Can I iron my faux leather that is crumpled? What are the pros and cons of ironing my faux leather item? I mean what could go wrong? and how do you iron faux leather the right way? Chances are, these among many others are some of the questions on your mind right now if you’re thinking of removing creases from your faux leather items.
In this article, you can rest assured that you’re going to find all the answers to these questions.
To give you a quick and brief answer, you can iron faux leather to remove creases or make its surface look bright from a dull look. Simply lay a piece of brown paper or cloth over the faux leather surface, set your iron to 150 degrees Fahrenheit and iron the faux leather.
To learn more details about this process, read on.
What Is Faux Leather?
Faux leather is basically a man-made or synthetic material that has been designed to look like real leather.
Faux leather is usually marketed as artificial leather, leatherette, vegan leather, PU leather, pleather, imitation leather, to mention but a few.
It is often made to be the cheapest alternative to real leather. And, as a result of this reason, it is becoming more and more popular among fashion-conscious people who are always on the lookout for cheap clothing.
Faux leather is made up of polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride. These materials are processed into sheets that are then bonded to fabric backing materials like cotton.
In essence, the entire surface of the faux leather is covered with polyurethane or PVC.
The end result is a man-made material that looks and feels like leather. But with a surface that is entirely plastic, you might be wondering “can you really iron faux leather?”
Well, my answer still remains a resounding yes, as I have mentioned and explained above but let me share with you a few reasons why this is actually possible to build up your confidence before we proceed to discuss how you can do this.
Reason Why You Can Iron Faux Leather
Ironing is one of the best ways to remove creases from most materials such as cotton, silk, and even wool.
Ironing is also an effective method for removing creases from faux leather as well and below are some of the reasons why this is possible;
1. Heat Relaxes The Polyurethane In The Faux Leather
The heat from the iron will cause the polyurethane or polyvinyl that is present in faux leather to relax and this is one of the reasons why you can iron faux leather.
When the heat from the iron comes into contact with the faux leather, the heat relaxes the polyurethane in the faux leather, making it possible to flatten out any crinkles.
It is important to remember that you should not keep the iron in one spot for too long. If you do, it could cause damage to the faux leather.
It is advisable to keep the iron moving as you press down on the crinkles or creases so that it does not leave a mark on the faux leather.
This is one of the main reasons why ironing faux leather is possible.
2. Heat From The Iron Softens The Faux Leather
If done properly, ironing faux leather will bring the faux leather to a state that is similar to the original feel of leather.
The iron actually softens the faux leather and this makes it possible for you to remove the creases and crinkles from your faux leather item safely.
So, yes, you can certainly iron faux leather if you want to remove creases. What’s key is setting the iron to the right temperature which is about 150 degrees Celsius.
If the temperature of the iron is too high, it could scorch the faux leather. However, if you use a temperature that is too low, it could take too long for your iron to remove creases.
This is exactly what you need to do to make ironing faux leather possible.
3. Ironing Faux Leather Activates The Bonding Agent
Another reason why ironing faux leather is possible is that the heat from your iron will also activate the bonding agent that holds all parts of your faux leather together.
What this means is faux leather goods whether shoes, bags, jackets, etc are often assembled using some form of adhesives and when you iron faux leather, the bonding agent or adhesive that is present in the faux leather becomes re-activated if they’ve gotten weaker over time.
A little bit of heat from the iron slightly melts the adhesive or bonding agent and this is what actually makes it possible to remove creases from faux leather.
4. The Iron’s Heat Melts Away Excess Material That Causes The Creases
The heat from the iron, if set to the right temperature will make the faux leather more malleable, allowing you to flatten out crinkled parts.
The iron actually melts away the excess material that causes the creases. What this means is that the heat from the iron melts the polyurethane or PVC enough to allow you to flatten out the crinkled parts of your faux leather item.
So any creases that may seem to be permanent can actually disappear with ironing and this is one of the many reasons why ironing faux leather is possible.
The heat will also allow the bonding agent or adhesive to bond more strongly, making your faux leather look as good as new.
5. Ironing Faux Leather Stimulates The Artificial Fibres
Gently Ironing the surface of your faux leather goods whether or not they have creases helps to stimulate what I will call the artificial fibers of the faux leather material, making it look more natural and as if you’ve just bought a new piece of faux leather.
This means that if you have a piece of faux leather item and it has a dull look, you can use an iron to stimulate the artificial fibers over its surface and this will give your faux leather item a brand new look.
This is particularly possible if you use steam ironing with a temperature of around 150 degrees Celsius.
Ironing faux leather goods this way will not only remove creases by will also help to bring life back to your faux leather items.
As you can see, there are actually quite some benefits to ironing faux leather and these are some of the many reasons why you can safely use an iron to remove creases from your faux leather goods. However, there are a few warnings and I’m going to share them next.
