Ironing: opinions needed for an iron and this technique...

B

BigBrother

Registered Guest
Hey all! I've started doing a lot of ironing of my trousers, jackets, etc., pursuing this path now to level up yet another component of my vintage dress (it used to be just steaming or taking to the dry cleaner for pressing. But I knew I'd eventually get into this myself.)

Anyway, after some initial experiments, some things emerged. For one, ironing the vintage fabrics directly is nothing short of terrifying- even on very low settings, I was getting shiny scorching on my wool. Fortunately the internet was my friend again and I found an amazingly effective solution- blotting with vinegar and then with water. Remarkably it undoes it all, so far in my experience. But it made me not want to iron. I know there are ironing cloths but then those have their own issues.

Well, around this time I also got a tailor's clapper for making very sharp creases. I love this thing. Now when you use it, you basically hit the garment with steam and then press. Nothing revolutionary there. But it really works. I started using it in place of the iron itself. I would steam, press, steam, press, and this method seems really good.

So I'm writing to figure out a number of things:

1. Is this a common practice? Forgoing the scorching hot metal of an iron and just using steam plus something like my wooden clapper to press everything out?

2. Are there irons you could recommend that reliably put out a steady stream of steam (always-on, not just push-button)?

3. Relatedly, I got to thinking maybe an iron isn't what I want at all, but instead a horizontal steamer, something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Powerful-Handheld-Horizontal-Vertical-LS-532A/dp/B09QHRRKQG/

Thoughts?

Thanks so much, all!

EDIT- just realized, 2. is probably the better path as I think I would need a real iron for things like cotton shirts. Or maybe steam + wood pressing is fine there too (?)
 
Personally, I'm not really into ironing for hard creases unless it's a pleat, so I can easily avoid iron use. Steaming is far gentler on fibers, and doesn't scorch or leave shiny marks as an iron can on rayon, etc. Sorry, I have no recommendations for a great steam iron.

I swear by Jiffy steamers. This is the one I own. It's quite a but pricier than the hand-held steamer you shared a link for, but trust me when I say that it is an excellent investment, built to last! I've used mine on an almost daily basis since the mid-1980s when I worked on film sets. Still works like a charm.
 
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Ranch Queen Vintage said:
Personally, I'm not really into ironing for hard creases unless its a pleat, so I can easily avoid iron use. Steaming is far gentler on fibers, and doesn't scorch or leave shiny marks as an iron can on rayon, etc. Sorry, I have no recommendations for a great steam iron.

I swear by Jiffy steamers. This is the one I own. It's quite a but pricier than the hand-held steamer you shared a link for, but trust me when I say that it is an excellent investment, built to last! I've used mine on an almost daily basis since the mid-1980s when I worked on film sets. Still works like a charm.
Click to expand...

We actually have one of their handheld steamers. I remember buying a full-sized one like what you linked, but returning it as it didn't work as well as the handheld, oddly enough.
 
An iron shoe is used by many sewing professionals instead of press cloths.

I like a variety of press cloths --linen-a plain linen napkin works very well, tissue paper also works, a wool scrap next to wool eliminates shine.

If you have a large budget a gravity flow iron is my favorite.

Claire Tyler is a sewing expert in the UK. Check her website for pressing tips and hints.

If you have very tiny items or places to press, consider an iron for model airplanes. It is useful getting into tight spaces.
 
I use both irons and steamers: Jiffy steamer for me, I used to have a big industrial one but it was too much of a drama.

Mostly I press with the iron if it's cotton or wool, but more delicate fabrics and silks get steamed. Just keep your fingers out of the way because they can burn.

Nicole
 
I've never liked ironing, but I have an upright cleaner and I love it! I find steam cleaning items much quicker than ironing, and it's great for delicate fabrics as I don't have the worry about burning or leaving shiny iron marks on fabric. It's also a great way to freshen items up, rather than washing them. The only time I prefer to use an iron is for something like a shirt and there are occasional fabrics that are better with an iron, but for the majority of things my steam cleaner is my go to. I've never tried using a tailors clapper or a horizontal steamer, so I can't comment on those... but I've never looked back since getting an upright steam cleaner - its been a game-changer, saving me so much time and I no longer hate preparing items.
 
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