How to Iron Acrylic Garments

a white and green clothes iron
  • 1-2 hours
  • Beginner
  • 0-40
What You'll Need
Adjustable temperature iron
Ironing board or a flat, hard surface
Spray bottle of room temperature water
Items to be ironed
Clean, white wash cloth
What You'll Need
Adjustable temperature iron
Ironing board or a flat, hard surface
Spray bottle of room temperature water
Items to be ironed
Clean, white wash cloth

There are many types of clothing that are made from acrylic material; among them are sweaters, hats, fleece wear and socks. Chances are you own at least one item of clothing that is made from acrylic. Acrylic is a synthetic fiber, which means it is man-made and there are different variations of it, depending on its use.

It’s such a popular product to use because it dries quickly, typically retains its shape, pulls moisture away from the body and is easily dyed in many colors. The care of acrylic is easy once you know the best ways to keep it looking good and in its original shape. Ironing acrylic containing fabrics and clothing can be tricky.

Step 1 - Start with a Clean Garment

Before you even attempt to iron anything that is acrylic, you need to wash and dry the garment appropriately. Make sure you set the washer to a warm water wash. Wash the item with either the delicate or permanent press cycle, depending on the garment’s manufacturer instructions. It’s important to dry the acrylic as instructed, to avoid damage. Extreme heat will misshape acrylic.

Step 2 - Set up Iron and Ironing Board

ironing

After you have a clean and dry garment and you still need to get some wrinkles out, you will have to set up the ironing board on a flat surface for stability. Or, if you don’t have an ironing board, use a kitchen table covered with layers of towels. Next, plug in the adjustable temperature iron and turn to the very lowest setting, not to exceed 275 degrees Fahrenheit. If your iron is dirty, here is how to clean it.

Step 3 - Lay the Garment and Prepare it for Ironing

You will want to first turn the garment inside out for best results. Next, lay the garment flat on the ironing board or surface area. Gently spray the room temperature water onto the white wash cloth from the spray bottle. Do not over wet the wash cloth, just damp will work fine.

Step 4 - Iron the Garment

Place the dampened cloth onto the garment and press the warmed iron onto the cloth. Avoid ironing the garment directly as this will cause irreparable damage in some cases. Rather than moving the iron back and forth as in typical iron motion, lower the iron and then lift. Once you have covered the entire area of the cloth, you can move the cloth to a new area and begin again. Repeat on the other side of the garment if necessary.

Once you have completely ironed your garment, hang up or fold. It’s important to remember not to allow the acrylic fabric to come into direct contact with a hot iron as it is vulnerable to melting or stretching the fibers permanently. It’s also important to remember to avoid hanging acrylic sweaters on wire hangers to avoid stretching.