Hanging that saves ironing

Short answer: Shake each item out before you hang it, and hang it up straight away. Two seconds of shaking removes most creases while the fabric is still wet and heavy. The clothes then dry smooth and the iron can stay in the cupboard.

Shake each item out

The weight of the water pulls the creases out by itself. Hold each item by the shoulders or waistband and give it two or three firm shakes so the fabric unfolds. That removes the creases left by the spin. An item hung up crumpled dries in exactly that shape. The same goes for a thick bamboo hoodie for men.

Hang up straight away

Creases that dry in stay until the next wash. Clothes waiting in the machine or a basket get pressed together and start drying in the folds. The longer they sit, the harder it is to shake the creases out. Empty the machine as soon as it finishes and hang everything in one go, including items from the range for men.

Leave space between items

Air around each item means faster and more even drying. When clothes hang close together, the items touch, and those spots dry more slowly and can leave marks. Leave a couple of fingers of space between each item on the line or rack. Two racks are better than one overfilled. That applies to the most popular styles for men too.

Straighten seams and edges

Once the clothes are hanging, gently pull seams, collars and edges straight. A twisted side seam or a crumpled collar dries crooked and is hard to fix afterwards. Smooth the front with your hand and pull the sleeves straight down. It takes a few seconds per item and makes a visible difference.

Hang each item the right way

T-shirts and tops hang best on a hanger, so they dry in their own shape. Trousers hang from the waistband or folded over a rail so the legs hang straight. Thick items like hoodies can be laid over two rails to spread the weight. Each item dries smoothest when it hangs the way it sits on the body.

Avoid peg marks

Pegs leave small bumps in the fabric that can show when you wear it. Put them where the mark will not be seen, such as the waistband of trousers or the bottom hem of a top. On hangers you need no pegs at all. Use wide hangers for tops so the shoulders do not get pointed bumps.

Take down while smooth

Take the clothes down as soon as they are dry and fold them straight away. Clothes left hanging for days do not get any smoother, and they gather dust. Folding straight from the rack keeps the smooth shape they dried in. An item left crumpled in a basket loses it again.

If there are still creases

Sometimes a crease stays because the clothes sat too long. Then it can help to hang the item in the bathroom while you shower. The steam dampens the fabric slightly and the weight pulls the crease out. Otherwise, lightly dampening the fabric with water and hanging it again does the same without an iron.

Frequently asked questions

How do you avoid ironing

Shake each item out and hang it up straight away. The weight of the water pulls the creases out while the fabric is still wet, and the clothes dry smooth.

Why shake the clothes out

Because otherwise the creases dry in. A crease that dries in stays until the fabric gets wet again, and then it has to be washed or ironed.

How much space should there be between items

Enough for air to get around each item. Clothes hung close together dry slowly and unevenly and can get marks where the items touch.