What is the correct way to press a cotton shirt?
Janet M.,
Kansas City, KS
Cotton fabric usually has other fibers blended with it to reduce wrinkling. Ironing should be minimal, especially if the shirt is hung up after drying. Pressing with a steam iron is usually enough. If the fabric is 100% cotton, either remove it from the dryer before it's completely dry or spray the shirt with water and let it sit in a plastic bag for 10 to 15 minutes, until the fabric is uniformly damp. This relaxes the fibers making it easier to remove the wrinkles and get sharper creases. Set the iron as indicated by the fiber content label and press each area until the fabric is dry.
Start by pressing the wrong side of the collar and neck stand, then press the right side. Press the wrong side of both front bands or facings, then press the right sides.
Press around the shirt upper portion by repositioning it on the ironing board as you press the right front yoke area, shoulder seam, across the back yoke area, other shoulder seam and the left front yoke area.
Iron the sleeves before finishing the shirt body. Start by ironing the cuff wrong sides, then the right sides.
Position the sleeve with the placket side up and with the underarm seam along one edge-smooth the sleeve to find the upper arm crease. Iron this side, setting the crease. Flip the sleeve over and iron the other side. Repeat for the other sleeve.
Press the shirt body, beginning with the right front, working around the shirt and ending on the left front. Hang the shirt up to cool and dry completely.
