Ironing & Clothing Care

Purpose

Keep clothing in good condition through proper pressing, storage, and maintenance. Minimize ironing needs with smart laundry practices.

When to Iron

• Always iron: Shabbat/holiday clothes, dress shirts, work-meeting attire
• Sometimes iron: cotton pants, linen items, visible wrinkled items
• Skip ironing: t-shirts, underwear, socks, pajamas, casual wear, baby clothes

Temperature Guide

Fabric	Setting	Steam
Cotton	High (●●●)	Yes, heavy steam
Linen	High (●●●)	Yes
Wool	Medium (●●)	Light steam through cloth
Polyester	Low-medium (●-●●)	Minimal
Silk	Low (●)	No steam; press through cloth
Synthetics	Low (●)	No

Technique

1. Start with items needing lowest temperature, work up
2. Iron collars and cuffs first (shirts), then sleeves, then body
3. Iron on the wrong side for dark fabrics (prevents shine)
4. Use steam for stubborn wrinkles; or spray with water
5. Hang immediately after ironing — don't pile ironed clothes
6. Keep Ezra away — iron and board are dangerous. Use baby gate or iron while he naps.

Reducing Ironing Needs

• Remove from washing machine promptly — don't leave sitting in drum
• Shake out before hanging on line or drying rack
• Hang shirts on hangers to dry instead of folding over line
• Fold immediately when dry
• Store hanging where possible — fewer wrinkles than folding

Clothing Storage

Hanging

• Shirts, dresses, jackets, dress pants → hang on proper hangers
• Button top button of shirts to maintain collar shape
• Leave space between garments for air circulation

Folding

• T-shirts, sweaters, casual pants → fold
• Stack heavier items on bottom

Seasonal Rotation

• At season change, move off-season clothes to storage bins
• Clean items before storing (stains set over time)
• Use cedar blocks or lavender sachets for moth deterrent

Notes

Israeli Context: Line drying is standard and actually reduces wrinkles — clothes hang under their own weight. In summer, items dry within an hour. The main ironing needs are Shabbat clothes.