Why Men iron shirts while Boys buy wrinkle free shirts

You know that feeling when you step out of your front door wearing your best dress shirt looking all dapper. You’re ready for battle. Now imagine that same shirt full of creases with a droopy front pocket. Suddenly you look like a tired and lazy person.

When you wear a perfectly ironed shirt, it gives others a positive impression of you. A man who is bothered enough about how he looks and who pays attention to detail is a man who can be trusted with greater responsibilities.

Here are 5 reasons a man should iron his own shirts:

1. It is the manly thing to do – being self-sufficient and independent is empowering. Besides, when a woman knows a man does his own ironing (and not his mum), she thinks he’s such a great catch.
2. You save on dry cleaning and pressing costs.
3. You are in control of the situation – no frantic, last minute trip to the dry cleaners!
4. You know which parts of your shirt need extra cleaning.
5. Your other half will LOVE you for it!

At this point, you’re probably thinking why not go for a wrinkle free shirt instead! Look, that's a "boy move", avoiding problems (or trying to find short cuts that don't really solve the problems) instead of facing and solving it. Be warned that the fabric of wrinkle free shirts is treated with a layer of chemical which contains formaldehyde (Alert: Cancer causing potential and oh... not to mention the skin irritation it will cause if you have sensitive skin....) to keep it wrinkle resistant. This wrinkle free chemical also weakens the fabric, making it less durable and less comfortable.

Ironing isn’t as tricky as it sounds. It doesn’t have to be a tiresome task too. Still not convinced? Here are some tips to get you on your way to become the ultimate Iron(ing) Man:-

1. Invest in a good quality iron

There are two types of irons - the dry iron and the steam iron. Choose an iron with a good quality soleplate. Well-built soleplates are often made of ceramic or stainless steel. A thin and tapered soleplate will be easier to steer around buttons and seams.

Steam irons are simply irons with a built-in steam function. A good steam iron pumps out plenty of steam to smooth out the toughest of wrinkles. You may also go for energy saving irons too.

The higher the wattage of your iron, the shorter the heat up times will be, and the better your ironing results!

Avoid standing garment steamers. They are useful for lightweight fabrics like silk, but will not do a good job for your 100% 2-ply cotton dress shirts. A good, solid iron makes a huge difference and is definitely worth your pennies.

In a hotel on a business trip? No sweat. There are many good travel irons in the market. Just place a towel on a smooth, hard surface and voilà, you’ve got your ironing board.

2. Get a wide ironing board

Find a sturdy ironing board with a smooth cover. Here’s a reminder, the wider the board, the better. Full size ironing boards are usually about 15X54 inches. Using a wide ironing board will ensure that you can iron the hard-to-reach parts of your dress shirt more effectively. Also get one which has an adjustable height and with an iron rest.

3. Iron a damp shirt

The best time to iron your dress shirt is when it is 80% dry (not dripping wet) because creases are easier to iron out when the shirt is damp. If your shirts are already completely dry, fill a spray bottle with water and spray the mist to thoroughly moisten the shirts.

Now, time to take out the iron and board and do some ironing! The more you practice, the more you’ll get the hang of it. There is nothing better than walking out the door in a freshly pressed, crisp shirt that makes you feel like you could take on the world!

Make sure you keep coming back to our blog for more useful tips to share with family and friends!