How to Steam a Skirt: A-Line, Pencil, Pleated and Maxi

You pull a skirt out of the closet for work and there is a deep crease across the front where it was folded over the hanger bar, plus a few creases at the back from the last time you sat in it. To steam a skirt, hang it by the waistband with clip hangers, hold the steamer just off the fabric and work from the waistband down to the hem, pulling the hem gently taut, then let it hang for a few minutes before you put it on. Below you will find how to adjust that method for A-line, pencil, pleated and maxi skirts and which setting suits each fabric.

What you need to steam a skirt

• A handheld steamer. A handheld steamer and iron such as the RosyIron SteamerPro steams upright on the hanger, then turns flat so you can press a waistband or a hem on the ceramic plate, with no ironing board.
• A hanger with clips, so the skirt hangs straight by its waistband.
• A door hook or closet rail high enough for the hem to hang free.
• Distilled or filtered water, and a towel on a table if you plan to press.

Always check the care label first. If it shows an iron with one dot, or says cool iron, use the gentlest setting, and test on the inside of the hem before you start on the front.

How do you steam a skirt? The basic method

Steam it on a clip hanger from the top down, keeping the steamer moving and slightly away from the fabric. This works for most skirts, whatever the cut.

1. Hang it by the waistband. Clip the waistband at both sides so the skirt hangs evenly, not lopsided.
2. Choose the setting. Cotton for cotton and denim-weight cotton, Blend for wool and mixed fibers, Nylon or Chemical fiber for polyester, and Silk for silk, rayon and anything delicate. If you are unsure and the label says cool iron, choose Silk; otherwise Blend is a safe place to start.
3. Start at the waistband. Steam the area just below the waistband first, because creases there show the most.
4. Work down in strips. Move the steamer slowly from top to bottom in vertical strips. With your free hand, hold the hem and pull it down gently so the fabric is taut. That light tension does a lot of the work.
5. Turn it around. Do the back the same way.
6. Let it hang. Give the skirt three to five minutes to cool and dry on the hanger before you wear it. Warm fabric creases again easily.

Keep your fingers out of the path of the steam, especially when you hold the hem. If you want to press the waistband flat afterwards, turn the steamer to its pressing position and press it on a towel-covered table, lifting and lowering the plate instead of sliding it.

How to steam an A-line or flared skirt

An A-line skirt hangs freely, so it is the easiest to steam. Follow the basic method, then watch two spots.

• The side seams. Seams tend to pucker slightly. Pull the fabric gently on either side of the seam while you steam along it.
• The hem. A flared hem often holds a curl. Steam it from the inside, then smooth it with your hand once it is cool enough to touch, or press it lightly flat on the table.

If the skirt is lined, steam the lining first from the inside. A creased lining pushes through and makes the outer fabric look rumpled even after you have steamed it.

How to steam a pencil skirt

Steam a pencil skirt on the hanger, then press the back vent and waistband flat. Pencil skirts wrinkle in predictable places: across the lap and behind the knees.

1. Hang the skirt and steam the lap area first, pulling the hem down with your free hand.
2. Steam the back, where sitting leaves horizontal creases.
3. Lay the skirt flat on the towel and press the back vent or slit so it lies closed and neat. For wool, steam from just above the fabric rather than pressing down hard.
4. Press the waistband last, and let the skirt cool flat for a minute before you hang it back up.

For dark suiting fabrics, put a pressing cloth between the plate and the skirt to help prevent shine. The same approach works for the trousers of a suit, and our guide on how to steam pants covers pressing a crease in more detail.

Can you steam a pleated skirt?

Yes. Steaming on the hanger is the gentlest way to refresh soft pleats and permanent polyester pleats. Clip the pleats at the hem, then steam from the waistband down, following the direction of the pleats rather than going across them. Our full guide on how to iron a pleated skirt walks through each pleat style step by step.

How to steam a maxi skirt

A maxi skirt needs height and patience. The fabric is long and light, often rayon, viscose or soft polyester.

• Hang it high. Wrinkles at the bottom will not come out if the hem is crumpled on the floor.
• Use a gentle setting. Rayon and viscose can shrink or go stiff with too much heat and moisture. Start on Silk, keep the steamer a little further from the fabric, and do not soak any one spot.
• Work in sections. Steam the top third, then the middle, then the hem, pulling each section taut as you go.

Sheer chiffon layers need the lightest touch of all: keep the steamer moving and never press the plate onto them.

Skirt fabrics at a glance

Fabric	SteamerPro setting	Best method	Watch out for
Cotton, chambray	Cotton	Steam, then press the hem	Creases at the lap
Denim	Linen, laid flat	Press on a table	Thick seams need extra passes
Wool, wool blend	Blend	Steam from just above, press lightly through a cloth	Shine on dark wool
Polyester, satin	Nylon or Chemical fiber	Steam on the hanger	Shine and heat marks
Rayon, viscose, chiffon	Silk	Steam only, from a little further away	Water marks, shrinking
Silk	Silk	Steam only, from the inside where possible	Water spots

FAQ

Is it better to steam or iron a skirt?

For most skirts, steaming is easier and gentler, because you can do it on the hanger without flattening the drape. Ironing or pressing gives sharper results on structured details such as waistbands, vents and knife pleats. A 2-in-1 tool lets you do both.

How do you get wrinkles out of a skirt without a steamer?

Hang it in the bathroom while you take a hot shower, then smooth it with your hands and let it dry. This helps with light creases. It will not shift deep creases, but it is better than nothing when you are short of time.

Can you steam a satin skirt?

Yes. Use a low setting such as Nylon or Chemical fiber, since most satin is polyester, and keep the steamer moving so it does not leave water marks. Avoid pressing the plate directly on satin.

How long does it take to steam a skirt?

Usually three to five minutes for a knee-length skirt, a little longer for a maxi or pleated skirt. The SteamerPro is ready in about 15 seconds, so most of the time goes into the steaming itself.

If you want one tool that steams on the hanger and presses waistbands and vents flat on the table, take a look at the RosyIron SteamerPro 2-in-1 steamer and iron, with 7 fabric settings from Silk to Linen and an 80 ml tank that gives about 20 minutes of steam per fill.