It's no secret that paper products are short-lived and wrinkle easily. It’s good when a simple piece of paper with notes that can be rewritten turns out to be spoiled. And if these are, for example, important documents or banknotes, then you certainly cannot do without recommendations on how to smooth out a sheet of paper.
Learn from this article about several effective methods for restoring paper products at home or in specialized centers.
Solving the problem urgently and quickly
If crumpled paper needs to be smoothed out quickly, you can use the following recommendations:
Roll the sheet on the edge of the table .
This measure will help cope with rough folds. This method is more suitable for paper that has been rolled into a roll. To straighten the sheet, you need to take it by the opposite edges, and then pull it up and down several times. It is necessary to control the pressing force so as not to tear the canvas.- Pass through the photocopier . He will compress the document like a press, and the creases will go away. The photocopier must be large, that is, professional. Such devices can be found in offices and copy centers.
A device for home use will not be able to cope with the problem and will most likely damage the paper even more.
Cargo
You can smooth the paper using a weight. Under the weight of the press, the folds will straighten out. For this purpose, you can use such improvised items as:
- An encyclopedia or other massive book. To achieve the best effect, several volumes are placed on the crumpled sheet at once.
- Heavy household appliances or furniture.
- Equipment for sports.
Having chosen a suitable item, you need to be guided by the following action plan:
In order for the paper to smooth out better, it needs to be slightly moistened.
Do not place the sheet under running water. It is better to use a spray bottle, holding it at a distance of 30-40 cm from the object. If you don’t have a spray bottle on hand, you can gently blot the paper with a damp cloth.- Water should be sprayed onto the back of the document, this will prevent damage to the paint.
- The wet sheet is placed on a clean material that will act as a blotter. Regular napkins work well for this purpose.
- In this form, the paper is placed under a load.
The result will be obtained in 12 hours . Sometimes, after the specified period of time, the sheet remains wet. In this case, you need to change the napkins, leaving the document under the press for another day. During this time, even a heavily wetted sheet will dry out and straighten out.
Do not dampen paper that has watercolors, aqueous ink, or chalk on it. It is placed under a dry press. The heavier the item, the better.
Basic ironing methods at home
Still, an alternative to the electric iron exists. This is confirmed by the successful use of steam, a wet towel and other home remedies.
Steam
This group of ironing methods without an iron contains those that are based on the action of superheated liquid. The desired effect is achieved in different ways, depending on what is available.
From the teapot
We achieve the desired condition of the item with less effort. To do this, you will need an electric or regular enameled (stainless) kettle. The steam coming out of the spout delicately smoothes wrinkled folds of clothing. Doesn't work over large areas.
Steam room
Using a sauna or bathhouse as an ironing unit is an expensive pleasure. But, in a pinch, this will do. A bathroom overflowing with hot steam generated as a result of filling a bathtub or shower tray with boiling water is also a suitable option to replace an iron.
Hot bath
A relatively simple and effective method. It requires:
- hot water bath;
- half an hour of free time;
- spare hangers for hanging clothes.
Under the influence of fumes, the fabric gradually smoothes out, and the clothes acquire a presentable appearance.
Hot iron mug
A kind of miniature iron, the granddaughter of an ancient steam grandfather. To iron, you will need an enamel or steel mug, which must be clean on the outside. It must be heated (filled with boiling water). Contact of metal with the fabric of clothing inevitably causes a smoothing effect.
Wet towel
The damp cotton fabric that makes up the towel is an excellent substitute for an electric iron. The method is suitable for sweaters, T-shirts, pullovers
It’s just important not to overdo it with moisturizing, so that the clothes don’t have to be dried later.
Self-smoothing solution
The magic composition, designed to help smooth clothes, is not difficult to prepare. You will need:
- vinegar;
- water;
- fabric softener;
- spray.
The components are mixed in a 1:1:1 ratio and poured into a spray bottle. Next, all that remains is to spray the product onto the clothes being treated, and then wait for the liquid to evaporate from the fabric.
Spray
A household spray bottle filled with water is an effective alternative to an electric iron. It is necessary to spray the clothing, evenly distributing the liquid over the surface, and then dry it. As the water evaporates, it will have a smoothing effect on the fabric.
Under the mattress
The old proven method “without an iron” for students and housewives. Helps solve problems with wrinkled clothes, but requires extra time. Before going to bed, the item is carefully placed under the mattress, and by the morning it will be as good as new.
Wet hand
To quickly smooth out wrinkles on clothes when you don’t have much time for it, you can use your own hands. It is enough to wet your palm, then lightly rub it over the fabric, being careful not to wet it too much.
red-hot lamp
A hot incandescent lamp is suitable if you need to restore not too wrinkled, small-sized laundry. For example, a T-shirt or tank top.
Stretching
First wet it, and then put it, slightly stretching it, under some heavy, flat object. These are the components of this method. It will work like using an iron, only without heating the fabric and a little longer.
