How to Iron a Dress Shirt

Few things in life are as satisfying as slipping on a crisply ironed shirt—except maybe getting the shirt that way in the first place.

Instructions

Step 1: Start w/ clean, damp shirt Start with a clean, damp shirt. Either remove the shirt from the dryer before it's fully dry or wet it with a spray bottle of water before ironing.
TIP: Most irons now have a water reserve for a steam and spray function--use it to keep your shirt damp while you iron it.
Step 2: Put iron on appropriate setting Put your iron on the appropriate heat setting: high for 100% cotton, and medium for cotton blends.
Step 3: Lay shirt face down While the iron heats up, lay the unbuttoned shirt on the ironing board "face down" with the collar spread out.
TIP: If you want to starch your shirt, spray it and roll it up while the iron heats so the starch has time to soak in.
Step 4: Iron back of collar Iron the back of the collar with the nose of the iron, smoothing the fabric with one hand to avoid creases.
Step 5: Iron cuff, placket, & sleeve Unbutton and open a cuff; then iron the inside of the cuff, placket, and sleeve.
TIP: Put a towel under the sleeve to cushion the face-down buttons.
Step 6: Iron back of sleeve Place the same sleeve parallel to the ironing board, with the back of the sleeve face-up, and iron it.
Step 7: Iron front of sleeve Then flip the sleeve and iron its front.
Step 8: Iron outside of cuff Finish the sleeve by ironing the outside of the cuff.
Step 9: Iron other side Now iron the other sleeve, again beginning with the inside of the cuff, then the outside of the sleeve, and then the outside of the cuff.
Step 10: Iron inside of shoulders & back Iron the inside of the shoulders and the inside of the entire back of the shirt.
Step 11: Iron outside of shoulders & back Flip the shirt over and iron the outside of the shoulders and the back of the shirt.
Step 12: Iron front panel Drape the shirt so that one front half lays flat on the board and the rest hangs below. Iron this front panel.
TIP: Don't iron over the buttons -- use the nose to work around them.
Step 13: Iron other front panel Move the shirt to iron the other front panel.
Step 14: Iron outside collar Finish the shirt by returning to the collar -- iron the outside of it.
Step 15: Button top button & hang shirt Immediately after you're done, button the top button and hang up the shirt.
Step 16: Unplug iron Turn the iron off and unplug it.
FACT: Before the electric iron came along, miniature flat irons were used to iron collars and between buttons.