As the cost of living crisis continues to affect households, many of us will be looking for simple ways to cut down on energy.
Some things, such as the time we spend ironing, can be difficult to reduce - but it seems to be on a lot of people's minds, with Google ad search volumes for "how much energy does an iron use?" increasing by over 900% in the last three months.
And as energy bills continue to rise, with appliances such as irons potentially racking up the pounds every year, many people will be wondering if there's any alternative to keeping their clothes looking crisp.
But experts at the t-shirt printing company ICON has teamed up with Matalan to share five ironing hacks that are quick to do at home, and they could also save you money on bills.
Here, they've suggested how you can ensure your clothes stay crease-free without even reaching for the iron using common household items instead, as reported by Hull Live.
1. Make your own DIY wrinkle-remover spray
According to the experts, you don’t necessarily need to wash your clothes to remove stubborn creases. Anti-wrinkle spray is a great way to get your clothes looking crisp again - and the best part it that you can make it at home.
Alex Econs, garment printing expert at ICON Printing , advised: "You don’t need to spend a fortune when using an anti-wrinkle spray on your clothes, you can make your own spray from common household products. This spray works well on t-shirts, sweatshirts and other garments made from cotton or similar.
"Simply mix 200ml water and 10ml fabric softener in a spray bottle. Give it a shake and make sure to patch test by spraying a small, innocuous piece of fabric first to make sure that it won’t stain your top.
“Spray on any wrinkles and pull taut to remove the creases. Apply the mix until the top is damp then hang it out to dry for crease free clothes without having to iron."
2. Shower steam
You may not know that your daily morning shower could also be an effective way of removing creases from clothes.
Alex said "The ultimate multitasking and money saving hack is to take your laundry into the bathroom with you whilst you shower. Simply hang your t-shirts or other garments up in the bathroom when you shower to allow the fibres to soften and creases to relax without having to iron them.
"Hang the clothes as close to the shower as you can without getting them wet and ensure that the bathroom door is closed and your extractor fan is off - you don’t want to remove all of that steam. When you’re finished with your shower, try to keep your clothes in the bathroom for fifteen minutes before allowing them to dry."
3. Hot hair appliances
Heated hair tools could help you to achieve that crisp, pressed look on clothes just like an iron does.
The men’s suits experts at Matalan have teamed up with Nicola Rodriguez from The Essex House Dolly to share their top tips on getting the creases out of men's formal shirts.
Nicola said: "You’d be surprised what you can achieve with a trusty pair of hair straighteners! After styling your hair, use the residual heat from the appliance to straighten out those pesky creases. This works best if you give the clothing a quick spray over beforehand to dampen it.
"The great thing about hair straighteners is that they’re basically a mini iron! Straighteners work great on both shirts and on thicker clothing items such as suit jackets as they give an intense, localised heat, especially since the prongs warm the garment on both sides."
4. Use a damp towel
If your clothes are looking wrinkled, a simple damp towel could be key to making them fresh again.
Alex suggested: "This trick works best on delicate fabrics is to place your wrinkled garment on a flat surface, underneath some damp towels and simply use the towels to press out any creases. The damp fabric will do this with ease! Once you’re happy you’ve covered all areas, hang it up to air dry.
"This trick is cost effective but can be more time consuming, so be sure to plan your outfit in advance, leaving enough time for your clothes to dry before getting ready."
5. Mattress press
When it comes to thicker fabrics such as hoodies and jumper, creases can be difficult to remove.
But Alex has advised that you can use your mattress to iron them out, making them look good as new: "Lay your wrinkled garment onto a flat surface and use your hands to smooth the creases out. Once you’re happy that the creases are pressed out as much as possible, roll the item up tightly like a burrito, ensuring it's actually all completely rolled up, rather than folded.
"Once this is done place the rolled item under your mattress for at least an hour and the weight should soon have your outfit wrinkle free, without using any heat or electricity at all. The longer it’s left under your mattress, the more intense the effect will be."
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