How to Iron Dress Pants in (8 easy steps)

Dress shirts are easy to iron and have less tricky areas. Dress pants, on the other side, are a handful of tasks. Pockets and seams with pleats that need a smooth crease ask for expertise. You have to learn how to iron them the right way. An outfit properly pressed with crisp on its shirt and tie looks nice only if the pants have a smooth look. A formal look is created if you are going for a job interview. Consider removing wrinkles from your dress pants. Use steam if cotton pants and a simple touch-up if they are woolen.

We have this guide on ironing dress pants for people afraid of ruining a pair of pants forever in no time. Some simple steps are enough to understand how to iron dress pants. This guide will further help you reach your final look.

A pro tip: Pants made from cotton, corduroy, denim, linen, nylon, polyester, or wool are press able. (But you still need to check the caution label for every material before ironing)

Steps you may follow To Press Your Trousers

  1. Place the Trousers on a flat surface.
  2. Do the pocket linings first.
  3. Spray some water.
  4. Press the bottom crease.
  5. Do the middle crease.
  6. Iron the top crease
  7. Remove the wrinkles from the center of the leg
  8. Go for the final touch-ups.

It is understandable for men not to iron dress pants. The reason is they are afraid of spoiling them. Pressing them in the wrong way can create a shine on the surface. It makes the pants look cheap and worn out.

If you think there is no need to iron dress pants, you’re probably mistaken. Wrinkled dress pants can spoil the whole look. Particularly if you’re at work, waiting in a mall or attending an interview.

Reasons Men Don’t Iron Their Pants

Men are reluctant to iron dress pants for the following reasons.

They don’t know how to do it.

When you search for ideas about ironing dress shirts, you will find a lot of information. But when it comes to pants, there is little available. Dress pants usually have a lot of creases if they are cotton made. That is why men find it challenging to iron them.

They are afraid of damaging them.

Men could be concerned that the iron will create a sheen and damage it if the dress pants are woolen. Shining occurs when you repeatedly push an overheated iron across a fabric. As a result, the pants will give a cheap look. You might have to move it out of your closet earlier than you would have thought.

They don’t feel the need to iron dress pants.

Men often wonder whether they should Iron their pants or not. Of course, pants need ironing as they still have creases, whether woolen, cotton, or synthetic. Suppose you are going to your office for an interview or a meeting; ironing is essential regardless of the material.

Things you’ll Need To Iron your dress Pant Without Damage

Things you'll Need To Iron your dress Pant Without Damage

Iron on Dress pants requires the following items before you get your hands on this task.

  • Iron
  • Padded Ironing Board
  • Spray Gun
  • Clean water
  • Pair of Trousers

Preparation

Gather your Essentials

Gather supplies and prepare your Ironing Board. A nice padded ironing board capable of handling pressure will do, as crease formation will require specific heat, so the board shouldn’t be wobbly. Put clean water in a container and  sprinkle it on the garment.

Ironing Pants

After gathering all your items, Set up your iron. Look for the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Use distilled or purified water to fill any water storage containers.

On your pants, there is a fabric care tag. Heat up your iron accordingly.

Pocket Lining

Take your Trousers and lay them flat on the ironing board. Turn it inside out. They will have pocket linings. Pocket linings aren’t visible, but if you don’t iron them, they look messy around the pocket area.

Bottom Crease

Start with any one of the legs. Place it onto the board and set; it down with the pressure of your hands. After removing the prominent wrinkles, put the iron on the leg and apply pressure—the wrinkles are released. Now Press the iron on the cuff edge on one side of the leg. Do it again on the opposite side. It is the crease formation. Each side of the leg has a different crease that you must not ignore.

Middle Crease

The top and bottom creases can work as the start and end areas of the middle crease. Lay the legs flat and join the top and bottom ruffles by applying pressure and heat on the legs area. It will create a crisp center crease.

Top Crease

Gently press around the waist area with careful hands on the creases. Then move to the seat of the trouser and remove the wrinkles. Iron the waistband, but be cautious with the buttons. Some pants have colored buttons matching the color or contrast of the pants. Excessive heat on the metallic button can cause the scratching of the button color, making it look worn out.

