| How to Iron a Dress Shirt Posted: 12 Oct 2020 01:00 AM PDT Ironing might feel like a chore to you, especially if you don't feel like you're very good at it. Luckily, while it might seem tough, ironing a shirt is no big deal. In just a few minutes, you can become an ironing master! Plug your iron in and get started, and your shirt will be looking crisp in no time.
[Edit]Setting Up the Iron - Fill the iron with fresh tap water. In almost all cases, fresh water from your tap is fine for ironing. Fill the iron up before getting started.[1]
- Some older advice said to use distilled water, but this isn't necessary and might even damage the iron.
- The one exception is if the tap water in your area is particularly hard, meaning it has a lot of dissolved minerals in it. In this case, mix the tap water with half distilled water.[2]
- Select a high heat setting for cotton shirts. Most dress shirts are made with cotton, so a high heat setting is best. This will give you a nice, crisp finish.[3]
- Always check the care tag to confirm the material that the shirt is made from. The care tag may also give the ideal temperature setting for the iron.
- Polyester, wool, and silk shirts can't handle high heats, so make sure you set the heat lower if you have shirts made from these materials. Don't go any higher than the low or medium setting on your iron.
- Set the iron to its highest steam setting. You'll need plenty of steam for a good finish, so don't be shy. Crank up the steam setting to high. This will smooth out your dress shirts nicely.[4]
- Spritz all your shirts with a spray bottle before ironing. Damp shirts tend to smooth out better, and a little extra moisture helps really get rid of those wrinkles. Fill a spray bottle with clean tap water and spritz down all the spots you're ironing first. This should give you a smoother finish.[5]
- You can skip this step if your clothes are still damp from washing.
- Pop the shirt collar and flatten it onto the ironing board. Take the shirt and flip the collar up. Press the back of the shirt down onto the ironing board in any spot so the front of the collar faces up. Flatten the collar out so it's nice and even.[6]
- Some dress shirts have buttons holding the collar down, so make sure you undo these first.
- Remember to unbutton the shirt too.
- Slide the iron across the collar. Press the iron down against one side of the collar. Then apply gentle pressure and slide the iron smoothly from one side to the other to work out any wrinkles.[7]
- You can make a few more passes if the collar still looks wrinkled, but 1 or 2 is usually enough.
- Some say that you'll get a better finish if you iron the front or back of the collar first.[8] There's disagreement, so you can experiment to see if you notice a difference.
- Flip the shirt and iron the other side of the collar. Once the front of the collar is nice and smooth, flip the shirt over. Flatten out the collar again, then pass over it with the iron. This way, both sides of your collar are crisp and smooth.[9]
- If you're having trouble getting any of the wrinkles out, try spritzing the collar with the spray bottle a bit more.
[Edit]Front and Back - Flatten the buttoned side of the shirt onto the ironing board. Take the side of the shirt with the buttons and tuck the neck over the pointy part of the ironing board. Then press the shirt onto the ironing board, trying to stretch it out a bit lengthwise. Smooth it out so it's nice and tight against the board.[10]
- Slide the iron from the outside of the shirt towards the buttons. Hold the iron so it points up toward the shirt collar. Press it down onto the shirt with gentle pressure, and work it horizontally from the outside to the inside toward the buttons. Stop when you reach the buttons. Continue working in this pattern until the side of the shirt is smooth.[11]
- Be careful not to hit any of the buttons with the iron or you could rip them off.
- If the space in between the buttons is wrinkly, then carefully press the thin point of the iron into these spots.
- Repeat the same motion on the other side of the shirt. When you're done on the first side, flatten out the other side of the shirt onto the ironing board and tuck the neck over the pointed part of the board. Smooth out this side with the iron using the same motion as you used on the first side.[12]
- On most dress shirts, the pocket is on the side without the buttons. Smooth over this very carefully so you don't rip it.
- Run the iron down the buttonhole section. This is the placket, the part with the buttonholes. You want this to look nice and crisp too. Press the iron down at the top of the placket near the neck. Then smoothly run it down the placket to flatten it out.[13]
- Don't try this same motion on the other side with the buttons, or you might rip them off.
- Flip the shirt and iron the back. Once you're done with the front of the shirt, move on to the back. Flip it over and center the collar at the pointy edge of the ironing board. Tuck the collar over the pointy part to hold it in place. Flatten the shirt out, then slide the iron from the top of the shirt down. Work in even rows to avoid making any new wrinkles.[14]
- You could also do the back of the shirt first if you prefer. The order doesn't matter.
