Are your clothes looking crumpled but you can't iron it for one reason or another? The secret to wrinkle-free clothing is actually sitting in your freezer right now.
All you need is an ice cube or two, popped into your tumble dryer with your wrinkled garments. As you run a short cycle, the ice melts to produce steam – penetrating the fabric, relaxing the fibers and smoothing out wrinkles with ease, laundry experts say.
If you're not convinced, our laundry and appliance experts explain this surprisingly effective way to unwrinkle clothes without an iron in detail.
How to get rid of wrinkles from clothes using an ice cube
Step 1: Choose the right clothes
It's important to note this laundry tips won't work on all types of clothing.
Ian Palmer-Smith, appliance expert at Domestic & General, says, 'this hack is less likely to be less effective with heavier clothing,' and therefore works best with lightweight fabrics like cotton and polyester.
Pay attention, also, to the material type. Rechelle Balanzat, founder and CEO of Juliette, advises, 'Avoid using it on delicate materials like silk or wool,' to avoid any tumble-dryer mistakes.
Step 2: Load your dryer
Once you've selected your clothing items to unwrinkle with an ice cube, pop it in the dryer.
'Remember that less is more,' says appliance expert Palmer-Smith. 'The hack is unlikely to work if you fill your dryer too much.'
Therefore, as Palmer-Smith points out, this hack won't work on larger items like bed sheets. For those, a wrinkle-release spray, such as the Downy Wrinkle Releaser Spray available at Amazon can be used instead.
Step 3: Add ice cubes
Then, add your ice cubes, checking your dryer's manual beforehand to make sure it is safe to add ice to your appliance. After all, you don't want to notice any signs its time to replace your appliance before necessary.
Laundry expert Balanzat advises, 'Toss two to three ice cubes into the dryer. The size of the load will determine how many ice cubes to use. For a single garment, use two cubes. For a small load, use three.'
If you do not have ice to hand, appliance expert Palmer-Smith suggests lightly misting the clothes with water to create steam. 'This comes with the added benefit of not having to hear ice cubes rattling around your tumble dryer's drum,' he says.
All prices correct at time of publication.
With a comfortable two finger grip trigger, this spray bottle can be used to effectively mist clothing.
Step 4: Set the dryer temperature and turn on
Before switching your dryer on, select a high heat setting. Our tumble dryer temperature guide makes this easy.
'It's more effective at creating steam from the melting ice,' says laundry expert Balanzat. Then, run a short cycle.
Step 5: Check for wrinkles and hang up
Once the cycle has finished, check over your items and hang them up to let cool and fully unwrinkle. We recommend the Zober Velvet Hangers available at Amazon for this, available in six colors.
What are the drawbacks of this method?
While this quick and convenient trick is great in a pinch, it's certainly not a foolproof solution.
Primarily, the effectiveness of this technique is limited to minor wrinkles and crinkles in lightweight fabrics. As laundry expert Balanzat says, 'For heavy fabrics or deep creases, it may not work well.'
It's also not suitable for all fabrics in general, particularly delicates which may shrink or get damaged under high heat. For this reason, always check the laundry symbols on your garments before getting started.
Additionally, use this hack too often and you certainly won't be saving energy when doing laundry, which may impact your energy bills over time.
FAQs
Why are my clothes still wrinkled after ironing?
Ironing might be the best way of getting wrinkles out of clothes, but there's nothing more frustrating than wrinkles re-appearing afterwards.
This is because ironing heats up your garments, and, as they cool, wrinkles can start to become visible where the fabric is folded. For this reason, it's always best to hang up your clothing straight after ironing or the ice cube hack.
For a crisp, polished finish, it's always better to master ironing. You can also make scented ironing water for a long-lasting fresh finish.
'In summary, the ice cube trick is great for quick fixes, but for professional results or delicate items, a steamer or iron is your best bet,' concludes laundry expert Balanzat.
