You put water in an iron because water is essential to ironing, as it helps to relax natural fibers and allows wrinkles to be effectively pressed flat.
The Role of Water in Ironing
Ironing is a process that uses heat and pressure to smooth out wrinkles in fabric. While the hot iron provides the heat, the water plays a crucial chemical role, especially with natural fibers.
How Water Works
The provided information highlights the key function of water:
- Fiber Relaxation: Water penetrates the natural fibers of the fabric, causing them to relax.
- Wrinkle Removal: Once the fibers are relaxed, the heat and pressure from the iron can easily flatten the wrinkles and reshape the fabric structure.
The Difference Water Makes
- Without Water: A hot iron applied to dry fabric would simply heat the fibers without relaxing them. This means the wrinkles would remain stubbornly in place, and the iron would have no effect on wrinkles.
- With Water: The combination of wet fibers, heat, and pressure allows for efficient wrinkle removal and creates smooth results.
This is why professional dry cleaners often press shirts and garments when they are slightly damp. The moisture in the fibers ensures a crisp, easy press, achieving that polished look.
Using water in your iron (via the steam function) leverages this principle to achieve the best ironing results at home.