- Slide the shirt left or right to get any sections that couldn't fit. You probably won't be able to fit the whole back of the shirt onto the ironing board, so slide it to the side so you can reach the rest of it. First, slide it to the left and iron that section. Finally, slide it to the right and iron this part to finish up the back.[15]
- Finish up with the stitched section on the shoulders. This is the yoke, the boxy section on the back around the shoulders. Adjust the shirt so the whole yoke is sitting on the ironing board at any point. Slide the iron across it to work out any wrinkles.[16]
- It's common to miss this spot, and many people overlook it. Don't be one of them! Make sure your whole shirt is crisp and smooth.
[Edit]Sleeves and Cuffs - Spread out the shirt cuffs and press them flat. Unbutton all the parts of the cuff and open them up. Then press the cuff flat onto the ironing board at any point, facing up.[17]
- Iron the inside of the cuff first. This gives you a crisper finish. Slide the iron across the inside of the cuff from one side to the other.[18]
- You might find it easier to just use the front edge of the iron for this. It fits into the cuff better.
- Watch out for the buttons here too. You don't want to rip any parts of the shirt.
- Flip the sleeve and iron the outside of the cuff. With the inside of the cuff done, flip the sleeve so you can reach the outside. Flatten out, the same way as you did with the inside. Then slide the iron across the cuff to smooth it out.[19]
- Repeat the same steps for the other cuff.
- Spread the sleeve out and iron it. Turn the shirt so the sleeve points down the length of the shirt. Stretch out one of the sleeves and press it down onto the ironing board. Make sure the sleeve is folded at the seam. Then work the iron from the top of the sleeve down until you reach the cuff.[20]
- If there are still some wrinkles left, work the iron across the sleeve to smooth them out.
- Turn the sleeve and iron the other side. Finally, all that's left is the other side of the sleeve. Flip the shirt over and flatten the sleeve out. Then gently run the iron down the sleeve to the cuff. If there are still wrinkles, then work the iron across the sleeve towards the seam as well.[21]
- Repeat these steps for the last sleeve. Once you've successfully ironed one sleeve, the other one is no problem! Simply flip the shirt over and stretch out the sleeve down the ironing board. Give it a quick ironing and your shirt is all set to wear.[22]
- Smooth, even strokes are best for a crisp finish. Try to avoid quick or jerky movements.[23]
- Waist-height is usually the ideal setting for your ironing board.
- If you aren't wearing the shirt, then hang it right away so it stays wrinkle-free.
[Edit]Warnings - Don't leave the iron in one spot or you could burn the shirt.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Cook Asparagus Tips Posted: 11 Oct 2020 05:00 PM PDT Asparagus is a tasty and healthy vegetable that goes with almost any meal. You're probably used to seeing whole stalks, but can you eat the tips? You sure can! In fact, asparagus tips are the tastiest and most tender parts of the whole plant. Better yet, cooking the tips is basically the same as cooking the stalks. Simply cut off the tips and try out one of these recipes for a delicious and nutritious side dish. [Edit]Prepping the Asparagus - Buy asparagus with closed tips. The main thing to look for when buying asparagus is firm, compact, closed tips.[1] This means the asparagus is fresh and tasty.
- Also look for plump, straight stems for the healthiest asparagus.[2]
- If you have to get asparagus with an opened tip, you can try to revive it by soaking it in cold water.
- Rinse the stalks in a colander. Prepping asparagus for cooking is very easy and only requires a quick rinse. Put the stalks in a colander and rinse them off under the faucet. Shake the colander to dry the vegetables off.[3] This should get rid of any dirt or debris stuck in the tips.
- If you're not using the asparagus right away, don't wash them! Moisture can make them spoil in storage. Wait until you're about to cook the asparagus to clean it.
- Line up the stalks on a cutting board. Cutting the asparagus is also easy. Arrange them in a row on a cutting board. This way, you can cut them all in one pass.[4]
- Cut the asparagus just below the tip. Take a sharp knife and line it up just below the flowery tips of the asparagus. Press down to slice cleanly through all the stalks, then gather up the tips for cooking.[5]
- Make sure you use a sharp knife to avoid tearing or crushing the asparagus.
- The rest of the stalk is also edible, except for the very end, which is very tough and woody. You can use all of these cooking tips for the rest of the stalk too.
[Edit]Seasoning the Tips - Add salt and pepper for the most common seasonings. No matter how you cook the asparagus, salt and pepper are always a good addition. Sprinkle some onto the tips before serving for some extra flavor.[6]
- If you roast or grill the asparagus, it's best to season them beforehand so the flavors cook into the tips.
