How to Get Wrinkles Out of Clothes

We’ve all been there—reaching for our favorite outfit only to realize it’s wrinkled and looks like we slept in it. Ugh, it’s either back to the outfit drawing board or getting these wrinkles out ASAP!

It can be frustrating, especially when you’re on the go or traveling and don’t have access to an iron, or if you’re like me and simply don’t own an iron.

But the good news is that there are some very effective ways to remove wrinkles from clothes with a dryer or other random household items.

From using the dryer to steam from a shower to a hair straightener, here are some easy solutions to fix your wrinkled clothing in no time! I’ve tested nearly all of these methods and can say they all work really well, so work with what you have!

How to Get Wrinkles Out of Clothes Without an Iron

If you’re anything like me, you might not own an iron, but you still want your clothes to look nice and polished, so what do you do? Thankfully there are some amazing ways to keep clothes looking smooth and unwrinkled, even without a dryer.

Here are a few essentials I love for keeping clothes wrinkles free.

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Fluff Clothes in the Dryer

This is my go-to method for smoothing wrinkled clothing. Often, I’ll do a load of laundry and forget to fold it until the next day. At that point, the wrinkles have set in.

To release them, simply turn on the dryer again on medium heat and run for a few minutes. This almost always does the trick! For most pieces, including delicate fabrics, this usually does the trick! For anything that wrinkles quickly, make sure to hang it up or lay it on a flat surface as it cools.

Add an Ice Cube to the Dryer

For more stubborn wrinkles that won’t come out with just a few minutes of the dryer running, you can toss a few ice cubes into the dryer with the wrinkled garment and set it on a high heat setting for at least five minutes. Just make sure that your clothes can handle high heat without shrinking.

The ice will melt and create steam, which helps relax the wrinkles. After tumbling, immediately remove the garment and hang it to dry while smoothing the fabric with your hands.

Add a Damp Towel to Dryer

Similar to above, add a damp towel or damp cloth to your dryer and run it for at least five minutes on high heat. The steam from the towel will help release the wrinkles.

Again, remove promptly, hang to dry and smooth out any wrinkles with your hands.

Use a Flat Iron

A flat iron or hair straightener can work wonders for wrinkled clothes. I find this works best on small areas. Just make sure that your clothing can handle the high heat. Some synthetic fabrics can be damaged with heat that’s too high, so make sure to read your labels!

Use a Hand Steamer

I lived too long without one of these, but this nifty product is incredible and so handy for use at home and for when you’re traveling! It’s also great for delicate fabrics that can’t handle the tumble dryer.

Handheld clothes steamer, like this one, does an incredible job at removing wrinkles quickly. The steam penetrates the fabric, relaxing the fibers and smoothing out wrinkles effectively. Just be careful not to burn yourself and read all instructions as the steam can be very hot.

It is a convenient and quick way to freshen up garments without the need for an iron and it also works on drapes too.

Use Shower Steam

This is my go-to method for removing wrinkles when we’re traveling! I always use packing cubes, so thankfully wrinkles aren’t all that often, but if it does, I turn on a hot steamy shower and hang clothes in the bathroom on the shower rod and close the door.

RELATED: How to Use Packing Cubes for Stress-Free Travel

The hot water creates steam quickly, so I let the hot shower run for a few minutes and shake out the wrinkles and smooth with my hand. Let the piece hang on the shower rod until it’s back to room temperature to prevent any more wrinkles.

I’m always impressed with how well this works in a pinch!

Wrinkle Remover Spray

To use wrinkle remover spray, simply hang the wrinkled garment on a hanger and lightly mist the fabric with the spray. Smooth out the wrinkles with your hands and allow the garment to air dry.

For a DIY wrinkle-release spray, mix equal parts water and liquid fabric softener in a spray bottle. Shake well before use and follow the same steps as above to remove wrinkles from your clothes. Don’t spray too much or it can leave your clothes with a weird feel from the fabric softener.

Use a Hair Dryer

To use a hair dryer to remove wrinkles, first hang your garment on a clothes hanger and lightly spritz the wrinkled areas with water. You want the piece of clothing to be slightly damp, but not completely wet. If you have a mister spray bottle that will work great. You can use cold or hot water, but hot water might be better for wrinkle releasing.

Then turn on your blow dryer to its lowest setting and hold it a few inches away from your clothing. Focus the heat on the wrinkled sections and smooth them out as needed to remove the wrinkles.

Use a Teapot or Hot Pot

I thought this was pretty inventive! If you don’t have an iron available, you can use a hot pot or teapot as an alternative method to remove wrinkles from your clothes.

Lay a towel down on a flat surface and heat up the pot with water until it steams, then carefully use the heated bottom of the pot to glide over the wrinkled areas of your clothing. Make sure the bottom of the pot is clean and free of any oil or grease.

The towel will ensure that your countertop or floor is protected from the hot metal pot.

Ask the Front Desk

If you’re traveling and open your suitcase to find everything a mess, you can also always ask the front desk if thy have a steamer or suggestions for where to go. Press shops can quickly steam or press your clothing at very little cost, and some hotels may have this service in-house, or have a steamer you can use.

Now you knowhow to combat wrinkly clothes without an iron. From using a pot as a makeshift iron (who would have guessed?!), putting clothes in a steamy shower, or simply using your dryer, there’s an option for every situation. No matter the situation or where you go, you’ll have smooth, wrinkle-free clothes whenever you need!

BTW, how to declutter and organize your closet effectively, and how to wear a denim jacket confidently.