Clothing with elastic is unique.
It’s something you will want to prepare for. You don’t want to create a situation where damage is done to the item because you applied heat in the wrong spot.
This does happen and it’s a mistake you are going to want to avoid at all costs.
Can you iron elastic?
No, you cannot iron elastic and it’s not recommended to apply direct heat to the material. It will melt, distort, or lose its shape. It’s better to air-dry or work around the elastic when using any type of heat including steam.
A lot of people will simply air-dry clothing with elastic because it’s safer. You are not going to want to take a risk when it comes to how the elastic is cared for. You do not want to damage it and the iron will do this.
Here are the reasons you do not want to iron elastic.
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Reasons To Not Iron Elastic
1. Loss Of Shape
It starts with the loss of shape.
Elastic is not going to respond well to heat and it can even lose its shape with a little bit of heat.
This is what you are going to do with the iron and it is going to press down on the elastic making things worse. You will want to be careful if you do decide to iron elastic anyway.
The better option is to work around the elastic when this is the only option available to you or you’re in a hurry.
If you press down on the elastic, it’s going to begin to lose its shape. This will become noticeable right away and it’s the last thing you are going to want to deal with in a situation such as this.
Be meticulous about what you are doing and ensure you are not taking a risk when it comes to how the elastic is heated. This is a must.

2. Melting
You are also going to increase the risk of melting.
The elastic is first going to start losing its shape and that is the first thing you are going to notice.
After a while, it is going to start to melt.
This is when the real damage is done and it’s not going to work out as you want it to. This is a major risk you are not going to want to take and it’s important to keep things as stable as possible, which won’t happen with ironing.
The elastic is not going to respond well to the heat.
3. Does Not Respond Well To Direct Heat
You are now going to want to take a look at the damage direct heat can do.
This is when things are not going to work out well.
You are going to create a scenario where the heat is going to do more damage than good. This is the last thing you want as it is not going to respond well to the point the heat is going to worsen the elastic.
If it does not respond well to the heat, you are going to do considerable damage.
It is better to make sure you are creating a situation where the heat is kept away from the elastic.
The damage will not be good for it and the clothing might become unusable too.

4. Does Not Work
What is the main purpose if ironing elastic in the first place?
Your goal is going to be to make sure the wrinkles are gone and the iron does its job. If that is the case, you have to make sure it is going to work.
Otherwise, it will be a waste of your time.
In the end, ironing elastic is not a good idea because it’s simply not going to work. In the end, this is where you are going to realize a lot of damage will be done that is not good.
Final Thoughts
Can you iron elastic?
You cannot iron elastic as it will distort, lose its shape, or melt. This is going to do more damage than good. It is not ideal to use direct heat on elastic as it will lead to issues with how the elastic maintains its structural integrity.
It’s better to look at working around the elastic if possible. This is often the case when it comes to clothing.
You will be safer if you are doing this and that is what you should be aiming for.
For the most part, it is simpler to air-dry any clothing that has elastic in it. This will allow it to dry as you need it to and things are going to work out as required over time.
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