Clothes iron

A handheld appliance that smooths fabric by applying heat and pressure, often with steam. Its heated soleplate relaxes wrinkles while the fabric is held flat.

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Soleplate: The flat, heated bottom surface of an iron that contacts fabric. Its material and shape affect heat transfer and glide across cloth.
Textile: A flexible material made by interlacing, interlooping, or bonding fibers or yarns. Clothes irons act on textiles, whose construction affects pressing behavior.
Pressing (textiles): A finishing operation that uses heat and pressure to shape or flatten textile materials. Clothes irons perform small-scale pressing on garments and fabric panels.
Clothes steamer: A device that directs steam onto hanging fabric to reduce wrinkles. Unlike an iron, it usually smooths garments without pressing them against a board.
Steam iron: An iron that releases water vapor through openings in its soleplate. Steam adds moisture that helps fibers relax during pressing.
Textile fiber: A fine, elongated strand used to make yarns and fabrics. Fiber composition helps determine safe ironing temperatures.
Laundry: The washing and care of clothing and other washable textiles. Ironing commonly follows laundering to restore a smooth appearance.
Ironing press: A device with large heated plates that press fabric when closed together. It applies pressure across a broader area than a handheld iron.
Thermostat: A device that maintains a set temperature by controlling a heating system. It regulates the soleplate temperature to suit different fabrics.
Cellulose: A structural carbohydrate that forms the main component of plant cell walls. Cotton and linen contain cellulose and generally tolerate more heat than many synthetics.