- Drizzle some olive oil for extra flavor. The earthy taste of olive oil goes great with asparagus. Try drizzling some on before serving, or tossing the asparagus and other veggies with some oil to add flavor.[7]
- You could also use a different vegetable oil like canola instead.[8] It depends on your preference.
- Add some lemon juice for a citrusy flavor. Citrus and asparagus go great together. Try squeezing some fresh lemon juice over the tips before serving.[9]
- You could also zest some lemon over the asparagus for a stronger flavor.
- Sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on for some extra zest. You might not think of cheese when you think of asparagus, but it's a very popular flavoring that can really give the vegetable a kick. Try sprinkling some on before roasting or grilling, or adding it afterward before serving.[10]
- Give the asparagus some crunch with breadcrumbs. This is especially good if you're roasting, barbecuing, or frying the tips. Simply coat the asparagus with breadcrumbs, and any other seasons, before cooking to give them a nice, crunchy exterior.[11]
- For extra flavor, you can use seasoned breadcrumbs.
[Edit]Cooking Options - Boil the asparagus tips for a simple recipe. This is one of the most common and easy ways to cook asparagus. Boil a pot of water, then put the asparagus tips in. Asparagus is usually ready in 5-8 minutes, depending on how tender you want them.[12] However, since you're only cooking the tips, you can shorten this time. Check on the asparagus after about 3 minutes.
- Blanching is similar to boiling, but it keeps the asparagus crunchier. To blanch, bring a few inches of water to a rapid boil, then throw the asparagus in for about 30-60 seconds. After that, take them out and plunge them into ice water to stop the cooking process.[13]
- Steam the asparagus in on the stove or in the microwave. This is another simple and popular way to prep asparagus tips. Fill the bottom of a double boiler or steamer with about of water. Boil the water, then throw in the asparagus tips and cover the pot. Asparagus stalks usually cook in 5-8 minutes, but shorten that time since you're only cooking the tips.[14]
- You could also steam the asparagus in your microwave with a wet paper towel.
- Roast the tips in the oven. If you prefer your asparagus a little crispy, then roasting the tips is a good choice. Preheat your oven to and arrange the asparagus on a baking sheet. Drizzle some oil over the tips and season with salt and pepper. The roasting time for asparagus stalks is 18-20 minutes.[15] Keep an eye on the asparagus, because the tips should cook faster than this.
- Don't overlap any of the asparagus or they won't all cook correctly.
- Add the tips to a stir-fry dish. Heat 1-2 tbsp (5-10 ml) of oil in a skillet, then throw the asparagus tips in.[16] Keep the heat medium-high and stir the tips continuously for 3-5 minutes to cook the tips.[17]
- For more flavor, use butter instead of oil.
- It's also easy to use the rest of the asparagus stalk in a stir-fry. Just cut them into small pieces about the same size as the tips and throw them in.
- You could stir-fry the asparagus alone, or throw them in to a whole stir-fry dish and cook everything together.
- Grill the tips for a crispier exterior. Grilled asparagus tips are a great side dish for a cookout. Simply put them on a pan and place it directly over a high heat. For whole stalks, cover the grill and wait about 5 minutes for the asparagus to get brown on one side. Then flip them over and cook for another 2-3 minutes.[18] Shorten this time since you're only cooking tips.
- You might want to pre-season the tips with salt, pepper, olive oil, or any other seasonings you might want.
[Edit]References |
| How to Get Rid of Yellow Teeth Posted: 11 Oct 2020 09:00 AM PDT If your teeth are yellow because of something you ate or the plaque is building up on your teeth, you're in luck. You can restore these stains just by taking proper care of your teeth and brushing them. If your teeth seem like they've turned yellow though, your white enamel has worn away a little and you've exposed the dentin, which is a layer of pulp behind the enamel. This is a normal part of getting older so it doesn't mean you've done anything wrong, but it's understandable that you'd like to have a whiter smile. While you cannot technically replace enamel once it's gone, you can protect the existing enamel and help it remineralize to make your teeth look beautiful and white. [Edit]Taking Care of Your Teeth - Brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes, twice a day. Brush first thing in the morning when you get out of bed, and last thing at night before you go to sleep. Use a small dollop of toothpaste and brush in gentle, smooth circular motions and vertical strokes. Spend at least 2 minutes brushing each time you do it and avoid brushing too hard. This is the best way to protect your teeth's enamel and keep your mouth healthy and clean.[1]
- Give your tongue a few brushes or use a tongue scraper to clean your tongue after you're done with your teeth.
