How to avoid shiny stripes due to ironing

 We’ve all done it – that moment when you realise you’ve ironed over a pocket or a button and you’ve got shiny iron spots on your best trousers.

These shiny areas occur when the iron is too hot for the fabric and it melts or scorches the fibres. We’ll show you how to remove shiny iron spots and better, how to avoid them in the first place.

Avoiding shiny iron stripes (and spots)
Whether spots or stripes, avoidance is the key. Follow our tips to avoid shiny iron stripes and never ruin your clothes again.
• Always iron at the lowest temperature possible
• Check the garment care labels before ironing your clothes
• Don’t iron over seams, pockets, folds, hems or buttons
• Iron garments inside out
• Use a good quality, well-padded ironing board (the metal on cheap boards can mark your clothes)

"The trick is to act quickly if you end up with a shiny patch on your clothes after ironing"

Removing shiny iron stripes (and spots)
The trick is to act quickly if you end up with a shiny patch on your clothes after ironing. Don’t leave the garment to rest as the mark will be harder to remove.
• Place a damp cotton cloth or pillowcase over the mark and apply gentle pressure with the iron at a low temperature. This will help to remove the damaged fibres.
• Alternatively, use steel wool to gently brush the broken fibres away.
• Another option is to use the soft side of a nail file to get rid of the shine.

All these methods take time and patience and very careful handling of the garment so you don´t do further damage. So if you have an ironing disaster stay calm and follow our tips to restore your clothes to pristine condition. But more importantly, take care of your clothes when you iron them.

For more ironing tips, read: 

> 9 ironing accessories that make ironing easier

> 8 tips for easier ironing

> How to clean and care for your iron