Warnings When Ironing Faux Leather
There are certain things that you must be aware of before using an iron to remove creases from your faux leather goods.
- The first thing is to make sure that you set the temperature of your iron to 150 degrees Celsius. Anything more than this could actually scorch the faux leather or cause it to melt instead, destroying your faux leather goods.
- Always put something like brown paper or a piece of white cloth in-between the iron and faux leather surface.
- If you have access to the underside of the faux leather I will also recommend you start ironing from that side because it is usually made of fabric and you won’t risk scorching it.
- The last point I’m going to mention is the importance of using steam while ironing faux leather. You will want to use steam if you’re worried about your faux leather goods getting directly exposed to the dry heat of the iron.
Step-By-Step Guide On How To Iron Faux Leather
I hope you found this guide helpful and that it answered your questions about whether or not you can iron faux leather.
For those of you who want to know how exactly you can iron faux leather, I’m going to share a quick and easy step-by-step guide with you. Let’s start with the things you need!
Things Needed:
- A Steam Iron
- Brown Paper, White Sheet, Or White Cloth (to protect the faux leather surface from direct contact with the heated metal of the iron).
Procedure:
Step 1:
- Begin by turning your iron on to the lowest heat setting – nothing above 150 degrees celsius.
- If your faux leather item is textured or has a fabric backing, be sure to use the lowest possible heat setting.
- Using too much heat can cause the lining to detach from the faux leather surface and become wrinkled or warped.
Step 2:
- Lay or put your faux leather item on a flat surface with the side that has the fabric backing facing upwards (in the case of faux leather jackets).
- If you do not have access to the underside of the faux leather item, lay it with the faux side facing upward.
Step 3:
- Now lay a piece of brown paper, white cloth, or towel over the faux leather surface.
Step 4:
- Begin ironing over the towel or brown paper that has been placed between the iron and the faux leather item.
- To remove creases, you’d want to vary the ironing strokes and the amount of force you apply with the iron.
- Check the progress by lifting the iron and brown paper, towel, or t-shirt from time to time.
- You’ll be able to tell if your iron’s heat is just right or whether you need to raise or lower it at this stage.
- Another important thing to keep in mind is that, between each pressing, the faux leather should be allowed to cool.
- Repeat the process until you have ironed out all of the visible creases.
Step 5:
- Finally, turn your faux leather item over and repeat the process on its fabric backing, making sure you are using the same ironing technique as before.
- Wait for your faux leather item to cool off completely before use or storage.
Pros Of Ironing Faux Leather
- Safely removes creases from the faux leather.
- Makes the surface of your faux leather new if it has a dull look.
- Can be done at home, with very few tools.
- Can save you some time and money by doing it yourself rather than taking your faux leather item to a dry cleaner.
- You can use an iron on any faux leather surface.
Cons Of Ironing Faux Leather
- Using an iron with too much heat can cause the faux leather or fabric backing to warp and detach from the faux leather surface.
- Using too much force while ironing can cause this same problem, as well as damage to the faux leather’s texture.
- Ironing may result in some unwanted residual creases if not done properly.
Final Thoughts
Ironing faux leather items is a great way to make them look new again and to remove creases that have accumulated over time.
It is also a very simple but intuitive process that can be done at home with a few basic tools.
If you have any questions in relation to the above topic, check the frequently ask questions below for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Is it safe to use an iron on a faux leather surface?
A: Yes, as long as you use low heat and take your time. Using too much force can result in damage to the faux leather surface and the faux leather’s texture or lining.
Q: How much heat can I apply to my faux leather?
A: There should only be a minimal amount of heat applied while you are ironing your faux leather. A general rule of thumb is to set the iron around 150 degrees celsius or lower if your faux leather item has a fabric backing.
This is to ensure that there won’t be any warping of the faux leather surface.
Q: How long should I iron my faux leather?
A: Generally, you would want to iron out the creases in your faux leather item until it is completely smooth. You can keep checking the progress of your ironing by lifting up the faux leather item and iron every few minutes.
If you think your faux leather has had too much heat, allow the faux leather to cool down and retry the same process with a lower heat setting.
Q: Is it possible to iron out creases from the back of my faux leather item too?
A: Yes, you can do so by turning the faux leather item over and repeating the same ironing process on its back. This ensures that you do not miss out on any creases, even those that may only appear on the fabric backing.
Q: How can I tell if my faux leather is too hot?
A: If you are ironing on a faux leather surface that has no fabric backing, it is important to be careful about the amount of heat applied.
You should be able to tell if your faux leather is too hot by the smell while being ironed. If you can smell anything burning or if the faux leather starts to warp, you should stop ironing it and allow it time to cool off. But don’t subject your faux leather to too much heat that it begins to smell.