Four Strategies to Eradicate Creases in Clothing:
Feeling Lazy About Ironing? Check Out These Tips!
Do you dread the ironing board as much as the rest of us? Fret not, mate! We've got some simple tricks up our sleeve that'll keep those wrinkles at bay, so you can skip the ironing drama.
While some fabrics are notorious for creasing, most wrinkles can be prevented with some clever washing and drying practices. And who better to give us a hand than Alastair Dorward, the CEO of Dropps, an eco-friendly laundry pod company? Check out his tips and tricks to effortlessly maintain smooth, wrinkle-free clothing.
Tips and Tricks to Avoid Ironing
Keep It Chill with Temperature Settings
Contrary to common belief, high heat can actually make wrinkles worse, and that's why Dorward encourages using lower temperatures on your washing and drying machines. "Lower temperatures keep those pesky wrinkles at bay, while excessive heat breaks the bonds of fabric polymers, leaving your clothes prone to creasing more easily," he advises. So keep it cool and opt for the permanent press cycle or cooler settings.
Bonus tip: Dorward also recommends using the cool-down cycle at the end of the drying cycle, if your dryer has one, as it helps relax the fabric further.
Don't Be a Slacker: Get Your Loot Outta the Dryer
Time is of the essence when it comes to avoiding wrinkles, and it's essential to remove your clothes immediately after the dryer cycle ends. Procrastination can lead to major wrinkles as the longer laundry lingers in a wrinkled heap, the deeper the creases etch themselves in—resulting in more visible wrinkles.
No Overcrowding Allowed
It can be tempting to cram as many clothes as possible into the washing machine and dryer to save time, money, and effort; but overcrowding only leads to wrinkled and potentially damaged clothing. Ensure that your clothes have enough room to move around properly throughout the cycle. When the washer is overly full, its efficiency drops as water and detergent struggle to circulate. In the dryer, the already-creased clothes encounter the same problems due to lack of adequate air circulation.
Ditch Dryer Sheets and Go for Wool Dryer Balls
An eco-friendly and wrinkle-busting alternative to traditional dryer sheets, wool dryer balls can help your clothes dry faster and with fewer wrinkles. "Not only do they aid in preventing wrinkles, but they also reduce drying time," Dorward points out. Their superior air circulation ability works wonders for keeping clothes wrinkle-free, as they can absorb up to 30% of their weight in water while fluffing laundry as it tumbles through the cycle, promoting optimal air circulation.
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Background:
All the tips and tricks shared by Alastair Dorward are designed to support proper washing and drying practices for clothing:
- Use low temperatures while washing and drying clothes to prevent excessive heat from weakening fabric polymers, leaving them prone to wrinkles[1].
- Opt for the permanent press cycle or cooler settings during washing and drying cycles to keep clothes below their "glass transition temperature," thus preventing wrinkles[1].
- Utilize the cool-down cycle at the end of the drying cycle if possible, as it helps relax the fabrics and further prevent wrinkles from setting in[1].
- Promptly remove clothes as soon as the drying cycle ends and fold or hang them to prevent creases from becoming deeply ingrained[1].
- Don't overstuff the washer and dryer, as a full load reduces their efficiency and causes wrinkling due to insufficient water and detergent circulation, and inadequate fabric movement[1].
- Consider implementing laundry checklists focused on 'laundry tips' to simplify the washing and drying process, following the advice of Alastair Dorward, the CEO of Dropps.
- When dealing with 'linens', opt for lower temperature settings on washing and drying machines to prevent wrinkles and protect fabric polymers from excessive heat.
- Housekeeping should include timely removal of clothes from the dryer to prevent wrinkles from becoming deeply ingrained, as suggested by Dorward's laundry maintenance practices.
- To reduce wrinkles and promote air circulation, home and garden improvements could include switching from dryer sheets to wool dryer balls, as eco-friendly alternatives that can help maintain wrinkle-free 'lifestyle' and 'fashion-and-beauty' garments.