Center Legs

Focus on maintaining the same neat look on the middle side of the leg as well. Iron the center legs from the inside.

Touch Ups.

Do the final touch-ups by simply repeating all the steps. Your dress Pants are Ready.

*A secret Tip*: If you add one to two drops of your favorite perfume or cologne to the spray water, the fragrance will stay longer.

Storing Your Dress pants

Storing Your Dress pants

Storing your dress pants rightly after you iron them can play a vital role in maintaining ironing even after being folded.

Technically storing them can save you time and effort.

1: Start with the hanging part. Grab the right leg and put it over the left leg so that the garment looks sleek.

2:Carefully maintain the crease.

3: fold it until the crotch area and hang it onto a hanger. The hanger must be sturdy.

4: Make it straight with your hands and straighten the crease.

5: Store it in the closet and refresh the ironing before you use it.

Clean Dress Pants and Iron

Your dress pants must be clean before you iron them. Dirty pants make those stains permanent and discolor the fabric. Sweat marks on the pants, especially cotton pants, become white and visible after you iron them. So make sure you clean your pants if they are dirty.

You should also check if your iron is clean or not. A dirty iron that is burnt from its soleplate area by frequent ironing can leave stains on your trousers. The ironing kit is available easily for cleaning. But if you don’t have one, the beeswax will also do. Make sure your iron is low on temperature or cooled down before applying wax.

Some pro tips for ironing

  • Use your dress pants 3-4 times after washing if they are not stained or dirty.
  • You can turn and press the pants if you are scared to leave any shine marks on them.
  • Use a Peroxide wipe for shine or discoloration.
  • Always read the caution label before ironing.
  • Set the temperature according to the fabric.
  • Steam helps in cotton material as well as woolen. Damping your pants before ironing is a good idea. Here are How to Iron Wool you might like.
  • After ironing, let your pants cool down for some time
  • Use a sturdy hanger and hang your trousers.
    • Fold the pants along the crease to maintain the ironing if there is a crease in the pants.
    • If there is no crease, you can fold them in half-long ways
  •  Hanging is the best way to keep your pants wrinkle-free, but you can also fold them to store in the wardrobe or drawer.
  • Refresh your ironing before every use

Frequently Asked questions

Pants with creases are for a formal look. Mostly dress pants have a crease. Jeans are not ironed for a crease as they are informal and do not wrinkle. Chinos or cotton pants are ironed for a flat front.

Use a hairdryer after damping the portion of the pants you want wrinkle-free. Spray away the wrinkles. Hang clothes in a steamy or humid place. Steam press your pants.

Suits can get unpleasant shine spots from normal wear and tear. A lousy press can also cause the fabric to lose its original condition. When the fibers are flat, they cause a light-reflected effect. This shows the state of the garment. The following things might help you tackle this kind of shine:

  1. You can turn down the heat on your iron
  2. Use a protective ironing cloth
  3. Iron the clothing from the inside out
  4. Vertically steam it to prevent it from coming into contact with the soleplate.

Put the dress pants with a damp towel in the dryer to create steam and remove wrinkles. You can also use a washcloth. Keep the dryer on a high heat setting for approximately 10 minutes.

Cold water: Dip the garment in cold water for a day. This will help to tighten the fibers. Take it out and use it after drying.

Steam: Steam is not a good option for pressing pants, but if you are dealing with cotton pants, a small amount of steam will do. Keep the steam press over the mark and release the steam. This is a good technique for lighter spots.

Vinegar: Add some vinegar with your detergent. Vinegar acts as a bleaching agent.

Hydrogen Peroxide: Dip a piece of cloth in the hydrogen peroxide. Put it over the mark and press gently. This can reduce spots and shine.

Conclusion:

Read the instructions carefully on the garment caution label and the iron before you start ironing. Gather your supplies before you begin ironing to save time, and use the steps mentioned above to get the desired look for your dress pants. And once you realize how easy it is to get that crisp in the crease, you will never skip ironing again!

Emma Glubiak

About Author

Emma Glubiak  is a freelance and blogger with a passion for all things related to home, kitchen, and clothes. With years of experience writing informative and engaging content, Emma has honed her skills in delivering compelling articles that resonate with readers.

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