10 Easy Ways to Get Wrinkles Out of Clothes—Without an Iron

10 Easy Ways to Get Wrinkles Out of Clothes—Without an Iron

There's no faster way to commit a fashion faux pas than wearing a wrinkled outfit. But while wrinkles are an annoyance, ironing is such a chore. Sometimes, there is just not enough time to smooth out your garment.

Luckily, you don't really need an iron to get wrinkles out of clothes. In fact, these hacks require far less effort and time. From using a hair dryer to wrinkle sprays, read on for tips on how to remove wrinkles from clothes without an iron.

Release Wrinkles in the Dryer

For items like shirts and pants that are wrinkled all over (as opposed to small areas, such as collars), putting them back in the dryer can get the job done. This trick works best for cotton clothing but can work for cotton blends as well. It can even smooth out wrinkles in bamboo sheets.

Here's what you should do:

1. Place the garment in the dryer.
2. Add a damp, but not soaking wet, towel. This addition will create steam and help release the wrinkles. A damp washcloth can also work for one small item. Some of the best dryers have a steam feature, so you can skip this step if your dryer has that function.
3. Put the dryer on a high setting for five to 10 minutes.
4. Remove the item as soon as the cycle is finished, or it will wrinkle again. Then, either wear it or put it on a hanger.

Use a Dryer Sheet or Wool Ball

Dryer sheets and wool balls can help prevent wrinkles from happening in the first place—and can help remove them if they do happen. To fix a wrinkled clothing item, lightly dampen a dryer sheet or wool ball and run it in the dryer with the clothing for 10 minutes to help remove the wrinkles.

Add an Ice Cube to the Dryer

Tossing an ice cube in the dryer with your wrinkled clothing can also help remove those pesky creases. After adding some ice cubs, set the dryer on the highest heat setting and let it run for the duration of the cycle. The ice cubes will melt and generate steam, removing the wrinkles.

Blast Wrinkles With a Hair Dryer

Hair dryers can work miracles on wrinkles, especially if you're traveling and have limited options. For this wrinkle hack, put the wrinkled item on a hanger, then wet the wrinkled areas with a little bit of water.

Turn on the hair dryer and focus the heat on the most wrinkled sections of the garment. You can also hand-smooth if needed. Just make sure that you don't hold the dryer too close to your clothing and risk burning the fabric.

Use Shower Steam

About to get ready and realize your outfit is wrinkled? Multitask and steam out the wrinkles in your clothing while you take a shower. Put the garment on a hanger, and hang it in the back of your shower. Then turn the water on (the hotter the better), but be careful not to splash or get soap on your clothes.

If water spots on the fabric are a real concern, keep the hanger on a towel rack or hook outside of the shower. If this is the case, turn up your shower all the way and let the room get steamy. Then, leave the water on for approximately 10 minutes, and when you return, the outfit will be ready to wear. Don't forget to shut the door and windows.

Turn a Pot Into an Iron

A hot pot or teakettle isn't quite as good as an iron, but it can be close enough, especially if the fabric in question is cotton, wool, and linen. Don't put a hot pot on clothing that has plastic embellishments or is made from vinyl because it could cause melting. And be careful when handling the hot pot, of course.

For this wrinkle releaser:

1. Boil a medium-sized pot of water.
2. Once the water starts to get really steamy, spill it out.
3. Cover the garment with a towel before ironing, preventing the bottom of the pot from ruining your clothes.
4. Quickly "iron" the garment with the bottom of the pot on a table or another hard surface.

Use a Commercial Wrinkle Remover Spray

Commercial wrinkle remover spray is the easiest way to get rid of wrinkles in a pinch if you don't have an iron on hand or don't have time to use one. Just spray on the wrinkled garment, shake it out vigorously, and be wowed at the magic that happened. (Bonus; This product also helps remove odors and static).

Make Your Own Wrinkle Remover Spray

If you don't have any wrinkle remover spray on hand, don't worry. You probably have all of the ingredients you need to make your own.

Here's how to make a wrinkle remover spray:

1. Combine 1 cup of water (preferably distilled, boiled, or bottled) and 1 teaspoon of liquid fabric softener.
2. Add 1 teaspoon of rubbing alcohol to help the liquid evaporate more quickly.
3. Shake the solution in an empty spray bottle and then apply it to wrinkled clothes.

If you don't have fabric softener on hand, try this DIY wrinkle spray:

1. Combine 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water in a spray bottle.
2. Apply it to your clothing, and then let it dry. The wrinkles should disappear.
3. For an added scent, try a drop of your favorite essential oil to cut the odor. But don't add too much oil because it can cause staining.

Smooth Away Wrinkles With a Flat Iron

The flat iron you use on your hair makes a great clothing iron in a quick pinch—and it works even better on smaller areas like collars or those tiny spaces between buttons.

Before turning the flat iron on, make sure the plates are clean and free of any product that can stain your clothing. Even if the plates don't appear dirty, clean them off with rubbing alcohol before doing anything else.

Place It Under a Mattress

A little added pressure from your mattress might be just what your clothes need to be wrinkle-free. Smooth out your garment on a flat surface and then roll it like a burrito. Place it under the mattress and wait 15 to 20 minutes before removing.

This wrinkle hack works if you have time to spare. Depending on the item, it might need up to 30 minutes of pressure, but placing the clothing under the mattress overnight will be even more effective. Use this wrinkle-release method as a last resort.