Ironing question: ruffled blouses

Diana

So I've got a snow day today and am about to tackle some laundry, including some cotton blouses with ruffled necklines similar to this one:

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/.....=783201002

I'm always scared to wash these types of blouses because the ruffles never look the same after washing. I've spent ages ironing them and they still don't ever look like they did prior to washing. Does anyone have any good hints for how to keep my ruffles looking new? I would prefer not to have to iron for 30 minutes a blouse! (Plus, I am not a good ironer.) I usually wash on cold in the machine or by hand, and air dry on a hanger. Would drying it flat and shaping the pleats while wet help? The blouse that I wore to a bunch of holiday parties has a bunch of knife pleated ruffles around the neckline, and I'm really afraid to wash it, but it desperately needs a wash soon!

Also, I'd prefer not to have to dry clean...

14 years ago

General

13 replies

Latest reply was from Diana

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

You can always take it to the dry clearner and let them deal with it.

14 years ago

Diana

Veteran

I've thought about the dry cleaner, but I really prefer not to go that route.. despite the fact that I have, like 7 dry cleaners within walking distance to me, I don't really trust any of them all that much, and I am a little leery of the stuff they use to clean (even if it is just laundering and not real dry cleaning... I have really chemical sensitive skin AND I hate any detergents with fragrance...) Plus, I am cheap and the dry cleaners here are expensive!

14 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I usually iron items with ruffles when they are not completely dry yet. I iron the blouse body first and then each ruffle separately, laying it flat on the board outside of the body itself (not sure if I explain it well :-). You can also starch your cotton items as this should make a crisper ruffle.

14 years ago

Diana

Veteran

Thanks, Sveta! I'll definitely try ironing when still wet. And I'm intrigued by the idea of starch... do you apply it before or after ironing, and does it stain dark colored clothes?

My mother would be appalled if she found out how bad my ironing skills are... I was that kid who went to school with ironed jeans! Seriously, she irons EVERYTHING, up to and including my dad's undershirts.

14 years ago

Louise

Veteran

Sorry can't help I haven't ironed in years!! I take things out as soon as they have finished washing, give them a good shake and pop on a hanger to dry x

14 years ago

Bianca

Veteran

I HATE to IRON and like Louise haven't ironed in years. My suggestions would be:

1.Put it in the dryer for 10 min and hang dry
2. Use a garment steamer
3. or my my favorite way to "iron" is by using that Downey spray wrinkle reducer.

Also I sometimes like to hang close in the bathroom when I take a super hot shower.

You too, can become a non-ironer!

14 years ago

cloud9

Veteran

I use a garment steamer instead of an iron.. I wouldn't even know how to start ironing all those ruffles!

14 years ago

Megan

Active Member

I use the steam function on my iron (with not completely dry but only JUST damp clothes)- hold over ruffles, steam for a few seconds, smooth ruffles into place, hang up.

Easy as pie

14 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Diana, I have not used starch in ages. When i used it before we just soaked the item in it after washing for 5 min or so and then hang to dry. Then you definitely need to iron while it is still damp. There may be a spray or something out there to use just before ironing for starching...
I do not have any cotton ruffled items now, only silk ones and they iron quite well.

14 years ago

Diana

Veteran

Steam! Why didn't I think of that? Oh, right, because my iron is defective and drips water all over the place when I try to use it to steam. Grr...
I wonder if I should get a garment steamer instead. Seems to be easier to use for an ironing idiot like me.

14 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Where is Refugee? Her ironing skills are the envy of all of YLF (or at least me).

14 years ago

Refugee

Veteran

LOL, Maya, I'm here. If the shirt is cotton, like the one you reference, ironing it when it is a bit damp, as Sveta suggests, is very helpful. When you first take the blouse out of the wash lay the blouse flat and shape the ruffles a bit with your fingers and let the blouse dry to barely damp. Then iron cuffs, sleevess and collar first, then the nonruffled part olf the body. To iron small ruffles, and keep them from being ironed into pleats and just looking worse, I have been known to use a fat curling iron on them. Alternating directions to give a nice ripply ruffle.

14 years ago

Diana

Veteran

OK, Refugee, I am officially in awe of your ironing skills too! I do not have a curling iron though - maybe I should invest in one if I keep acquiring ruffled items!

14 years ago

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