How to Get Wrinkles Out of Clothes Without an Iron

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Quick and easy ways to unwrinkle clothes in a dryer, shower, & more

Co-authored by Ayad Mirjan and Devin McSween

Last Updated: September 6, 2023 Fact Checked

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You rush out of bed and throw on your clothes, only to see that they’re covered in unsightly wrinkles. You don’t have an iron, so what can you do to get your clothes crisp and smooth? Well, you’ve come to the right place to find out! We’ll show you several quick and easy methods to get rid of wrinkles that use items you already have in your home. If you’re ready to de-wrinkle your clothes, read on!

Things You Should Know

Dry your wrinkled clothes on high with a handful of ice cubes for 5-10 minutes. The ice cubes create steam that de-wrinkles your clothes.
Hang your clothes in your shower away from the water, turn the water on hot, and steam your clothes for 15 minutes to release wrinkles.
Spray wrinkles with water to lightly dampen them. Then, turn a blow dryer on low and aim it 2 inches (5 cm) away from the wrinkles to straighten them out.

1

Remove wrinkles in the dryer with ice cubes.

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Placing ice cubes in a dryer creates steam to de-wrinkle your clothes. Simply place your wrinkly clothes in your dryer and add a handful of ice cubes.
Then, set your dryer on high heat and dry your clothes for about 5 to 10 minutes.
Take your clothes out as soon as they’re done and wear them, or hang them up to prevent wrinkles.^{[1]
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- If you don’t have ice, simply mist your clothes so they’re slightly damp, but not wet.
- Alternatively, add a damp sock, towel, or several dryer sheets to the dryer to create the same steam effect. If you use dryer sheets, they’ll help prevent static and leave your clothes with a refreshing scent.^{[2]
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- Drying wrinkly clothes is great if they have wrinkles all over instead of in concentrated spots. Just check the clothes’ labels to make sure they’re safe to tumble dry.

2

Steam wrinkled clothes in the shower.

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The steam from a hot shower helps release stubborn wrinkles without you having to lift a finger. Just hang any wrinkly outfit in the shower, turn the water on hot, close the door, and let the bathroom steam for about 15 minutes.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Susan Stocker
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.}

Shower Steaming Quick Tips
Hanging your clothes: Make sure your shower rod is clean so it doesn’t leave marks on your clothes. Then, hang the clothes on the shower rod itself, or on a hanger placed on the rod.
Seal the room: Close the door, shut your windows, and block the space under the door to prevent the steam from escaping the bathroom.
Close but still dry: Hang your clothes as close to the shower head as possible without getting your clothes wet. If your shower head is adjustable, direct it away from the clothing to divert the stream.
Give it time: It takes about 15 minutes of steaming to get rid of wrinkles. To save water, take a shower while your clothes de-wrinkle.

3

Use a blow dryer to release wrinkles.

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The heated air from a hair dryer quickly blows away wrinkles. Hang your garment on a clothes hanger then lightly spritz the wrinkles with a spray bottle full of water. Make sure the garment is slightly damp, but not completely wet. Then,
turn your dryer on to the lowest setting and hold it about 2 inches (5 cm) away from your clothes.
^{[4]
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Expert Source

Ayad Mirjan
Dry Cleaner & Laundry Specialist

Expert Interview. 11 August 2021.}
- If your hair dryer has a concentrator nozzle, attach it to focus the hot air onto the wrinkles.
- Don’t get closer than 1 to 2 inches (2-5 cm) from your clothes with the hair dryer, as the direct heat can damage or burn your clothes.
- This wrinkle removing method works best on clothes that have concentrated areas of wrinkles.

4

Straighten out wrinkles with a flat iron.

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The heated flat iron paddles easily remove wrinkles on smaller areas. Just heat your flat iron on high if you’re ironing a cotton garment, or on low for delicate fabrics like silk. If you’re ironing a shirt, place it on the back of a chair to separate the front and back. Simply clamp the flat iron over the wrinkled fabric and pull down as if you were straightening your hair.^{[5]
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- When you iron shorts, pull them onto the back of the chair upside down. For long pants, flowy shirts, or jackets, lay them on a flat surface or hang them.
- Use a damp cloth to clean off any hair products on your cool, unplugged flat iron before you iron. Leftover products can damage your clothes.^{[6]
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- Run the flat iron over your clothes quickly just like you’re using a real iron. If you clamp the flat iron on your clothes for too long, you might burn the fabric.
- This method works great on smaller areas like shirt collars, cuffs, and hems.

5

Use a tea kettle to steam your wrinkled clothes.

