Is Ironing a Dying House Chore? These Everyday Alternatives Are Taking Over

In 2013, the game Monopoly retired the iron token after voters eliminated it in an online poll. (A cat replaced it.) In a way, this sounded the death knell for ironing.

“Time consuming,” “A nightmare,” and “Life’s too short!” are just some of the reasons people say they decided to ditch ironing. But there are forces at play beyond an aversion to ironing, too. The fabrics we wear and the way we dress have evolved, and newer, better options are available for removing wrinkles from clothes.

While there are good reasons why ironing is dying out, it's still a worthwhile skill to have, and there are times when using an iron is the best choice.

More (and Better) Options for Eliminating Wrinkles

Clothes Steamers

Small, affordable clothes steamers that eliminate wrinkles without the need for an iron and ironing board have proven to be a hugely popular alternative to traditional ironing. In addition to being easier to use, steamers can serve a dual purpose; the steam acts as a natural deodorizer, eliminating not only wrinkles but also odor-causing bacteria.

Wrinkle Relaxers

Wrinkle releasers, which are fabric sprays made from diluted liquid fabric softener, are misted onto dry clothes to coax out wrinkles, offering an alternative to ironing. These sprays are especially popular for use on the go. They’re easy to pack in a travel bag or stash in a desk drawer, making them ideal for times when access to electricity or an iron and ironing board is limited.

Dewrinkling Hacks

In addition to commercially available wrinkle releasers, dewrinkling hacks, such as misting a garment with water and smoothing it with your hands to quickly eliminate wrinkles, are abundant on social media. 

Anti-Wrinkle Dryer Settings

Appliance manufacturers have joined the fray, developing anti-wrinkle dryer settings that can remove wrinkles with the push of a button and a few minutes in the dryer’s drum.

The Fabrics We Wear Have Changed

Fashion is an ever-changing industry, and in addition to styles coming and going, fabrics change, too. Synthetic fabrics and wrinkle-resistant natural fibers don’t wrinkle and crease in the same way as cotton, linen, and other wrinkle-prone fabrics. As the fabrics from which our clothes are made evolve, so has the need to press garments after laundering them.

Our Clothes Are Less Formal

Relaxed dress codes in the office, more people working from home, and the popularity of athleisure wear and other casual styles are just some of the ways in which our clothes have become less formal over the years. Not only do garments like yoga pants and tracksuits not need ironing, they are not meant to be ironed, as using an iron on certain synthetic fibers can cause them to melt.

Why Ironing Still Matters

While ironing is not needed as much anymore, there are things that steamers and wrinkle-releaser sprays cannot do. Irons are still needed to press creases into clothes. They are more effective at pressing household linens, such as tablecloths and bed sheets. Unless you travel with a steamer or wrinkle-releasing spray, you are more likely than not to find an iron, rather than a steamer, in hotels and rental homes. If you don’t know how to use one, you’ll be out of luck.

Given all of that, even if you don’t use an iron very often, it’s still worth having basic ironing skills. Plus, even though ironing itself may not be your favorite chore, it’s tough to beat the refinement and style of a crisp white shirt or well-pressed set of pillowcases.