How to Iron or Steam a Suit Jacket at Home

Jackets are an integral part of any suit. Rather than paying for dry cleaning, you can iron your jackets at home to keep them looking their best. Ironing a jacket is a fairly straightforward process, as long as you use the right temperature and carefully press each section. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to iron or steam your jacket with tips from professional cleaning and laundry specialists. Read on to learn how to keep your jacket looking new!

How do you iron a suit jacket?

Check the jacket’s care label to know which heat setting to use.
Lay the jacket flat on an ironing board and cover it with a protective cloth.
Lightly press the back panel and collar with the iron using circular motions.
Flip the jacket over and press the front with the iron.
Lay the sleeves out flat and press them flat, starting in the center of the sleeve.
Hang the jacket up immediately to avoid wrinkles.

Section 1 of 4:

Preparing to Iron

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Check the suit label for the appropriate iron temperature. Dry cleaner and laundry specialist Ayad Mirjan says to “check your clothing’s label so you know the correct temperature to use for your iron.”^{[1]
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Expert Source

Ayad Mirjan
Dry Cleaner & Laundry Specialist

Expert Interview} You will need to adjust the heat setting on your iron, depending on the suit material. Here are some of the most common jacket materials and their heat settings:
- Linen, cotton: Hot
- Synthetic fabric (acrylic, nylon, silk, polyester, etc.): Cool
- Polyester blend, wool: Cool-warm
- Also check your jacket for stains, spots, or dirt before ironing. Heat will set in stains and make them much harder to remove, so treat any stains or spots before you iron.^{[2]
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Meet the wikiHow Experts

Ayad Mirjan is a Dry Cleaner & Laundry Specialist, as well as the Founder of OrangeBag, a toxin-free, sustainable laundry and dry cleaning delivery service.

Susan Stocker is a Professional Cleaner with over 10 years of experience and 1000+ clients.

Sellenee Sich is a Crochet & Knitting Expert who has expertise in yarn and wool care.
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Set up an ironing board and make sure the iron is clean. The base of your iron can become dirty over time and leave residue on fabrics, so give it a quick clean before ironing if needed. Then, set your ironing board up so it’s level. If you don't have one, use a bath towel folded in half and lay it on a flat surface that will not be damaged by heat, like hardwood or a granite countertop.^{[3]
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- A regular ironing board works fine, though you can also use a thinner sleeve board.
- If the iron base does need to be cleaned, use a damp cloth or a baking soda paste to remove tough stains. Mix 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of water with 2 tablespoons (34 g) of baking soda. Apply the paste and then wipe the iron clean after one minute.
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Fill a spray bottle with distilled water. While you are ironing, you will need to spritz small amounts of water onto the fabric to prevent it from burning. The water also acts as a steam release to help smooth wrinkles.^{[4]
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- According to Mirjan, “Using steam while ironing will help get wrinkles out faster. It works best with cotton and wrinkle-prone fabrics such as linen.^{[5]
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  Ayad Mirjan
  Dry Cleaner & Laundry Specialist
  
  Expert Interview}
- If your iron has a steam function, you will not need to use a spray bottle. Make sure to fill your iron with distilled water so the water is heated before you begin.
- Be sure to use distilled water, as tap water can contain high amounts of calcium or minerals that will damage your iron over time.
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Place a cloth between the iron and your jacket. This will help to protect your suit as you iron it and help ensure that you won't create any shiny spots on your jacket. A cotton rag or towel will work fine, but a muslin or drill cloth is best.^{[6]
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- You will want to have a cloth between your iron and each part of the jacket that you are pressing. If you do not have a cloth, flip the jacket inside out and press the fabric through the lining.
- The lining of your jacket will likely be a different material from the rest of the suit fabric. Be sure to check the care instructions to see what material the lining is and adjust your iron's heat settings accordingly.

Section 2 of 4:

Ironing the Jacket

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Lay the jacket flat on the ironing board. Lay the jacket with the back facing up so you can iron the back first. Test the iron for leaks or marks on an inside area of the fabric, close to the hem, so it is not in a visible place. Adjust the settings if necessary and continue carefully.
- Smooth out any large wrinkles before you begin pressing the jacket.
- If the jacket has any embroidery, turn the jacket inside out and press it through the lining rather than over the embroidery. You will need to use a cooler heat setting if you press through the lining.
- Most new irons will have an indicator light that will light up when the iron is hot.
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Press the back section. Lay the jacket flat on the ironing board with the back of the suit on top and facing you. Do not pull or stretch the arm seams while you are pressing the back of the suit, since these should stay slightly shrunken. Spray a small amount of water onto the fabric you want to press. Press down on sections of the back rather than gliding the iron over the fabric. ^{[7]
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- You want to press the wrinkles out rather than smoothing them.
- If the jacket has vents, put a piece of stiff paper between the vent and the rest of the back. This helps to prevent marks from being made on the layer underneath the vent. Iron the top piece of the vent, then lift it while you press the piece underneath the vent.
Spray the collar with distilled water, then place an iron cloth or a cotton towel over it so your iron isn’t making direct contact. Then, gently press the iron down onto the collar. Iron in a circular motion.
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Flip the jacket to the front. Now that the back has been pressed, you can begin to work on the front and sides of the jacket. Lay one half of the jacket on the ironing board so the other half of the front is off the board. If the jacket has darts, the dart should be lined up with the outer edge of the board to avoid creasing.
- Smooth any large wrinkles out of the fabric and lining before you start to press and spritz the fabric with water.
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Press the front of the jacket. Press the front part of the jacket in small sections using a moderate amount of pressure. The front of the jacket will most likely have pocket flaps and lapels that you will need to pay special attention to.^{[8]
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- Jacket lapels should not be creased unless you want a hard military look. Run the iron over the lapels very gently. Similarly, if the jacket has shoulder pads, do not press directly on the pads, or their outline will be pressed into the jacket.
- Pull out pockets before you press over that area so you do not press in the outline of pocket wrinkles. If there are pocket flaps, use the stiff piece of paper you used on the vents to separate the layers as you press them.
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Lay the sleeve smooth on the ironing board. Sleeves are the trickiest part of the jacket to iron because of their shape and the fact that you have two layers of fabric and lining to deal with. Lay the sleeve down on the board and smooth out any large wrinkles in the fabric and the lining by hand. If you are using a sleeve board, insert the board into the sleeve so you can rotate the sleeve around the board.
- Lay a damp cloth over the sleeve. This will help to protect the suit fabric and make pressing easier.
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Iron the sleeves. Start by ironing the center of the sleeve first. Use the arm seam to guide the iron so you don’t crease the fabric. Using a sleeve board is the easiest way to iron a sleeve since you can rotate the material around the board as you press without creating a crease.^{[9]
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- If you do not have a sleeve board, you can substitute a cylindrical container to keep the sleeve's shape while you iron.
- You can also use a rolled-up thick magazine or a cylindrical cardboard tube and insert it into the sleeve. Be sure to cover the magazine or tube with a cotton towel before you insert it.
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Hang up your jacket. As soon as you are finished, hang your neatly pressed and steamed jacket on a well-shaped hanger. Use a hanger with shoulders and padding if possible, though a wire one will work in a pinch.
- Allow the jacket to hang while it cools.
- Unplug your iron and put away your ironing board. Wait until the iron is cool to the touch before putting it away.

