Ironing

For other uses, see Ironing (disambiguation).

Ironing a shirt

Ironing is the use of a heated tool (an iron) to remove wrinkles from fabric. The heating is commonly done to a temperature of 180–220 °Celsius, depending on the fabric. Ironing works by loosening the bonds between the long-chain polymer molecules in the fibers of the material. While the molecules are hot, the fibers are straightened by the weight of the iron, and they hold their new shape as they cool. Some fabrics, such as cotton, require the addition of water to loosen the intermolecular bonds. Many modern fabrics (developed in or after the mid-twentieth century) are advertised as needing little or no ironing. Permanent press clothing was developed to reduce the ironing necessary by combining wrinkle-resistant polyester with cotton.

The first known use of heated metal to "iron" clothes is known to have occurred in China. The electric iron was invented in 1882, by Henry W. Seeley. Seeley patented his "electric flatiron" on June 6, 1882 (U.S. Patent no. 259,054).

Equipment

Iron

Main article: Clothes iron

The iron is the small appliance used to remove wrinkles from fabric. It is also known as a clothes iron, flat iron, or smoothing iron. The piece at the bottom is called a sole plate. Ironing uses heat energy, chemical energy, electrical energy, and mechanical energy.

Ironing board

Ironing board

Most ironing is done on an ironing board, a small, portable, foldable table with a heat resistant surface. Some commercial-grade ironing boards incorporate a heating element and a pedal-operated vacuum to pull air through the board and dry the garment.

On 16 February 1858 W. Vandenburg and J. Harvey patented an ironing table that facilitated pressing sleeves and pant legs. A truly portable folding ironing board was first patented in Canada in 1875 by John B. Porter. The invention also included a removable press board used for sleeves. In 1892 Sarah Boone obtained a patent in the United States for improvements to the ironing board, allowing for better quality ironing for shirt sleeves.

Ironing Board Cover Sizes

Size	Inches	Centimeters
A	43 × 12	110 × 30
B	49 × 15	124 × 38
C	49 × 18	124 × 45
D	53 × 18	135 × 45
E	53 × 19	135 × 49

Tailor's ham

A tailor's ham or dressmakers ham is a tightly stuffed pillow in the shape of a ham used as a mold when pressing curves such as sleeves or collars.

Commercial equipment

Commercial dry cleaning and full-service laundry providers usually use a large appliance called a steam press to do most of the work of ironing clothes. Alternatively, a rotary iron may be used.

A tailor's stove

Historically, larger tailors' shops included a tailor's stove, a stove used by tailors to quickly and efficiently heat multiple irons. In many developing countries a cluster of solid irons, heated alternatively from a single heating source, are used for pressing cloths at small commercial outlets.

Recommended ironing temperatures

Woman ironing a shirt (Köln, Germany 1953).

A man ironing clothes using a charcoal iron box.

Textile	Temperature[citation needed]	Temperature	Dot mark
Toile	240 °C
Triacetate ("Estron", "Silene", "Tricell")	200 °C	220–250 °C
Cotton	204 °C / 400 °F	180–220 °C	* * *
Linen (flax)		215–240 °C	* * *
Viscose/Rayon	190 °C	150–180 °C	* *
Wool	148 °C / 300 °F	160–170 °C	* *
Polyester	148 °C / 300 °F		*
Silk	148 °C / 300 °F	140–165 °C	*
SympaTex			*
Acetate ("Arnel", "Celco", "Dicel")	143 °C	180 °C	*
Acrylic	135 °C	180 °C
Lycra/spandex	135 °C
Nylon-6		150 °C
Nylon-66		180–220 °C

Dot mark	Temperature
*	< 110 °C
* *	< 150 °C
* * *	< 200 °C

Another source suggests slightly higher temperatures, for example, 180-220 °C for cotton

Chemistry

When the fabric is heated, the molecules are more easily reoriented. In the case of cotton fibres, which are derivatives of cellulose, the hydroxyl groups that crosslink the cellulose polymer chains are reformed at high temperatures, and become somewhat "locked in place" upon cooling the item. In permanent press pressed clothes, chemical agents such as dimethylol ethylene urea are added as crosslinking agents.

Symbolization

In 1945 Milton Avery painted an oil entitled Woman Ironing. In December 1941, there were approximately thirteen million women in the workforce. By early 1943, there were fifteen million. By 1944, there were twenty million women in the workforce. Many of the women we see increasing the workforce here were doing what was considered men's work at the time (building ships and other wartime materials). Milton Avery's painting was almost certainly connected to women's rights in some way. One thing to keep in mind when talking about irons is the association they have with females and domesticity.

Facts derived: Doyle, Jack. 2009. “Rosie the Riveter, 1942-1945.” The Pop History Dig http://www.pophistorydig.com/?tag=women%E2%80%99s-rights-movement (accessed November 4, 2012). Tabithapetrini (talk) 02:03, 25 March 2013 (UTC)

See also

• Hair iron
• Laundry symbol
• Washing machine

References

Doyle, Jack. 2009. “Rosie the Riveter, 1942-1945.” The Pop History Dig http://www.pophistorydig.com/?tag=women%E2%80%99s-rights-movement (accessed November 4, 2012).

External links

• History of Ironing from oldandinteresting.com
• Theory and Technology of Ironing
• Charcoal and other antique irons from the White River Valley Museum
• Antique Irons from the Virtual Museum of Textile Arts