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TIPical Mary Ellen host Mary Ellen Pinkham provides lessons for quick ironing.

Ironing can be simplified, and sometimes eliminated, if some guidelines are followed.

Figure A

To make a shirt easier to iron, sprinkle shirt with warm water, fold the arms in and roll the shirt up. Place in a plastic bag and microwave (figure A) on high for one minute or until warm. Now iron.
Always shake out shirts after removing them from the dryer.

Figure B

Dip hard-to-iron cottons in a solution of fabric softener and water, then hang to drip dry. Add a cap and a half of fabric softener to a tub of water. Dip a dress shirt in the mixture (figure B). Place the shirt in the washer on spin dry. Shake out and hang. This will remove the wrinkles without having to ironing.

Figure C

Spray the collar and cuffs of a shirt with spray starch (figure C) and hang it on a hanger while it is still wet. Choose a hanger with sloping shoulders so the shirt won't get the points at the end. The shirt can be worn "as is," especially if it's under a jacket.

Hang trousers by the cuffs, and the weight will keep the legs almost wrinkle-free.

Figure D

Wet clean handkerchiefs thoroughly, then flatten on a smooth surface to dry (figure D).

Clean your iron periodically. Fill the iron with white vinegar. Set the iron, sole-plate down, on top of a broiler pan with a grill cover (figure E). Turn it on and let it steam. Remove the vinegar and fill with water. Follow the same steps. If the holes are clogged, use a pipe cleaner to remove the gunk when the iron has cooled.

Even if you use distilled water, an iron should be drained after each use.

Also in this Episode

TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-1304
•	Traveling With Kids
•	One-Minute Ironing
•	Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
•	Tip of the Day

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One-Minute Ironing

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