This tutorial coves technique for the most common ironing requests. For equipment, fabric settings, and out-of-scope items, see the [Pro Tips: Ironing guide — link].

Before You Start

• Check the care label on every item. If it says "do not iron," message the customer and leave it out of your count.
• Make sure your iron and ironing board cover are clean. Residue transfers.
• Iron in temperature order — synthetics and delicates first, wool next, cotton and linen last. This avoids waiting for the iron to cool between items.
• Lightly mist heavily wrinkled items with a spray bottle before ironing, especially cotton and linen.

Dress Shirts & Button-Ups

Dress shirts are the most common ironing request. Work in this order for the best result:

1. Collar Pop the collar up. Iron the underside first, working from the collar points inward toward the center. Flip and repeat on the top side. Always work from the points inward — ironing outward creates a crease at the tip.

2. Cuffs Unbutton the cuffs. Open flat and iron the inside first, then the outside. Work around buttons with the tip of the iron — never over them.

3. Sleeves Lay the sleeve flat with inseam and outseam aligned. Iron from shoulder to cuff in smooth strokes. Flip and repeat. For a sleeve crease, press firmly along the fold. For no crease, keep strokes flat and avoid the folded edge.

4. Back yoke Drape the upper back panel over the narrow end of the ironing board. Press section by section.

5. Front panels Use the tip of the iron to work around the button placket. Iron around buttons, never over them. Press the rest of each front panel.

6. Back The largest section — save it for last. Work in broad strokes from top to bottom.

Hang immediately when done. Do not fold a freshly ironed dress shirt.

Pants & Trousers

Default: no crease unless the customer has specified otherwise. It's easier to add a crease than to remove one. If you're unsure, message the customer before you start.