Should you iron clothes inside out or right side out?

As a general rule, you iron clothes inside out. It's the safest way to avoid shine marks and pressing marks, especially on dark, printed or delicate garments. But there are exceptions depending on the item. Here's the quick rule, garment by garment.

The general rule: inside out is best

Ironing on the reverse protects the fabric from the iron's direct heat. That way you avoid shine marks (those shiny patches that look almost "scorched"), you protect the colours so they don't fade, and you look after the finishes. If you're unsure about a garment, inside out is almost always the safe bet.

Garment by garment

• Dark or deeply coloured clothes (black, navy): always inside out. They're the most prone to shiny patches on the outside.
• Garments with prints, screen prints or embroidery: inside out, so you don't melt or crack the design.
• Delicate fabrics (silk, wool, satin, synthetics): inside out and, if you can, with a thin pressing cloth between the iron and the fabric.
• Plain shirts and blouses: you can iron these right side out, but start with the collar, cuffs and shoulders, where it shows most.
• Jeans and dark trousers: inside out, so you don't get those typical shiny streaks.
• Plain white items (sheets, basic T-shirts): it doesn't matter; right side out works fine as long as you respect the temperature.

Why does inside out protect your clothes?

Direct heat "flattens" and glazes the surface fibres: that's why shine marks appear, especially on dark and synthetic fabrics. By ironing on the reverse, that effect ends up on the side no one sees. And prints, which are usually ink or plastic, get ruined by direct contact with the iron.

Three tips for better ironing

• Respect the temperature on the label: one dot for delicates, two for synthetics and silk, three for cotton and linen.
• Iron while the clothes are slightly damp or use steam: the creases come out far more easily.
• Don't leave the iron sitting still on the fabric: keep it moving so you don't mark or scorch it.

The secret is in the drying

A good share of creases form during poor drying. If you take the clothes out of the tumble dryer on time and properly dry, and fold or hang them straight away, you'll barely need to iron. At our self-service launderettes you can dry your clothes to just the right point and take them away almost ready, so ironing is a matter of minutes.

Quick summary

• When in doubt, inside out.
• Darks, prints and delicates: always inside out.
• Shirts and plain white items: right side out is fine, with care.
• Good drying = less ironing.