- Regular toothbrushes are fine, but electric toothbrushes can make it easier to maintain a proper brushing technique. They won't make your teeth cleaner or anything, but they don't require as much effort to use correctly.[2]
- Brushing more than twice a day can actually wear the enamel on your teeth down. Your teeth won't get cleaner if you brush too hard or too often.
- Use fluoridated toothpaste to keep your enamel healthy. There is no good replacement for fluoridated toothpaste. Fluoride strengthens the enamel naturally and helps remove stains, which is essential if you're looking for a beautiful, white smile. While some naturalists worry about fluoride's effect on the body, there's no evidence that fluoridated toothpaste is dangerous to use.[3]
- While you can't replace enamel, fluoride can help strengthen weakened enamel. This will make your teeth whiter, even though you aren't technically bringing any enamel back.[4]
- If you have sensitive teeth, feel free to opt for a fluoridated toothpaste designed specifically for sensitive teeth.
- When it comes to the flavor, style, and texture of the toothpaste, it's entirely a matter of personal preference. None of these qualities impact the toothpaste's ability to clean your teeth so long as the toothpaste has fluoride in it.
- There isn't much evidence that whitening toothpaste is particularly productive. There's nothing wrong with using it, but don't get upset if you don't see major results.[5]
- Floss at least once a day to keep the gaps in your teeth clean. Pull out a length of floss. Wrap the floss around a tooth and slide it back and forth gently while moving it up and down the tooth. Do this for 20-30 seconds and repeat the process with each of your teeth. Floss at least once a day to keep food and plaque from building up in the gaps between your teeth, since food particles and plaque can erode enamel.[6]
- A lot of people think flossing is optional, but it's not. Flossing is essential when it comes to protecting your teeth and keeping them shiny and white!
- If your gums bleed when you floss, it means your gums are inflamed. This is basically a form of gum disease, but it may go away on its own with regular flossing and brushing. If you keep bleeding every time you floss, contact your dentist and go in to have them look at your gums.
- Rinse your mouth with mouthwash before and after brushing. Use mouthwash twice every time you brush. Swig a capful of mouthwash around in your mouth before brushing to loosen up any food debris in your mouth. Swig another capful after brushing to rinse the toothpaste out and keep your breath fresh.[7]
- Mouthwash comes in two styles: cosmetic and therapeutic. Cosmetic mouthwash has hydrogen peroxide to help whiten teeth, but there isn't a lot of evidence that it helps with this. Therapeutic mouthwashes are designed to curb bad breath. Either option is fine.
- Mouthwash will help your teeth stay healthy and clean, but it isn't a replacement for brushing or flossing.
- If your mouth has a tendency to dry out over the course of the day, mouthwash may help with this.
[Edit]Whitening Your Teeth - Purchase whitening strips to brighten your smile at home. While they aren't going to solve your problems overnight, the whitening strips will help remove yellowing stains. Pick up some whitening strips to make your teeth a shade or two lighter without visiting the dentist. Keep in mind, you cannot use whitening strips if you've had any restorative work done, since the strips may damage the repair.[8]
- The strips won't whiten restorative work anyway, so any crowns or implants will stand out more if you use whitening strips.
- Dental professionals seem to have reached a consensus with whitening strips; they tend to universally recommend Crest's Whitening Strips as the safest and most effective option.[9]
- Stick the strips to your teeth for 5-45 minutes to use them. Brush your teeth before applying the strips.[10] Then, peel the adhesive backing off of the first strip and line it up with your gum line. Press the strip against your teeth and wrap the bottom around the backside of your teeth. Repeat this process with the second strip on your bottom row of teeth. Follow the directions on the box regarding how long you leave the strips on for.[11]
- Depending on the brand and style of whitening strips you use, you'll need to leave them on for anywhere from 5 to 45 minutes.
- Some brands of whitening strips need to be reapplied every day for up to a week.
- Avoid DIY teeth whitening treatments using household ingredients. In your research, you may stumble across a variety of teeth whitening methods involving baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice, turmeric, or coconut oil. Avoid all of these treatments. While some of them may make your teeth whiter, they can damage your gums or wear away tooth enamel. Talk to your dentist before using any of these whitening tricks.[12]
- Anything involving citrus is going to eat away at your natural enamel, which can weaken your teeth over time. Strawberries are a popular whitening method, but they don't actually do anything.[13]
- Hydrogen peroxide can irritate your gums and damage the roots of your teeth. Dentists do use peroxide for whitening treatments, but it's a very unique concentration and formula that you can't mix at home.
