Step-by-step instructions for ironing a pleated skirt with an iron
The pleated skirt is designed to create a feminine and romantic look. To make it look impressive for a long time, it is important to observe certain rules for caring for these types of products. It is necessary to know how to iron a pleated skirt well so that it does not lose its original appearance. There are several important points, their observance will make the ironing process simple and safe for this fabric.
Features of pleated product
Plissé is a fabric with evenly extended folds, which are smoothed out with an iron. The finished material is sewn in the form of an accordion. Pleats are made with a width of 5-50 mm. In comparison to pleated fabric, pleated pleats are characterized by flat pleats. Folds can be one-sided or two-sided.
Preparation for ironing
A pleated skirt should be prepared initially for this procedure - wash it thoroughly and dry it.
Proper washing
Initially, you will need to read the label information regarding fabric type and care options. Most pleated garments are jersey or chiffon, which are best suited for hand washing with mild detergents. This does not mean that the product cannot be washed in the washing machine.Modern technology comes with features to wash delicate items, including pleated items.
For washing in manual mode, you need to prepare a solution with detergent. It must correspond to the type of fabric from which this product is made. The skirt is pre-soaked if it is very dirty. You can wash the item immediately if you just need to freshen it up. You will need to immerse it in water, do not rub it, do not squeeze it, wash it in gentle movements, lifting it up and down.
Rinse the thing out the same way, adding a small amount of conditioner to the water. It eliminates the electrification of the fabric, makes it light and airy.
It is important to properly prepare your pleated skirt for washing. Folds are neatly folded towards each other, sewn in a circle. This allows the product to retain its shape. The hem is also secured using large single-thread stitches.
If the product is machine washed, in addition to brushing the folds, you need to put it in a net or a special bag intended for washing, immerse it in the drum.
Hanger drying
The pleated skirt must be properly dried, use a hanger for this. Before that, you need to shake it out and straighten the folds. In order for the product not to wrinkle so much, it is enough to hang a lightly wrung out object on a hanger.
How to iron well
The fabric should be slightly dampened before ironing. It is necessary to adjust the temperature regulator of the iron, taking into account the type of product - by 1, maximum 2 points. Stitches can only be loosened after smoothing. If the garment was not sewn before washing, this can be done before ironing. However, pleated articles made from different types of fabrics differ in certain ironing characteristics.
Natural or artificial silk
A natural silk product should not be heat treated. After washing, it is carefully hung on a hanger and straightened. It is necessary to avoid folds so that the folds are deposited correctly and that externally the thing does not deteriorate.
Artificial silk is less moody. But its heat treatment should be done carefully. The thing must be slightly damp: overdried fabrics are not completely smoothed out and wet fabrics become hard. Do not spray from a spray bottle, it is advisable to spray the product by placing it vertically. In this case, the iron must be kept at a short distance from the thing. You can also iron the skirt through a thin piece of fabric (for example, use gauze).
Made of synthetic materials
A pleated synthetic fabric skirt is ironed only from the inside out. The lining is ironed separately. If you are worried about the iron damaging your clothes, you will need to set the steam function on the iron.
It is undesirable to spray water on the fabric so that stains do not appear on it.
Jersey
The peculiarity of knitting is that it keeps its shape for a long time and is practical.
There are a few rules for ironing a pleated knit skirt:
- only from the inside out using cotton fabric; gauze folded in half is suitable for this;
- it is preferable to use steam treatment;
- it is undesirable to apply the iron to the thing, its sole should touch the product only slightly;
- the lining is processed first, then the waistband, seams and bottom line, then the pleated skirt is ironed on the front, but only with steam.
In order for the fabric to quickly take the desired shape, you need to slightly wet it before processing.
Leather or imitation leather
Before ironing a leather pleated skirt, flatten it without using an iron. It can be done with water. However, you can only moisturize traditional pig and cow leather products. Other materials, after processing with water, as well as high temperatures, can completely ruin the appearance of the thing.
Therefore, before handling any hide or leatherette, you should first experiment on a small, inconspicuous piece of fabric.
A not too wrinkled leather or eco-leather skirt is treated with a special agent designed to take care of these fabrics. You need to fix the weights on its hem, let it hang down a bit. If that doesn't work, you can steam it or put it in the bathroom for a while, turning on the hot water and closing the door tightly.
Further, the pleated skirt is laid out on a flat surface, pressed with a press. If the flatness remains, the dried product is ironed from the inside out through a towel, setting the iron to a low heating temperature.
Chiffon
Ironing a pleated chiffon skirt should be done with extreme caution, taking certain precautions.
Chiffon ironing features:
- first you need to check the heating of the iron by ironing the fabric in an inconspicuous place;
- so that the product does not deform, it is undesirable to remove it during ironing;
- follow the instructions on the label with information on using the iron temperature safe for the fabric;
- do not spray the fabric with water;
- make sure that the surface of the sole is smooth, otherwise there is a risk of ruining the thing;
- the skirt should be slightly damp, if it is already completely dry, you can moisten the gauze;
- it is better to treat the product with a thin gauze or cotton cloth.
Sometimes it is not necessary to iron a leather or faux leather pleated skirt. You can hang the wet product on a hanger, let it dry gradually, place it away from direct sunlight and heating devices.
How to restore the original shape
There is a risk that small creases will disappear under the influence of water. To avoid this, you can dry the item by rolling it in a tube.
If the skirt, after drying, still lost its former appearance, there are several ways to solve this problem.
The “rippling” effect is restored using soap. Before ironing, you will need to wipe all corners of the wrong side fold with dry soap. Pleats are arranged by hand, well ironed. This method is effective in the case of dense fabrics.
There is another option to restore folds:
- rub a little household soap on a grater, add it to warm water until you get a thick soapy mixture;
- cool, add a small amount of starch, 9% vinegar (1 spoon), add egg white (1 pc.);
- moisten the gauze in the resulting solution, carefully iron the folds (place a sheet of paper on it), this will prevent the gauze from sticking to the sole of the iron.
Maintenance tips and tricks
There are pleated skirts that are not recommended by the manufacturer for iron treatment; you will need to wash the product thoroughly, dry it by hanging it on a hanger, straightening each fold with your hands.
It is important to take into account the recommendations on the label of the sewn product.If there is a crossed out iron symbol, it means that the skirt should not be ironed. If it has an iron icon with a crossed out steam image underneath, the skirt should not be steamed.
To preserve the original appearance of the skirt, it is recommended to use special products designed for safe ironing. They contain special substances that prevent clothes from losing their original shape. Cotton pleated skirt can be starchy. This will allow it to become a little stiffer and not wrinkle the material too much. If all the recommendations for caring for the pleated skirt are taken into account, it will look new for a long time.