Ironing a shirt

Ironing is the use of a heated tool (an iron) to remove wrinkles from fabric.^[1] The heating is commonly done to a temperature of 180-220 °Celsius, depending on the fabric.^[2] Ironing works by loosening the bonds between the long-chain polymer molecules in the fibers of the material. While the molecules are hot, the fibers are straightened by the weight of the iron, and they hold their new shape as they cool. Some fabrics, such as cotton, require the addition of water to loosen the intermolecular bonds. Many modern fabrics (developed in or after the mid-twentieth century) are advertised as needing little or no ironing. Permanent press clothing was developed to reduce the ironing necessary by combining wrinkle-resistant polyester with cotton.

The first known use of metal to "iron" clothes, however, is known to have occurred in China.^[3] The electric iron was invented in 1882, by Henry W. Seeley. Seeley patented his "electric flatiron" on June 6, 1882 (U.S. Patent no. 259,054).^[4]

Equipment[link]

Iron[link]

The iron is the small appliance used to remove wrinkles from fabric. It is also known as a clothes iron, flat iron, or smoothing iron. The piece at the bottom is called a sole plate. Ironing uses heat energy, chemical energy, electrical energy, and mechanical energy.

Ironing board[link]

Most ironing is done on an ironing board, a small, portable, foldable table with a heat resistant surface. Some commercial-grade ironing boards incorporate a heating element and a pedal-operated vacuum to pull air through the board and dry the garment.

On 16 February 1858 W. Vandenburg and J. Harvey patented an ironing table that facilitated pressing sleeves and pant legs.^[5] A truly portable folding ironing board was first patented in Canada in 1875 by John B. Porter. The invention also included a removable press board used for sleeves.^[6] In 1892 Sarah Boone obtained a patent in the United States for improvements to the ironing board, allowing for better quality ironing for shirt sleeves.^[7]

Tailor's ham[link]

A tailor's ham or dressmakers ham is a tightly stuffed pillow in the shape of a ham used as a mold when pressing curves such as sleeves or collars.^[8]

Commercial equipment[link]

Commercial dry cleaning and full-service laundry providers usually use a large appliance called a steam press to do most of the work of ironing clothes. Alternately, a rotary iron may be used.

A tailor's stove

Historically, larger tailors' shops included a tailor's stove, a stove used by tailors to quickly and efficiently heat multiple irons. In many developing countries a cluster of solid irons, heated alternatively from a single heating source, are used for pressing cloths at small commercial outlets.

Recommended ironing temperatures[link]

Woman ironing a shirt (Köln, Germany 1953).

A man ironing clothes using a charcoal iron box.

Another source suggests slightly higher temperatures, for example, 180-220 °C for cotton^[2]

Chemistry[link]

When the fabric is heated, the molecules are more easily reoriented. In the case of cotton fibres, which are derivatives of cellulose, the hydroxyl groups that crosslink the cellulose polymer chains are reformed at high temperatures, and become somewhat "locked in place" upon cooling the item. In permanent press pressed clothes, chemical agents such as dimethylol ethylene urea are added as crosslinking agents.

See also[link]

• Hair iron
• Laundry symbol
• Washing machine

References[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ironing

External links[link]

• History of Ironing from oldandinteresting.com
• Theory and Technology of Ironing
• Charcoal and other antique irons from the White River Valley Museum
• Antique Irons from the Virtual Museum of Textile Arts