I decided to try this on a super hot 103 F day when I just could not imagine getting the iron out to work on a load of clothes. Toss an ice cube or two with your wrinkly clothes into the dryer. Run it on the hot setting. It totally works! It steams the wrinkles right out. Pictured is a work shirt that usually comes out of the wash completely wrinkly. Amazing!
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I find the 'steam as you shower' trick to be minimally useful with things like pants and anything but the lightest, barely wrinkled shirts. The ice cube trick was much more effective.
What a wonderful idea you have given all of us here on Thrifty Fun! I can't wait to try it now ... what a blessing this hopefully will prove to be in my household.
I so hope this works for you! When it worked for me I was soooo grateful! Enjoy!
Why not just hang your clothes in the bathroom and turn on hot water in the shower to generate steam? Not only does this save electricity, but since the clothes are hanging straight, no wrinkles will develop like what might result from tumbling in the dryer.
Either way, it's a waste of electricity or water. I love this ice cube idea.
I tried the shower steam way with no luck. So far this ice cube is my only success! :)
I travel monthly for business and the steam shower method works wonders in hotel rooms. In fact, I learned it from my dry cleaner. It simulates what they do in the store except they spray steam at the fabric.
@Tj103169
1) When staying in hotels, I steam my clothes while I shower. No waste of water.
2) For most people, water is a naturally renewable resource (through evaporation), electricity normally isn't.
3) Electricity is MUCH more expensive than water (and the gas/oil it takes heat the water for 5-10 mins) here in NYC and most cities.
4) Apartment dwellers don't pay for water but we do pay for electricity
5) Apartment dwellers usually don't have dryers but we all have showers
6) Using the dryer puts wear on the motor and heating elements. Turning on the shower puts no significant wear on anything
Three more, which are actually important for clothes:
7) Heat in the dryer can damage delicates. Steam in the shower cannot exceed 212F, and it's usually significantly less, making it safe for all fabrics.
8) Tumbling in the dryer rubs fabric against fabric, causing static. Steam (aka humidity) actually decreases static. That's why you only get static shocks in dry Winters.
9) Tumbling in the dryer rubs fabric against fabric, causing wear. That's what lint is. It's bits of fiber rubbed off clothing. Steaming causes no wear or damage to the fabric
What I do like about the ice cube idea is that you can use lightly scented water to make the ice cube, which can then refresh or scent the clothes. It's great after a night in a smoky bar where your clothes smell like tobacco. Probably cheaper than Febreze and it removes wrinkles too. My wife suggests rose water. I'm thinking of dissolving a few grains of Downy Unstoppables in water and then freezing it into cubes. Should be interesting...
I dampen a heavy washcloth and toss it in the dryer - works wonders and doesn't take long. Take the garment out and hang it while it is still hot and any leftover wrinkles will fall right out.
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