Before You Start

  • Check the care label for the correct temperature (cotton = high, polyester/synthetic = low, silk = very low)
  • Slightly damp shirts iron much more easily — spray with water if too dry, or iron straight from the wash
  • Iron on a clean ironing board or a towel on a hard surface
  • Use steam for cotton and linen; dry iron or very low steam for delicates

The Right Order

  1. 1

    Collar

    Start with the collar. Turn it up (standing position). Iron the underside of the collar first from the collar points toward the centre — never from centre to points, which creates creases at the tips. Flip and iron the outside. Then fold the collar down and iron the fold crease.

  2. 2

    Cuffs

    Unbutton the cuffs. Open them flat. Iron the inside first, then the outside. Do the sleeve placket (the fabric strip with the buttons) and fold the cuff along its natural crease.

  3. 3

    Sleeves

    Lay the sleeve flat with the seams aligned at top and bottom. Iron from the cuff end toward the shoulder. Flip and iron the other side. A sharp crease on the outer edge of the sleeve is the classic crisp look — or leave it slightly rounded for a softer appearance.

  4. 4

    Back yoke (shoulder panel)

    Place the shoulder of the shirt over the narrow end of the ironing board. Iron the back yoke (the panel across the top back), moving the shirt to cover the whole area.

  5. 5

    Front panels

    Iron the button placket (the strip with buttons) by pulling taut and ironing between and around buttons with the tip of the iron. Then iron the rest of the front panels, left and right.

  6. 6

    Back body

    Iron the back last. Lay flat, pull taut at the hem, and iron from the collar down in long strokes. The back is the largest piece and benefits from the iron being at its hottest from warming up on the smaller pieces first.

Hang immediatelyHang the shirt on a hanger as soon as ironing is complete. Folding or placing a freshly ironed shirt flat creates new creases within minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

No — synthetic fabrics (polyester, nylon, rayon) melt or scorch on high heat. Always check the care label. Synthetic shirts should be ironed on a low or synthetic setting with steam turned off or minimal. When unsure, test on the inside tail of the shirt first.
Shine on dark fabric is caused by too much heat flattening the fibres. For a shine that has not set: dampen the area and steam from above (not touching the fabric). Use a pressing cloth (a thin cotton cloth placed between the iron and the shirt) to prevent shining on dark colours and delicate fabrics.