IRON MAN

BY KEITH KIRSNER
Ironing isn’t rocket science. Here’s how it’s done.

Materials: Steam Iron, Ironing Board, Spray Bottle, Clean Shirt

Step 1) You want to iron your shirt after washing it, just before it’s fully dried. This is because it will be easier to iron out and creases are less likely to occur once you start wearing it. Have a spray bottle nearby for difficult creases to iron out.

Step 2) Set up ironing board and fill iron with water. Plug iron into outlet and check label on the inside of the shirt to see what temperature the iron should be set to. Depending on the fabric, temperatures may vary, so start ironing with the clothes that need the coolest temperatures first. (Cotton shirts usually need a high setting.) Set iron to the correct temperature and let stand to heat up.

Step 3) Unbutton shirt including cuffs. (Iron darker shirts inside out preventing it from becoming shiny.)

Step 4) Collar: Start at the top of the shirt and work your way down. Lay the collar flat on the board and iron the outside first. Then turn the shirt around and fold the collar flat (as if you were wearing it). Iron on the fold. (For small places like the collar, it may be easiest to use only the tip of the iron.)

Step 5) Shoulder Yolk: Next, work on the shoulder yolk (It’s the part that connects the collar to the back of the shirt.) Place the shoulder yolk over the ironing board and iron from the shoulder seam to the center of the back. Turn shirt around until you’ve completed the opposite shoulder.

Step 6) Cuffs: Place the cuffs on the board. Iron the inside of the cuff and continue to the outside.

Step 7) Sleeves: Put sleeves on board and use seams as a guide to have as smooth as possible. Cuff open side first and use your hand as you glide iron to shoulder. Flip it and do it again on the other side. Repeat on other sleeve.

Step 8) Front: Place one of the front panels on the ironing board. (Iron any pockets on the shirt first.) Make sure you go all the way into the seams and iron slowly to get out wrinkles. When you finish one side, do the other. Make sure you don’t forget to iron the area between the buttons.

Step 9) Back: Open up the shirt fully and work on the back into three sections and iron. Turn iron off and let it cool down.

Step 10) You’re done. Now that wasn’t too bad, was it? Robert Downing Jr. would be proud… Now repeat after me, “I AM IRON MAN!”

**Time Saving Tip: If you're running late for that big board meeting you have today and know for sure you’ll be wearing a suit jacket on AT ALL TIMES, iron only the front of the shirt, collar, and cuffs. Don’t stress about the back or sleeves.

Hear the anthem once more: Iron Man - Black Sabbath

- Your Style Guy