Hair curlers
If you have hair straightening irons in the house, then they will also work for ironing clothes. You need to operate the device carefully, first making sure that there is no hair or varnish inside.
Hot can
A large glass vessel with hot water will help tidy up a scarf, tie or T-shirt. It’s difficult to iron jeans, especially a suit, this way.
Curling iron
A curling iron in a travel bag or backpack takes up much less space than an electric iron. With some skill, it will help restore a crumpled tie, a small fragment (sleeve) of clothing or a trouser leg.
Hopelessly wrinkled pants will be restored if the fabric is slightly wetted and then hung on hangers, slightly weighting the edges. The main problem is securing the load to the clothing.
Is it possible to use an iron?
You can remove wrinkles on paper using an iron. However, the creases will not completely disappear. They will be visible, but the canvas itself will become smooth.
When using steam or water, the sheet will be smoothed out better, but in this case the risk of damage increases . It will become less durable, so it may tear both during processing and after it. In addition, high temperatures can cause ink to fade.
To minimize risks, you should try to process a small area of the document. If nothing bad happens, you can begin the smoothing procedure.
The sequence of actions is as follows:
The sheet is leveled as much as possible and covered with a clean cloth;- The iron is heated, but not too much. The temperature on the regulator is set to minimum. Otherwise, the leaf may become yellow and brittle;
- When the iron is hot, it is applied to the fabric and ironed. Average exposure time – 1 minute;
- After processing, you need to check the status of the document. If there are still dents on it, you can increase the temperature slightly.
As for the thickness of the fabric, material that is too thin will not work. It is best to use a terry towel .
Having decided on such processing, it is necessary to assess all possible risks. Especially if we are talking about an important document, for example, a passport. In this case, it is recommended to trust the professionals.
How to straighten paper using steam
Hot steam effectively smoothes paper sheets. But due to its high temperature, the material may deteriorate. Moisture will also negatively affect the quality of the paper.
It is recommended to steam crumpled paper through a steam generator or iron. In both cases, it is necessary to pass the steam through a thick towel so that the document is not permanently damaged and does not become wet.
You can steam a piece of paper over boiling water in a saucepan. To do this, you need to spread a thick towel over it and put a sheet on it. You can also straighten individual wrinkled sections of a paper document by holding them over the spout of a boiling kettle.
It is important not to hold the leaf too close to the spout itself. The steam will quickly cause the document to become wet and tear. Excess moisture may cause ink to bleed on the paper. It is recommended to keep the leaf at least 10 cm from the edge of the teapot spout.
Professional smoothing
Securities can be given to specialists for restoration, for example, restorers or archivists. They will help you cope with even the most difficult cases.
They are armed with special compounds that help smooth out the paper and prevent mold from appearing on it. Specialists have professional presses that will help you get rid of deep creases.
However, their services are not free. The cost of complex document restoration starts from 4,000 rubles. The price depends on the amount of work to be done. Although sometimes it is cheaper to entrust the papers to a professional than to completely restore them.
Heavy press
This method of smoothing the paper can take a long time, but it is the safest. The entire “rescue operation” takes place in several stages:
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The document must be sprinkled with water. It acts as a glue that helps connect the paper fibers. The document will become softer, which will make it possible to smooth out and even out all wrinkled areas. It is necessary to use purified water; tap water is saturated with various substances that can ruin the paper. Remember that the document has inscriptions, drawings, and seals. This means that ink, paint or other material may become blurry
Such sheets should be moistened carefully from the clean side of the sheet. The use of water can be avoided altogether, but then only the largest creases will be eliminated
Fix the wet sheet between layers of water-absorbing material. The resulting layered “pie” must be placed on a flat and hard surface, further smooth it out and weigh it down with a heavy stack of books or something similar. Let the paper dry completely. This will take several days. If necessary, replace the water-absorbing material.
Warnings
It’s not difficult to straighten crumpled paper yourself. However, before you begin the procedure, you need to read the following important warnings:
You cannot iron paper without fabric. The paint may melt and stick to the surface of the iron or ironing board.- Do not wet the sheets too much. The thinner they are, the higher the risk of damage.
- Do not straighten the paper with a hair straightener or similar electrical equipment.
Their temperature is too high, so the document will be hopelessly damaged.
Helpful Tips:
- Processing printed text at hot temperatures may cause it to melt and eventually stick to the fabric it is lying on. Therefore, heating should be carried out gradually, starting from the lowest temperature.
- Don't forget to be careful - before working with the iron, read the recommendations for its use.
- To ensure that there are as few situations when you have to restore a document as possible, just purchase a convenient plastic folder for papers.
- Remember that paper is afraid of damp rooms and direct sunlight.
Important! Do not use a hair dryer or hair curler to heat the paper to straighten it. Such methods are doomed to failure.
