The crossed out iron

Short answer: A crossed out iron means the item must not be ironed. It is almost always due to elastane, print or a surface that turns shiny from heat. Here is why the ban is there and how to get clothes smooth without an iron.

What the symbol means

The iron with a line through it means the item must not be ironed at any setting. It is not advice to be careful but a ban, and it covers the whole item. The symbol is on the label because the fabric or the details cannot take the heat, and the damage cannot be fixed afterwards.

What heat does to elastane

Elastane starts to give way at one hundred and twenty degrees and permanently loses its stretch. So even a setting normally seen as low can be too much. That is why the ban appears on items like a bamboo slip. The elastane sits inside the fabric and cannot be brought back once it has lost its tension.

The surface suffers too

A smooth fabric turns shiny where the iron has pressed, and the shine cannot be removed. This also applies to bamboo sweat for men and women. The damage shows because the pressed spot reflects light differently from the rest, and the shine does not go away again.

Three reasons for the ban

The ban almost always has one of three reasons: elastane, print or a surface that turns shiny from heat. If the item has a print, heat can damage it. If there is elastane in the fabric, it loses its stretch. And if the surface is smooth, it turns shiny. Often more than one applies, and then the ban matters even more.

How to get it smooth anyway

Hang the item in the bathroom while you shower, or steam it at a distance without touching the fabric. The warm moisture loosens the creases and the fabric settles by itself. It is a mild method and works on most of the range for women, such as all women's clothing. Leave the item hanging until it is completely dry.

Steam without contact

Hold a steamer or steam iron at a distance and you get the moisture without the hot metal. Move it slowly and do not touch the fabric with the soleplate. That way you use steam as a tool without breaking the ban, and you avoid shiny spots and damage to the elastane. Let the fabric dry before you put the item on.

Deep creases

If the item has deep creases, lay it damp and flat and let it dry without weight. The creases then usually disappear by themselves. Do not pull hard on the fabric while it is wet, since that can change the shape. This method is slower than an iron, but much gentler, and it suits everything with the crossed out symbol.

The ban applies to both sides

It is tempting to iron from the inside, believing it is safer. That is still at your own risk, because the ban applies to both sides of the fabric. The heat goes through, and both elastane and surface can be damaged. Leave the iron alone and use the mild methods instead. That way the clothes keep their shape and look longer.

Frequently asked questions

May you steam when ironing is forbidden

Yes, if the steam does not touch the fabric directly with hot metal. Keep the steam at a distance, or hang the item in the bathroom while you shower.

What do you do about deep creases

Lay the item damp and flat and let it dry without weight, and the creases usually disappear by themselves. Do not pull hard on the fabric while it is wet.

Can you iron from the inside anyway

It is still at your own risk. The ban applies to both sides, because the heat goes through and can damage both the elastane and the surface.