dryer
Using a hair dryer to remove wrinkles from clothes is a well-known quick fix.
However, avoid using it on completely dry garments. Instead, lightly mist the wrinkled areas with water until they are slightly damp, then blow hot air over them. If your dryer has a narrow nozzle, use it for better precision; otherwise, use your hand to smooth and stretch the fabric while applying heat.
2. Clothes Dryer
After washing your clothes, you can toss them in a tumble dryer to remove wrinkles.
Add a damp towel to the load, then set the dryer to a short cycle — about five minutes. If wrinkles remain, repeat the process in short intervals (every 5 minutes), ensuring the towel doesn’t dry out completely.
This method works especially well for cotton and blended fabrics.
3. Hot Pan
A flat, hot frying pan can double as an iron in a pinch.
Just make sure the pan’s bottom is clean and smooth to avoid transferring any marks onto your clothes. Heat the pan on the stove, wear oven mitts, and gently press the pan onto the wrinkled area to smooth it out.
This trick is best for small areas or quick touch-ups.
4. Hair Straightener
In emergencies, a hair straightener can replace an iron.
Turn it on at the lowest heat setting (since straighteners tend to get hotter than irons) and make sure the plates are clean before use. If there’s any leftover hairspray residue, it can transfer to the fabric and cause stains — which is worse than wrinkles!
Use it carefully on collars, cuffs, and small fabric sections.
5. Hot Shower Steam
This simple steam trick works wonders.
Turn on hot water in the shower for about 15–20 minutes with the bathroom door closed and the fan turned off. When the room fills with steam, hang your clothes near the showerhead (but not too close). The steam will naturally relax the fibers, smoothing out wrinkles.
This is perfect for last-minute touch-ups — just coordinate it with your shower time to avoid wasting water.
6. Wrinkle-Release Spray
Commercial wrinkle-release sprays are widely available and very effective. Simply spray the garment, then shake it out to let the wrinkles fade away.
Many of these sprays also leave a fresh, clean scent, making clothes smell as if they were just laundered.
7. DIY Wrinkle-Release Spray
For a more sustainable and chemical-free option, you can make your own spray at home.
In a reusable spray bottle, mix:
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2 cups of distilled water
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1 teaspoon of hair conditioner
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1 teaspoon of rubbing alcohol (optional – it helps the spray dry faster)
If the scent of alcohol bothers you, simply omit it. Shake well before each use, spray lightly on your clothes, and smooth them by hand.
8. Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets or dryer balls can help prevent wrinkles — or fix them when they appear.
To smooth out wrinkled garments, dampen a dryer sheet (or wool ball) slightly, and toss it in the dryer with your clothes for 10 minutes.
Your clothes will come out softer, fresher, and smoother.
9. Ice Cubes
Surprisingly, ice cubes can also fight wrinkles!
Place a few ice cubes in the dryer with your wrinkled clothes and run it on high heat. As the cubes melt, they release steam that smooths out the fabric naturally — like a mini steam cycle.
10. Mattress Trick
Sometimes, a little pressure is all your clothes need.
Lay your garment flat, then place it under your mattress for about 15–20 minutes. The weight and warmth help press out wrinkles.
For best results, leave the clothes under the mattress overnight — an old-fashioned but surprisingly effective method when you’re not in a rush.
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