A pleated skirt is present in the wardrobe of many women. However, not everyone knows how to return beautiful folds to such a product after washing, especially if it is sewn from a delicate material. At home, ironing a pleated skirt or any other similar item is quite simple. The main thing is to take into account the rules according to the type of material. Let’s analyze how to iron a pleated skirt after washing.

Any thing with pleats needs to be looked after. To sew a pleated skirt, different materials are used, which behave differently during heat treatment. Some fabrics, such as silk or chiffon, require ironing only on rare occasions, while other types of material will need to be ironed after each wash.

Before ironing, study the properties of the fabric, perhaps contact with a hot iron is completely contraindicated. In such cases, a steamer or self-made “steam bath” comes to the rescue.

How to prepare a thing for ironing

Before you start ironing, wash and dry the item properly. For this:

  • choose hand washing so as not to damage the location of the folds;
  • during processing, do not stretch or rub the thing;
  • use barely warm water, with a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees;
  • give preference to liquid gels rather than dry powders;
  • if you will still wash in an automatic machine, fold the skirt along the folds and place it in a washing cover or a nylon stocking, choose only delicate washing without spinning and drying;
  • dry the product properly on the racks in natural conditions, avoiding bends and fractures.

Immediately before ironing, study the label on the garment. The main recommendations for choosing a temperature regime for ironing will be indicated here. Also, to save the folds, you can fix each of them with pins or sew them with threads along or below.

You can iron a slightly damp product, so the fibers of the material will lie better.

How to iron a pleated skirt after washing

Ironing rules

It is worth noting that you can avoid ironing altogether if you dry the thing properly.

  • Drying should take place in natural conditions in a room with good air ventilation.
  • Spread the skirt on a horizontal surface and carefully straighten the folds.
  • At the same time, do not use clothespins so as not to cause creases in the material.

If ironing is still necessary, use the following tips:

  • start ironing from the minimum temperature mode to see how the fabric behaves under the influence of different temperatures;
  • use the steam function on the iron;
  • in order not to spoil the fabric, iron it through gauze or cotton cloth.

In addition, consider the properties of the material from which the thing is sewn.

From silk

In order for a silk pleated skirt to retain its original appeal, take care of its proper ironing, which includes the following recommendations:

  • before processing, turn the clothes inside out;
  • do not splash water on the fabric, otherwise water will appear;
  • to protect against overheating, use a slightly moistened cloth or gauze;
  • do not press the iron on the material.

If you are afraid that the iron will still leave marks, try ironing the folds with steam.

  1. To do this, straighten all the folds, hang the skirt over the bath and turn on the hot water for 10-15 minutes.
  2. Turn off the water, and leave the thing in the same position for another 15 minutes.
  3. Clubs of steam will create the effect of a steam bath, and unnecessary creases will be smoothed out.

From chiffon

Chiffon is a very capricious material and requires maximum care during heat treatment. You can avoid ironing if you place the pleated skirt in a stocking while washing and drying. If you still cannot do without ironing, follow the following rules during the procedure:

  • do not wet the material before ironing and do not use the steam function, as the slightest exposure to moisture can spoil the fabric;
  • iron the folds from the center to the edges, not pressing the iron too much to the surface;
  • after ironing, do not touch the item for 15-20 minutes, allowing the material to cool completely.

You will not spoil the material if you are serious about the heat treatment of the pleated skirt.

Woolen

The main condition is not to touch the material with a “bare” iron. To protect woolen fabric, use gauze folded several times. At the same time, the best effect will be if you turn on the steaming mode.

You can also process woolen items, including pleated skirts, with a steamer, and then ironing will not be needed.

Knitted

Knitted skirts do not withstand the influence of too high temperatures. In order not to spoil the material, during ironing:

  • turn the thing inside out;
  • use a piece of cotton fabric or gauze for protection;
  • process the product at the minimum temperature.

After ironing, turn the skirt inside out and carefully steam the folds, keeping the iron at a distance.

