Can I Iron Velvet Fabric? Velvet Ironing Tips

Learn how to properly iron velvet to get rid of wrinkles without destroying the material. Special care and attention must be given to velvet fabric.

Velvet is opulent, heavy, and soft to the touch. It also feels quite durable. Actually, velvet fabric is delicate because of its thick pile. So when it wrinkles, you might wonder if you can iron it to restore it to its original state.

So can you iron velvet fabric? Velvet fabric is difficult to iron and press due to the plush pile on its front surface. When velvet is improperly ironed, it can melt some types of velvet as well as flatten its fluff and leave permanent marks.

Read on for advice on how to properly iron velvet clothing and upholstery! It is not as hard as you think to care for velvet fabric.

Table of Contents

Can I Iron Velvet Fabric?

Even though the short answer is “yes,” the situation is more complicated than that, so ironing might not be your first choice for removing the wrinkles from your velvet. As opposed to ironing cotton or linen, velvet requires much more time, care, and attention.

Due to velvet’s delicate and easily damaged qualities (especially when it comes to heat!), many will say that you should never iron velvet. It’s true that you should never, under any circumstances, touch a hot iron to the front of a velvet fabric.

On the other hand, if you take the right actions, you can succeed.

How to Iron Velvet Fabric?

Can I Iron Velvet Fabric? Velvet Ironing Tips

Here are the steps to iron velvet fabric.

Assess the Fiber Content of the Velvet, If Possible

The best guidance for ironing velvet comes from understanding its construction and fiber content.

For instance, long-lasting cotton velvet and velveteen withstand higher temperatures and more iron contact than pricey silk or synthetic velvet. Certain kinds of velvet, such as rayon velvet, can melt easily, especially if the iron is touched to the velvet’s right side.

Additionally, some delicate velvet fabrics, such as acetate velvet, are more vulnerable to harm from contact with an iron and moisture (don’t press while damp).

Test Iron Settings

You must conduct experiments if you don’t know the velvet’s fiber composition or the suggested maintenance procedures.

You can conduct a test with or without steam, light pressure or no contact, and low or medium heat. While some velvet fabrics can be damaged by steam, others only need to be steam cleaned. While some might have permanent pile depression from iron contact, others might need physical pressing.

If you’re unsure of the best settings for ironing velvet, start with medium heat and steam, and stay away from the fabric with the iron.

Never forget to test the iron’s settings on a tiny piece of velvet to start with or on a hidden spot on an article of clothing or upholstered furniture.

Set Up the Ironing Surface

You can avoid this by covering your ironing surface with a fluffy towel or a needle board because mechanical pressure on velvet can flatten the pile.

Instead of flattening when pressed against a hard surface, the velvet surface is less likely to do so when it comes into contact with the needle board or towel.

Use a different piece of velvet fabric face-side up over a towel as the pressing surface. This is an additional option for delicate velvet.

Place the Velvet Right Side Down

Keep your hands away from the velvet pile when using a hot iron. In order to iron velvet from the back, lay the velvet’s front, fluffy side down on your needle board or thick towel.

If pressing the right side of the fabric is necessary, you might want to place a press cloth on top of the pile. This can, for instance, be a scrap of velvet fabric or a pressing cloth made of organza, silk, or muslin.

Pressing Vs. Steaming Without Contact

Continue ironing the velvet once the surface is ready and the iron settings are secure. As was already mentioned, some velvet can be pressed, but not all of it.

This means you can either:

Hover the iron 1/2″ above the velvet’s back surface while steaming the wrinkled areas and, after the iron has been removed, gently press the wrinkles out with your finger.
Apply the lightest pressure to the back surface while lifting, lowering, and lifting the iron.

Follow the direction of the velvet nap whether you are physically pressing or simply steaming.

Press Velvet Seams Carefully

One time you will press the fabric’s right side, which is visible in the seam allowance, is after sewing velvet garments and pressing the seams open.

Use a medium-heat steam iron, held 1/2″ above the fabric, to press velvet seams without destroying the nap. After removing the iron, gently press the seam open with your fingers. To prevent finger burns, think about wearing finger guards.

You can also use a seam roll to minimize seam impressions on a garment’s right side when pressing a seam. If seam impressions are still visible from the front, gently steam the fabric’s right side with an iron or a garment steamer to eliminate them.

Even if your velvet is heat and iron resistant, only use the small toe of the iron to touch the seams!

Sorting your materials in advance will help when ironing. Various ironing techniques are needed for various fabrics. After that, you can start ironing. Check the laundry symbols on your garments to find ironing instructions, and read Fabric Ironing 101 which tells you how to iron different fabrics properly.

How to Steam Velvet Fabric?

Clothing made of velvet can be made wrinkle-free by using the steam setting on your iron. Simply place the iron about six inches above the fabric, and let the steam do the rest of the work.

A clothes steamer can also be used if you’re working with delicate velvet. Move the steamer back and forth over the fabric while keeping it about six inches from it until the wrinkles are gone.

A touch of elegance can be added to any outfit with velvet, a lavish fabric. You can maintain the best appearance for your velvet clothing with a little maintenance.

Prior to hanging it in your closet, make sure to let it air dry. Never put wet clothes on hangers in your closet.

Conclusion: Iron Velvet Fabric

Can you iron velvet fabric? Yes, you can “iron” velvet fabric, but you need to approach the task differently than you would for more durable fabrics.

On an ironing board or needle board, place the velvet clothing. Use a thin cotton sheet or pressing cloth to cover the area you’ll be pressing. Set your iron to the “steam” setting, and allow it to heat up. Use a steam iron if you want.

FAQs

Does Heat Damage Velvet?

Crushed velvet can lose its design and distort from wear and acetate velvets exposed to heat, pressure or moisture can flatten permanently, which ruins its beauty on clothing and furnishings.

Does Water Ruin Velvet?

Velvet is most often a code “S” which means it must be treated with cleaning solvents (dry clean only) and will not react well with water (it flattens and damages the fibers, leaving behind a nasty white ring!).

Does Steam Ruin Velvet?

Velvet made of natural fibers will be much more delicate than velvet made of synthetic materials. Since synthetic velvet is more resistant to fading, wrinkling, and damage than natural fiber velvet, if your velvet sofa is made of synthetic materials, you shouldn’t have any trouble steam cleaning it at home.