How to Press Men's Dress Pants
Men's dress pants are expected to have a certain appearance to them if he wants to appear professional or business-like. If a man wants to be taken seriously in the business world, he is expected to look the part. All you need is an iron and an ironing board to press men's dress pants properly. Some fabrics press better with steam.
- Determine which type of fabric the dress pants are made of. Polyester and polyester blends must be pressed on a low rather than high setting. Cottons and cotton blends can be ironed on a higher setting.
- Check the care label inside the pants. The manufacturer usually specifies the heat setting for pressing or if the pants are to be dry cleaned only. Ask your dry cleaner about pressing the pants if in doubt.
- Set the iron at the required level of heat. If it is a steam iron, add water. Steam decreases wrinkles much more rapidly than no steam.
- Place the opened pants over the narrow end of the ironing board. Make sure the pocket liners are all straightened.
- Start pressing the pants at the waist. Press a section and move the pants around the narrow end of the ironing board in a circle. Move the pants up further over the narrow end to move towards the legs and crotch as you iron. Do this until you have pressed all the way around.
- Remove the pants and hold them upside down. Match the side seams of each pant leg together or match them according to the pressed line that runs up the pants.
- Do this with each leg and put the legs together to ensure that everything is even.
- Release one pant leg while laying the other one out entirely flat on the ironing board.
- Iron from the pant leg cuff toward the crotch. Be sure seams are straight as you move up. Don't forget to iron into the crotch area.
- Do this with the other pant leg and inspect the pants to be sure you did not miss a spot.