- Turmeric probably won't harm anything, but there's not a lot of evidence that it does anything for the whiteness of your teeth.
- There's no evidence that coconut oil or oil pulling have any impact on the whiteness of teeth.[14]
[Edit]Keeping Your Teeth from Staining - Drink everything through a straw to protect your natural enamel. Yes, you should even throw a straw in your hot coffee or tea! It may feel silly drinking everything through a straw, but this is a seriously helpful way to protect your teeth and keep them clean. By using a straw, you keep liquids from coating your teeth, which will protect your enamel.[15]
- The one exception is water. Water naturally has trace amounts of fluoride in it, which is good for your teeth.
- Limit your coffee, red wine, and citrus intake to prevent staining. Anything that will stain your carpet will stain your teeth, so try to cut back on your coffee and red wine consumption. Anything high in citrus is also bad for your teeth, since citric acid will eat away your enamel if you consume too much of it. Swap out that lemonade for an ice water the next time you're cooling off on a hot summer day.[16]
- You can dilute coffee with cream or milk to reduce the odds that it stains your teeth. Drinking rosé or white wine instead of red wine will help for similar reasons.
- Soy sauce, curry, and tomato sauce will also cause teeth to stain. These things are fine in moderation, but you may want to rinse your mouth out after eating anything with one of these ingredients in it.[17]
- Chew sugarless gum 20 minutes after eating a meal. Sugarless gum helps stimulate saliva production, which can help wash out any food particles that are stuck in your teeth. Roughly 20 minutes after your meal, any food particles stuck in your teeth are probably staying there. Throw in a piece of sugarless gum and chew on it for a few minutes. This will help clean your mouth and keep whatever you ate from damaging your teeth.[18]
- If you use gum with sugar in it, the sugar can wear away your teeth's enamel which can further expose the yellow dentin underneath.
- Stop smoking if you're a regular tobacco user. Tobacco will stain your teeth over time and it will make your teeth turn yellow or brown with prolonged use. Smoking also dramatically increases your risk for lung and oral cancer, so talk to your doctor about how you can quit smoking if you're a regular tobacco user.[19]
- There are prescription medications, nicotine patches, nicotine gum, and other options available. Quitting is hard, but it's well worth it if you want your fabulous smile back!
[Edit]Working with Your Dentist - See your dentist every 6 months to get a regular cleaning. Keep a regular schedule with your dentist and see them at least twice a year to get a cleaning and have your teeth examined. There's no replacement for a good dental cleaning from a professional, and your dentist will catch potential problems ahead of time before they get out of hand.[20]
- At a dental cleaning, your dentist or hygienist will physically remove any plaque, tartar, and food debris. Then, they'll polish your teeth and remove any stains. This process is painless, and there's no good substitute, so don't skip your dental appointments!
- Ask your dentist about coming in for whitening treatments. At your next cleaning, ask your dentist about a whitening treatment. Depending on the condition of your teeth, a dentist can apply a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and other whitening agents to remove deep stains and brighten your teeth. They may also give you a mouth guard that fits your teeth and prescribe a whitening gel for you to do this at home. After a few treatments, your teeth will be a few shades brighter.[21]
- This is always going to be more effective than using at-home whitening strips since a dentist will be able to oversee the treatment and customize it for your teeth.
- Unfortunately, dental insurance rarely covers whitening procedures since they're cosmetic.
- Get a mouth guard made if you grind your teeth at night. If your enamel is wearing away because you grind your teeth at night, ask your dentist for a protective mouth guard. They'll take a mold of your teeth and have a custom mouth guard made to keep your teeth safe while you snooze. When you go to bed, put the mouth guard in to protect your teeth.[22]
- At first, it may feel a little weird wearing a mouth guard at night. Stick with it, though! You'll get used to it after a few nights.
- Schedule an appointment to get veneers for a permanent solution. Ask your dentist if porcelain veneers are a good idea. This is the best way to get rid of yellow teeth and restore your smile, but it can be an expensive procedure. To get veneers, your dentist will take a mold of your teeth and have a custom cover built for your teeth. Then, they'll bind the veneer to your enamel to permanently cover it in a layer of shiny, white porcelain.[23]
- Veneers can cost $400-4,000 a tooth depending on the specific type of material you choose and the dentist performing the work.[24]
- Outside of whitening strips, teeth whitening products are not regulated particularly well. If you see something on a pharmacy shelf that claims it will whiten your teeth, don't assume it will work.[25]
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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