No Iron? Here’s How to Remove Wrinkles With Other Household Items

I never travel without a spray bottle. When I was in high school, my mom taught me that spraying your clothes with cold water was an incredibly efficient way to eradicate pesky wrinkles. It’s one of those tricks that sounds too simple to work, but is shockingly effective. 

In many instances, you may not have an iron and ironing board at your disposal, especially when you’re traveling, visiting friends, or running late. Below, check out more methods to getting rid of wrinkles in a pinch, with items you likely have on hand.

1. Use a Spray Bottle or Commercial Spray

In my experience, a simple TSA-approved spray bottle with water will do the trick. Spray the entirety of your clothing item with water and let it sit overnight (or long enough to dry), and it will be good as new. Or if you want to feel extra prepared, travel expert Kim Tate previously shared one of her top packing list must-haves: travel-friendly bottles of Downy Wrinkle Release Spray.

2. Generate Steam with a Shower

Hang your wrinkly clothes in the bathroom while you take a hot shower. Through my own trial and error, I’ve found that the size of the bathroom and heat of the shower will determine your results. This hack works best in smaller spaces and with your shower turned up to the highest temperature. Let the steam do its thing for 10–15 minutes, and you’ll often come back to noticeably smoother fabric.

3. Throw Your Clothes in the Dryer

There are a number of approaches you can take to address wrinkles by tossing your clothes in the dryer. One option is drying your clothes with a wash cloth or towel soaked in warm water. Or you could try this TikTok viral tip: Toss a couple of ice cubes in with your clothes to create natural, condensed steam. Either way, make sure to run the dryer on a medium setting for around 10 minutes and check as you go to avoid over-drying. And, of course, avoid placing dry clean-only items in the dryer.

4. Turn on Your Hair Dryer

In some cases, you can use a hair dryer to act as a sort of makeshift steamer. Dampen your garment and dry it with the hair dryer, pulling the clothing item tightly as you go. This works especially well for smaller areas like collars, hems, or sleeves.

Don’t let unexpected wrinkles ruin your outfit, even when you may be traveling or in a rush. Refer to these techniques to keep your clothes looking pressed to perfection without an iron. 

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