How to Iron a Pleated Skirt (and Keep the Pleats Sharp)

You take your favorite pleated skirt out of the closet and the pleats have gone soft, with a crease running across them from the hanger. Ironing it looks fiddly, so it goes back on the rail. To iron a pleated skirt, clip the pleats in place, steam the skirt on the hanger for soft pleats, then press each pleat flat on a table, waistband to hem, and let it cool before you wear it. Below you will find the step-by-step method, how to handle different pleat styles and fabrics, and the mistakes that flatten pleats for good.

What you need

• A steamer or iron. A handheld steamer and iron such as the RosyIron SteamerPro does both jobs: steam on the hanger, then turn the head 90 degrees to press on the ceramic plate.
• Clothespins, paper clips or hair clips with no teeth, to hold the pleats.
• A table or other flat surface covered with a towel.
• A pressing cloth for synthetics and dark fabrics. A see-through mesh pressing cloth lets you see the pleat line while it protects the fabric from shine.
• Distilled or filtered water for the tank.

How to iron a pleated skirt, step by step

Read the care label before you start, and test your setting on an inside seam or the inside of the hem. Then work through these steps.

Step 1: Clip the pleats in place

1. Hang the skirt on a hanger with clips, or lay it on the table with the waistband nearest to you.
2. Fold each pleat along its original line. Look at the waistband and hem: the old fold lines are usually still visible.
3. Clip the pleats at the hem so they cannot shift while you work. On a long skirt, add a second row of clips halfway down.

Step 2: Steam on the hanger for soft pleats

1. Choose the setting for the fabric: Cotton for cotton, Blend for wool, and a low setting such as Chemical fiber or Nylon for polyester. If the label says cool iron, choose Silk.
2. Hold the steamer upright and move it slowly from the waistband down to the hem, following the direction of the pleats rather than going across them.
3. For soft or unpressed pleats, this may be all you need. Let the skirt hang and dry for a few minutes.

Step 3: Press flat for sharp pleats

1. Lay the clipped skirt flat on the towel-covered table.
2. Put a pressing cloth over synthetics and dark fabrics.
3. Turn the steamer to its pressing position and press one pleat at a time. Lift and lower the plate instead of sliding it, so the pleats do not move.
4. Work from the waistband toward the hem. Take the clips off just before you reach them, and press the hem last.
5. Turn the skirt and repeat on the back.

Step 4: Let it cool before you wear it

Leave the skirt flat or hanging for a few minutes until it is completely cool and dry. Warm fabric is still soft, and if you sit down in it straight away the pleats can lose their shape. Throughout, keep your fingers out of the steam; a padded steamer glove lets you hold a pleat in place safely while you work.

How do you steam a pleated skirt without ironing?

Hang it, clip the hem, and steam from top to bottom along the pleats. Hold the steamer just off the fabric and let the steam relax the creases while gravity and the clips hold the pleat lines. This works well for chiffon and other sheer fabrics, and for accordion pleats that you do not want to press. It will freshen soft pleats, but it will not sharpen knife or box pleats that have gone flat. For that, you need Step 3.

Accordion pleats vs. knife and box pleats

Not all pleats should be treated the same way, and the fabric matters as much as the style.

• Accordion and permanent pleats (usually polyester): these narrow, even pleats are heat-set at the factory. Steam them on a hanger on a low setting, keep the steamer just off the fabric, and avoid pressing hard or using high heat, which can flatten heat-set pleats. If the label says do not iron, steam only.
• Knife pleats (wool or cotton): pleats that all face one way. Press them one at a time, following the direction of the fold. For wool, steam from just above the fabric first; if the pleats need sharpening, press lightly through a pressing cloth on the Blend setting.
• Box pleats (wool or cotton): two folds facing away from each other. Press each side of the box separately, making sure both folds line up at the waistband.

Polyester and satin skirts can show shine if the plate touches them directly, so always use a pressing cloth. Our guide to getting wrinkles out of polyester has more tips for synthetics.

Common mistakes that ruin pleats

• Sliding the plate. Pushing an iron back and forth drags the pleats out of line. Lift and lower instead.
• Too much heat. High heat can leave shine on dark fabrics and can flatten heat-set pleats. Start low and go up only if you need to.
• Skipping the clips. Without them, pleats drift and you end up pressing in a second, crooked line.
• Wearing it warm. Give the skirt a few minutes to cool.

FAQ

Can you iron a pleated skirt?

Yes, as long as the care label allows it. Clip the pleats, use a pressing cloth on synthetics and dark fabrics, and press one pleat at a time from the waistband to the hem.

Can you steam a pleated skirt?

Yes. Steaming on the hanger is the gentlest way to refresh soft pleats and permanent polyester pleats. For crisp knife or box pleats, follow the steam with a light press.

How do you keep pleats in a skirt?

Hang the skirt by the waistband with clip hangers, and give it room in the closet so the pleats are not crushed. After washing, clip the pleats while the skirt dries.

How do you fix pleats that have fallen out?

Find the old fold lines at the waistband and hem, clip them, and press through a pressing cloth. Pleats that were heat-set at the factory may not come back fully at home, so a tailor or dry cleaner is a good option for those.

A pleated skirt takes a few extra minutes, but clips, a pressing cloth and a light hand make it easy. If you want one tool that steams on the hanger and presses on the table, take a look at the RosyIron SteamerPro 2-in-1 steamer and iron, with 7 fabric settings from Silk to Linen. For more garment-by-garment advice, see how to steam a dress shirt.