Made of polyester

Before ironing polyester clothes, read the label first, as some types of material cannot withstand even the lightest temperature exposure. If it is not forbidden to iron the fabric, then choose the minimum temperature for processing, and cover the surface of the skirt with two layers of gauze or cotton fabric.

You can avoid ironing by ironing the skirt with the steamer turned on at a distance of 10-15 cm from the surface.

Made of leather or imitation leather

If you need to iron a leather pleated skirt, be sure to turn it inside out before the procedure. For convenience, use an ironing board, pulling the skirt over its narrower part.

Cover the fabric with several layers of gauze, and set the “silk” mode on the iron. After processing, hang the item on hangers for 2-3 hours.

Made of eco-leather

Pleated skirt made of eco-leather is not recommended to be ironed. To give it an attractive look and smooth out wrinkles, use a special product for similar materials. Processing scheme:

  1. Apply the agent for eco-leather to the surface of the material.
  2. Attach weights to the hem of the skirt.
  3. Hang the thing on the shoulders and leave it for 15-30 minutes.

For a better effect, you can hold the skirt over the steam in the bathroom. After such steaming, spread the thing on a horizontal surface and press it with a press. In rare cases, small folds remain after the procedure. To eliminate them, use an iron on the minimum temperature mode. At the same time, iron the thing inside out through gauze.

From dermantine

Dermantin is a low-quality leather substitute. The material absolutely cannot withstand any thermal effects. If you iron the fabric, you will simply burn the skirt, so in no case do not iron the folds.

Wash and dry the thing as carefully as possible. In addition, for preservation, do not sew the folds, otherwise there will be holes on the surface that will eventually come apart.

How to iron a pleated skirt after washing

How to iron a pleated skirt with a steamer

A steamer will help to significantly save time and fabric quality. To make the thing look like new after processing, use the steamer correctly:

  • Make sure that the device heats up to the required temperature.
  • Pay attention to the hose of the device. It should not be twisted, otherwise drops of condensate may fall on the material and spoil it.
  • For convenience, direct the steamer from the wrong side. So you can monitor the quality of your work and avoid small wrinkles.
  • First process the lining or petticoat, and only then the skirt itself.

The steamer will help to iron any skirt, even from delicate materials with very small folds.

How to restore folds after washing

When worn for a long time or after improper washing, the folds on the skirt may lose their shape. If this happened, do not despair, because everything can be saved. At the same time, you will be able to restore the folds yourself, without using expensive means. There are several ways to restore folds:

  • Household soap + egg white. In addition to these ingredients, you will also need starch and vinegar. Pour a little warm water into the container and rub half a piece of laundry soap. Add the white of one egg to the mixture, as well as 1 tbsp. spoons of starch and vinegar. Wet the gauze in the resulting solution and iron all the folds through the paper.
  • Household soap + gelatin. In a small basin, pour some water, add 100 g of soap shavings and 1 tbsp. a spoonful of gelatin. Stir the liquid thoroughly so that the components dissolve. Wet a piece of cotton fabric in the solution, spread it in folds and iron it through a sheet of paper.
  • Water + vinegar. Mix water with vinegar in equal proportions. Wet the fabric with the resulting solution, and carefully iron the folds through a piece of gauze.

So that the folds lie correctly before processing, sew them with threads or fasten them with pins.

Care tips and recommendations

In order for the ironing process to take a minimum of effort and time, wash and dry the pleated skirt correctly, following the following recommendations:

  • always study the information on the tag;
  • prefer hand washing, not machine washing;
  • use only lukewarm water up to 30 degrees for washing;
  • do not rub or twist the thing during processing;
  • if you choose to wash in a washing machine, choose only the delicate mode without spinning and drying;
  • do not wring the thing, just hang it on the shoulders above the bath and let the water drain;
  • dry dresses on hangers in natural conditions;
  • for the maximum preservation of folds, place the skirt during washing and drying in a nylon stocking or sew the folds with stitches without tension.

The process of ironing a pleated skirt will take very little effort and time if you properly prepare it for the procedure and take into account the properties of the material from which it is sewn. By following the basic rules of ironing, you will extend the service life of the pleated skirt for a long time.

How to iron a pleated skirt after washing