How to iron while saving energy and effort

HOW TO IRON WHILE SAVING ENERGY

The iron is undoubtedly one of the smallest appliances we have at home, but it also consumes the most energy . Ironing is a household chore that not only takes up a lot of our time but also wastes too much electricity, impacting our electricity bill.

READ ALSO: What to do to stop ironing

HOW TO SAVE ELECTRICITY

How can you avoid wasting energy with your iron? Here are some tips to help you iron as little as possible, saving time and money while protecting the planet.

HOW TO HANG OUT YOUR LAUNDRY PROPERLY

Hang your clothes flat, avoiding creases. Never hang clothes over the line: it leaves marks and an unattractive crease. It's best to hang them inside out, as clothespins can sometimes leave marks. T-shirts should be placed close to the line, letting them hang with the collar facing down: the weight of the wet fabric will iron for you. The same goes for trousers ; to avoid creases, simply shake them a couple of times before hanging them up, always with the hem facing down. For shirts: once you take them out of the washing machine , you should run your fingers through the edges, especially around the buttons . If you wear them in the winter under a sweater, simply ironing the collar and cuffs will suffice.

READ MORE: How to save money and avoid wasting money on bills, gas, and groceries

ALTERNATIVES TO THE IRON

You can roll towels from one side to the other so they'll be neatly folded without having to iron them. Turtlenecks, tight-fitting pants, socks, and underwear adapt to your body shape, and any creases you see disappear when you put them on, so you don't even need to iron them at all. Wool and fleece items like sweaters and shawls don't need ironing. Ironing creased pants can be minimized: as long as you arrange them with pinpoint precision, you can even place them under your mattress and sleep on them . They'll be ironed in the morning.

IRONING ENERGY SAVING

For items you absolutely must iron, do so during low-energy hours (the evening) and start with the items to be ironed at a cold temperature while the iron heats up, then move on to the items at a high temperature and, after unplugging the iron, finish with the last items at a low temperature while it cools down.

HOW TO MAKE A NATURAL STYLING

Starch is a type of starch sprayed on cotton and linen garments to make ironing easier. But do we really need to buy it? Can't we just make it at home naturally? Here's how. Dissolve granulated starch in water ; you can choose the concentration you prefer to create your own product. Starch costs significantly less than pre-packaged starch and lasts a long time, two good reasons to make it yourself. For even better ironing results, simply add a few drops of white vinegar to the water in which you dissolved the starch; this will make the iron glide more easily.

ENERGY SAVING IRON

Finally, here are some useful tips that will allow you not only to save energy but also to extend the life of your iron:

HOW TO REMOVE LIMESCALE FROM YOUR IRON

Pay close attention to limescale buildup , which reduces the iron's efficiency and increases electricity consumption. To avoid limescale, there are two important things to do:

• The first is preventative: always empty the water tank when you have finished ironing.
• The second thing, however, concerns the natural cleaning of the appliance, without spending money on unnecessary chemicals.

To clean the limescale in your iron, simply fill the tank halfway with water and add a capful of vinegar to see a yellowish substance vaporize: this is the limescale evaporating.

HOW TO CHOOSE AN IRON

Choose irons that heat up faster, preferably aluminum , a highly conductive material that uses up to 50 percent less electricity. Humidifying your laundry before ironing and turning off the iron when you're done are also small tricks that help save electricity.

HOW TO IRON WITHOUT AN IRON

HOW TO SAVE ELECTRICITY AT HOME WITH APPLIANCES:

• How to save energy with your computer and reduce your bills
• How to use air conditioning
• How to use an electric oven or microwave to save energy