Let’s be brief: going into a presentation with wrinkled clothes is unprofessional, distracting, and a little bit sad. But since it is the natural tendency of fabric to wrinkle at the slightest motion, here are some tips for removing them before your event, both with and without an iron.
Shower Trick
Make sure your bathroom windows and doors are firmly shut, and hang your outfit on a shower curtain rod away from the spray of water. Then, run the hot water until the bathroom is filled with steam for about 5-15 minutes, until you visibly see a difference.
Flat Iron
A flat iron is technically a clothes iron in disguise, and is a portable way to eliminate wrinkles before an event. Before you begin ironing, make sure the surface is clean of hair products. Using a flat iron is a time-consuming method, but is effective on larger creases.
Dryer
Provided you have access to a dryer before your presentation, lightly wet your clothes (spraying them with a water bottle is preferable) and then toss them in a dryer on high for 5-10 minutes. It’s a fast fix if you plan on wearing the clothes immediately.
Tech-Free
Possibly the simplest method ever, and one our ancestors were probably using before their presentations back in the day. Lightly spray your clothes with a water bottle, not enough to dampen them, and then hang them to dry. This could take up to 30 minutes or longer (depending on how warm it is outside), and is not a rush-solution.
Hair-Dryer
If you don’t have access to a full dryer, you can dampen your wrinkled outfit and dry it with a hair dryer. Hold it an inch or two away from the fabric and use a cooler setting once the wrinkles are smoothed.
Damp Towel
Using a slightly damp towel from a bath or shower, place it over the wrinkled piece of clothing on a flat surface. Smooth your hands over the towel to remove wrinkles. As your clothes may become slightly damp, this method is not recommended for fabrics that show moisture.
Ye Olde Iron
If you have one of these wrinkle eliminators and a flat surface, you’re in business. Just be careful not to burn your fabric by using the correct heat setting; a shirt with wrinkles is preferable to a shirt with holes all over it.
In the words of Anna Wintour, “If you can’t be better than your competition, just dress better.” Make sure the next time you are presenting, you don’t ruin it before you even speak with shamefully wrinkled clothes.
Question: How can you improve your presentation wardrobe?
