Why There's Simply No Need To Have An Iron Anymore

Ironing has been around for thousands of years. It was one of the original ways to help keep clothes crisp and prevent wrinkles. It was also used to fight off bacteria and parasites when it wasn't possible to wash items regularly. Even up to fairly recently, they were important tools used to stop wrinkles in outfits, table runners, and napkins. However, with other alternatives like steamers, sprays, and quick dryers, you have no need for an iron.

There are a few reasons why this once-common task is slowly fading away. More and more materials are made from fabrics that don't need ironing to prevent wrinkles. Plus, there is far less need for clothes that are perfectly pressed nowadays. Irons aren't just losing their necessity — they're a hassle, too. This task takes up valuable time, and irons require space for both use and storage. If you aren't careful, you can also easily ruin your clothes or injure yourself. 

Despite these factors, people tend to keep buying, or are gifted, irons, because it feels like they might need them at some point in the future. However, with modern alternatives, you will see there's no need to keep these outdated tools around. Even if you have wrinkled clothing, there are enough alternatives in your home that you don't need to waste money and space to keep an iron around.

The easiest method to nix wrinkles is to simply hang your clothes up in the bathroom before a shower. The steam and humidity in the air help to knock down the wrinkles and relax the fibers. Another option is to place a lightly damp towel over the fabric and gently press down, dampening your outfit to remove creases.

For some fabrics, you can also take a hair dryer and gently blow hot air on them. However, this may not work for every outfit. If you want to get a little crazy, you can try the clever hack that can remove wrinkles from clothes without any heat — rolling the material up and placing it under a mattress.

A wrinkle spray takes a little time to make, but it can be useful to have around. All you need is equal parts vinegar and water, but you can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for a boost of fragrance. Once you've mixed up the solution, shake it up and spray your clothes as needed. If the vinegar is not enough, create an effective DIY wrinkle releaser that replaces the need for a steamer.

These are great quick fixes, but if you need an alternative that's a little more heavy-duty, then you should invest in a steamer. There are big vertical steamers for regular use and smaller handheld options for portability or occasional wrinkles. They take time, like irons, as you have to wait for the water to heat up. However, steaming is still faster, and it's less damaging to delicate fabrics. You do need to be careful of burns, though.

Give some love to your dryer, as well. It's the perfect solution for getting wrinkles out of your clothes, and you very likely already have one in your home. If you can take items out of the dryer as soon as they are done and hang or fold them, you can reduce the chances of wrinkles forming. However, you can also use it to freshen up wrinkled fabrics. If your dryer has a steam setting, you just need to turn it on and throw your clothes in. If yours isn't that fancy, you can also include a damp towel to mimic the effect and let it run for 10 to 15 minutes. Additionally, avoiding laundry mistakes that are causing your clothes to wrinkle, like drying on high temperatures or overloading your machine, can help reduce your dependency on these iron alternatives.