How to Iron Without an Iron: 9 Ways to Be Wrinkle Free

Getting wrinkles out of clothes is difficult when you're trying to figure out how to iron without an iron. Luckily, there are multiple methods and hacks that can get your clothing and linens looking good with little effort.

How to Iron Without an Iron Using the Dryer

The dryer is your friend and likely first defense when it comes to removing wrinkles from clothing when you don't have an iron or time to iron clothes correctly.

1. Grab a handful of ice cubes or dampen a towel (not wet, just damp).
2. Toss into the dryer with your wrinkled clothing and other linens.
3. As the dryer runs, the towel will dry or ice cubes will melt, creating a light steam effect. This should reduce wrinkling.

If you don't have a towel or ice cubes on hand, you can also spray the wrinkled areas of your clothing with a little water before tossing into the dryer for a similar effect.

How to Get Wrinkles Out Without an Iron Using a Steamy Shower

A hot, steamy shower is a great way to remove light wrinkles without much fuss. To do so, you don't even have to be using the shower!

1. Hang the clothing or linens on the curtain rod using plastic hangers.
2. Turn the shower head so it does not spray the clothing.
3. Turn the shower to its hottest setting and turn on. If you are taking a shower, do not use the hottest setting but rather the warmest one you can stand under without injuring yourself. Hang clothing on a hook from the door instead of the curtain rod.
4. Keep the bathroom fan off and shut the door.
5. After 15 minutes, check your clothing. Give the bottoms a light tug to straighten.
6. Keep steaming for 5 to 10 more minutes, depending on how well the initial steam worked. Repeat as necessary.

Create Steam With a Kettle to Remove Wrinkles

Similar to the shower, a steamy kettle can remove some wrinkles without much fuss. However, this is best to do when you only have a small area to straighten rather than an entire garment.

1. Put a pot of kettle on.
2. Once it begins steaming, hold your wrinkled clothing over the steam release. Keep it up several inches to avoid burning yourself with hot steam.
3. Make sure you hold the clothing somewhat taut to straighten.

Use a Hair Dryer to Remove Wrinkles

A quick shot of air from a hot hair dryer works well as a replacement for fixing small wrinkles. To use it:

1. Spray the wrinkled area with a little water.
2. Turn the hair dryer on high and hot heat.
3. Keeping the dryer several inches from the garment, gently move over the wrinkled area of clothing until the wrinkles disappear.

Roll Your Clothing to Remove Wrinkles

Folding can produce deep creases, but rolling both prevents and releases those wrinkles. To do so:

1. Lay wrinkled item out flat.
2. Carefully roll into a long shape from one end to the next.
3. To remove wrinkles, place under heavy books to create a "pressed" look.

Iron Shirt Collars and Tails With a Hair Straightener

Shirt collars and tails are frequently wrinkled, and collars can be especially difficult to flatten without an iron. If there's a hair straightener in your home, you're in luck. It's the perfect solution for getting stubborn wrinkles out quickly.

1. Turn on the straightener to a medium-low setting to start with.
2. Once it indicates it has heated up, spray your wrinkled collar or hemline with a little water.
3. Slowly run the straightener over the collar and hem.

If the medium-low setting does not work, increase heat gradually to avoid burning your clothing.

Hang Clothes Outside to De-wrinkle Them

A sunny, windy day makes removing light wrinkles a breeze!

1. Grab your clothespins, water spray bottle, clean rags, and wrinkled fabrics.
2. Spritz the linens, curtains, or clothing with the water, doing a double-spray on any especially wrinkled areas.
3. Hang the items to dry in the sun and wind. Use the rags under the clothespins to avoid getting additional indentations and wrinkles.

How to Get Wrinkles Out of Polyester Without an Iron

Polyester is a fabric not known for excessive wrinkles. However, once they occur, they're hard to remove. The easiest way to remove wrinkles from polyester is to use a steam cleaner.

1. Read all the steam cleaner's instructions before use.
2. Fill the water reservoir with distilled water.
3. Turn to appropriate setting per manufacturer's instructions.
4. Once the steamer is ready, use slow, even strokes about two inches from the polyester fabric.
5. For especially deep wrinkles, hold the garment open and do the inside of the fabric as well as the outside.

Use a Wrinkle-Remover Spray to Iron Without an Iron

One way to remove wrinkles quickly is to pick up a retail spray, like Downy Wrinkle Releaser or The Laundress Crease Release. Read instructions to find out what fabrics they are best suited for and then spray and smooth the fabric. Otherwise, you can use vinegar and water to create your own spray. Simply:

1. Add 1 cup of vinegar to a spray bottle.
2. Add 2 cups of distilled water to a spray bottle.
3. Shake well to combine.
4. Spray on your clothing and other fabrics.
5. Smooth and straighten, then hang to dry.

This also works well in conjunction with the steam and hair dryer methods.

Prevention Is Your Best Ironless Defense Against Wrinkles

If you don't have an iron, or you need to clean your scorched iron before you can use it again, your best defense is prevention. Do your laundry properly, which means removing clothing promptly from the washer and dryer and laying/hanging items that cannot be dried, immediately. When you do find yourself in need of a quick wrinkle-release despite your best efforts, give one of the no-iron methods a try.