Section 3 of 4:

Steaming a Suit Jacket

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Hang your jacket on a hanger. Before steaming your jacket, use a hanger to hang it up so you can easily steam it by section. It doesn’t matter what type of hanger you use, but one with padding is preferred. Hang your jacket so it’s as straight as possible before you start steaming.^{[10]
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- Hang the jacket in an open area where you can easily move around.
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Use a steamer with distilled water to get wrinkles out of the arms. Tap water can lead to sediment buildup on your suit jacket, so it’s important that you use distilled water. Once you’ve filled your steamer, let it heat up for a few minutes. Then, gently pull on the right arm of your jacket to straighten it. Press the straightener against the fabric and slowly move it up and down. Repeat on the left arm.^{[11]
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- If the wrinkles aren’t coming out, you may be moving your steamer too quickly, so slow down.
- Be careful not to oversteam, as too much steam on the seams can cause them to lose their shape.
- If you’re worried about damaging the fabric, hold the steamer about an inch (2.54 cm) away from the jacket to be safe.
EXPERT TIP

Susan Stocker
Professional Cleaner
Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.

Susan Stocker
Professional Cleaner

Use a handheld steamer to remove wrinkles if you can. In a pinch, dampen your hands with water and pat the wrinkles gently, then hang the jacket in the bathroom with the door shut while you run the shower. The steam will help dissolve the wrinkles.
After finishing up the arms, slowly press and move the steamer up and down on the back to get rid of any wrinkles. Then, come over to the front side and do the same. Be careful not to press the steamer past the lapels, or else you may risk oversteaming the back side.^{[12]
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Section 4 of 4:

Frequently Asked Questions

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Is steaming or ironing better for a suit jacket? Professional cleaner Susan Stocker says that “If you want tight creases and sharp lines, ironing is best (and requires a storage area large enough for an ironing board and iron).”^{[13]
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Expert Source

Susan Stocker
Professional Cleaner

Expert Interview} But, ironing can also damage your suit jacket if you aren’t careful, so steaming is recommended if you’re trying to remain cautious.
- It’s important to be careful when steaming your suit jacket, as well, as using too much steam on the seams can break down the glue and permanently damage the garment.
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Can you iron a wool suit jacket? Crochet and knitting expert Sellenee Sich says, “I wouldn’t iron wool clothing; I’d steam it. If you don’t have a steamer, use a wet cloth, like a dishcloth or bath towel, placed over the garment. Set your iron to medium heat and gently press in circular motions. Allow the garment to dry fully before wearing it.”^{[14]
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Expert Source

Sellenee Sich
Crochet & Knitting Expert

Expert Interview}
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Can you iron a suit that’s dry clean only? Yes, you can iron a dry-clean-only suit, but it’s important to take the necessary precautions so you don’t end up damaging it. Make sure the suit is clean, use the lowest heat setting, put a cloth between your iron and the suit, and always keep the iron moving so it doesn’t accidentally scorch the suit.

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What is the best way to press a linen jacket?

Community Answer

You can press a linen jacket the same way that you would press any other jacket, though you can use a higher temperature than with other fabrics.

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Which is the best iron to use on suit jackets and blazers?

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You can use either a traditional iron or one that has a steam function. The weight and size of the iron can fit your individual preferences, but you should look for an iron that has adjustable heat settings.

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If the suit material has a finish on it, use a clean piece of cotton fabric between the iron and the suit to avoid leaving shiny marks while you press.

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After you're done ironing, empty the water from your iron while it is still hot. This will reduce the possibility of moisture being trapped in your iron's water compartment, which can damage the iron over time.

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Never place the iron directly on the suit, use an ironing cloth. Place the cloth right on top of your suit and press.

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Warnings

If you are unsure about the jacket's fiber type, always start with a lower temperature and work up to a higher temperature if needed.

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Iron around the buttons, not over them. When you press on top of a button, you could create a permanent impression of the button's shape on the fabric.

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Keep your hands out of the way of the steam, or it may burn you.

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