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Aim the hot steam from a kettle at your clothes to release wrinkles. Get the best of both worlds by making yourself tea and de-wrinkling your clothes at the same time. Just fill your kettle with water and place it on the stove to boil. Once it starts to steam,
hold your garment about 12 inches (30 cm) away from the tea spout.
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- Be careful and keep your face and hands out of the way of the kettle’s steam.
- This method usually works best on small, wrinkled areas like suit and shirt collars.
- If you have a larger wrinkled garment, use the steam from a hot shower or dryer instead. Or, use a steamer.

6

Use the bottom of a pan as an iron.

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Heat up a kitchen pan and press it onto your clothes to remove wrinkles. Just take out any kitchen pan or pot, fill it with water, then boil it on your stove. Lay a towel on your counter or table and place your garment on top. Then, carefully dump out the boiling water and smooth the hot bottom of the pan over the wrinkles.^{[8]
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- Wear oven mitts and iron carefully when using this method to prevent burns on yourself and your clothing.
- Iron your clothes quickly, as pots and pans tend to cool down fast.
- This method works best on garments made out of durable fabrics like cotton and linen.

7

Spray your clothes with a wrinkle-removing spray.

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Use a commercial spray, or make your own with fabric softener. Most grocery stores sell wrinkle-removing sprays, but it’s easy to make one yourself with common household ingredients. To use either type of spray, just spritz the wrinkles on your clothes until they’re damp. Then, gently smooth, pull, or shake out your clothes to release the wrinkles.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Bridgett Price
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview. 23 May 2019.}

DIY Wrinkle Releaser
Instructions: Mix 1 c (240 ml) of water, 1 tsp (5 m) of fabric softener, and 1 tsp (5 ml) of rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle. Or, fill the spray bottle with 3 parts water and 1 part white vinegar. Shake the bottle thoroughly then test it on a discrete piece of fabric to make sure that it doesn’t stain.^{[10]
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Using the spray: Generously spray the wrinkles on shirts, pants, and dresses then smooth them out with your hands. Spray the clothing until it's damp, but not soaked with the mixture.^{[11]
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Let it dry: Hang your clothes on a hanger until they’re completely dry. Place whites outside in the sun to make them brighter, but keep colored clothes in the sun. The sun can bleach deeper colors.
Use it in a pinch: When you're on the go and ironing isn't possible, keep a small spray bottle in your bag, car, or desk at work.^{[12]
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8

Use a steamer to remove wrinkles.

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The hot stream from a clothes steamer relaxes wrinkles quickly. Fill up the water reservoir in your steamer and plug it in to heat up for 1 to 2 minutes. Then, hang up your clothes and hold the areas with wrinkles taut. Aim the steamer about 6 inches (15 cm) away and slowly move it in downwards strokes over the wrinkles.^{[13]
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- The steamer usually sputters at first, so hold down the button to release the steam until it comes out evenly before using it.
- Steamers release wrinkles delicately, so they’re great for most shirts, pants, and even suits. Just check the labels on your garment to make sure it’s safe to steam.

9

Press wrinkled clothes between a mattress.

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Use the pressure of a mattress to flatten wrinkles if you have time. If you don’t have access to steam or heat, use good old-fashioned force to de-wrinkle your clothes. Just smooth your garment on a flat surface and roll it up tightly into a burrito-like shape. Then, place it under a mattress or a heavy stack of books for about 1 hour.^{[14]
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- As an alternative, place the wrinkled clothing on a flat surface. Then, dampen a bath towel or paper towel and set it on top of the wrinkled areas. Press the towel down with your hands, then let the garment hang to dry.
- This method works great for all kinds of clothes and fabric types.

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Question

How can I remove wrinkles from my clothes while I am at work or school?

Community Answer

You can lightly spray water on the clothes and dry them under the hand drier in the bathroom.

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How can I remove wrinkles from a skirt that is made to be wrinkled, but has wrinkles from being folded in shipping?

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You can use a steamer. It won't remove the purposeful creases, but it will take away the folding wrinkles.

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How do I remove wrinkles from a garment that has been dyed?

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An ice cube or steam should still work. Be sure not to get the clothing wet. If you are really worried it'll run, take a roller from the kitchen and tightly roll the shirt against it. Let sit for about five minutes and then flatten out the clothing.

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Tips

Fold or hang your clothes as soon as they’re done drying to prevent wrinkles from developing in the first place.^{[15]
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Expert Source

Bridgett Price
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview. 23 May 2019.}

Thanks
Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
If you’re traveling, prevent wrinkles and save space in your suitcase by rolling your clothes instead of folding them.

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To remove wrinkles from polyester items, wash and dry them on low heat, or use a steamer.

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