How to iron knitwear safely? (Avoid these mistakes)

Place the knitwear over the ironing board or on a large towel placed over a flat surface. Make sure to always use a protective layer between the iron and the knitwear, such as a press cloth, towel, or a sheet of cotton cloth. Next, use your iron’s steam function or just lightly wet the press cloth or towel of your choice and begin ironing in sections.

Try to avoid ironing knitwear too often and do it only if necessary.

However, if you need to press knitwear using an iron, make sure to use the lowest heat settings or simply select wool or silk, if applicable.

Do not apply too much pressure over the surface and iron the fabric in sections.

How to remove wrinkles from knitwear? (Press knit safely)

The best method for defusing wrinkles from knit clothing or knit fabrics is to use steam.

That being said, the steam is not the only method you can use, there are some other creative ways too for removing wrinkles from knitwear.

Let’s take a look at some of the safe and effective methods for removing wrinkles from knit items below.

Dry iron

If you have a dry iron that does not feature steam, do not worry; you can still use it to unwrinkle knitwear items.

• Place the knitwear item on an ironing board and if you don’t have an ironing board, you can lay a clean, towel on a flat surface.
• Set the settings of your iron to wool or silk or any other lowest heat setting.
• Use a press cloth or towel and place it between the iron and the fabric to protect it from direct contact.
• It’s better if you fill a spray bottle with clean water to dampen the pressing cloth or towel so that it produces steam.
• In order to give knitwear a fresh scent, you can also add a few drops of essential oil to the towel at the time of making it damp.
• Start by ironing the areas that are most likely to show wrinkles, such as around the collar, sleeves, and hem.
• Always start at the top of the garment and work your way down, using long, smooth strokes.
• Be careful not to stretch or pull the fabric as this can cause permanent damage, especially when ironing knitwear. So, gently smooth out any wrinkles or creases, or the best is to iron the fabric in sections i.e., placing the iron over the affected areas instead of running it over the surfaces.
• Be sure to move the iron around frequently so that you don’t overheat a specific area that can cause damage.
• When you’re finished ironing, hang your garment up or fold it neatly so it doesn’t develop new wrinkles while it cools down.

Steam iron

• Place your knitwear over the ironing board and turn on your steam iron to preheat.
• Select the wool or silk setting on the iron with the steam feature enabled.
• Make sure the iron’s water reservoir is filled with an adequate amount of water.
• Once the iron generates steam start moving your iron over the wrinkled surface first.
• Keep a sufficient gap between the iron and the garment as the idea is to only steam the garment.
• The power of the team will help to relax the fibers of the knitwear and make ironing easier.
• Simply, make sure not to overdo it, as too much steam can cause the fabric to shrink.
• Once the fabric is steamed sufficiently, place a pressing cloth between the fabric and the iron and start ironing in sections.

Steam Shower

Utilizing a steam shower is another great way to unwrinkle knitwear, including woolen sweaters.

If you have installed a steam shower in your bathroom, then it’s best to hang your knitwear on the clothes hanger in a corner as you shower with steam.

Once done, check the knitwear and place it on a flat surface to further smooth the wrinkles by running your hand over the surface, you can also use a cold press technique.

Alternatively, if you have a hot water tap in your bathroom, simply turn on the tap to fill the bathtub.

Next, hang the knit garment on a hanger in the bathroom and close the door to allow the room to fill with steam.

Leave it idle for about 8 to 10 minutes before you take it out to smooth any wrinkles with your hand.

Handheld steamer

If you have access to a handheld steamer, it’s best to use it to unwrinkle your knitwear.

• Put your sweater or knitwear on a clothes hanger to steam it up.
• Next, fill the steamer’s water reservoir with clean water and turn it on.
• Select the low steam setting and wait for the steam to come out.
• Now, hold the steamer away from the fabric and start moving it from the bottom to the top. Make sure you hold the steamer close to the fabric but not too close.
• Move it back and forth to work over stubborn wrinkles and be careful not to scorch the fabric by holding the steamer too close for too long.
• Finally, assess the fabric to make sure all of the wrinkles have been removed.
• If there are wrinkles even after steaming, use a cold press.

What to avoid when ironing knit?

When ironing knit fabric, there are several things to keep in mind in order to avoid damage to the fabric.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when ironing knit fabric.

High heat settings

Avoid using high heat settings on the iron as they can damage the fabric and cause it to shrink or lose its shape.

Pulling or stretching

Be gentle when ironing knit fabric and avoid pulling or stretching the fabric, as this can cause the fabric to lose its elasticity and shape.

Rough surfaces

Do not iron knit fabric directly on rough or abrasive surfaces, such as metal or textured ironing boards, and use a protective cloth or towel between the fabric and the iron to prevent damage.

Hangers

Avoid hanging knit garments while they are still warm or hot from ironing. This can cause the fabric to stretch and lose its shape.

Do not keep the iron in one place

It’s always best to avoid leaving the iron on your clothes for too long as it can end up scorching them.

So make sure you keep the iron moving to prevent any damage to your clothes.

Read the care label

It’s a good idea to check the care label before ironing any knit fabric.

The label will typically provide information on the appropriate ironing temperature and whether steam can be used.

Strictly avoid ironing if the care label has the “Do not iron” tag on it.

Final Thoughts

Knitwear is usually made from natural fibers, hence you should always use a low heat setting on your iron.

No doubt, ironing knitwear can be tricky at times, but with the right techniques and tools, it is possible to obtain a wrinkle-free finish.

Placing a piece of cloth between the iron and the knitwear will help to protect the fabric from direct contact with the iron, and also prevent any shine or markings.

If you’re not sure what temperature to use, simply refer to the care label on your garment which should give you a fair idea about the same.

A handheld steamer, steam iron, or using bath steam proves to be the best way to work over delicate knitwear items to unwrinkle and remove creases without having to actually iron them.

Frequently Asked Questions