What are the common misunderstandings about ironing?

This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.

Iron temperature settings prompt the same question everywhere: what do the dots on the label mean? Japan's care labels were aligned with the international standard in 2016, so the number of dots shows the maximum temperature, just as it does in Europe. Irons sold in Japan, however, may still carry the old "low / medium / high" (低・中・高) wording on the dial.

Reading the iron symbol (JIS L0001)

Under the old symbols (JIS L0217), the setting was shown in words as "low / medium / high" (低・中・高), and the maximum temperatures differ slightly from the current ones. For garments made from December 2016 onwards, read the dots.

[Verify] Check the temperature classes in the table on the Consumer Affairs Agency's "Care labelling" page.

Misunderstanding 1｜Steam is fine on anything

Silk and rayon can be left with water marks. Even if the label does not say "no steam", test on a hidden spot first.

Misunderstanding 2｜Shine is from over-ironing and cannot be undone

Shine on black or navy wool and polyester is flattened fibres reflecting light. If it is mild, holding the iron above the fabric with steam and then brushing the fibres upright can make it less noticeable. Severe shine will not come back.

Misunderstanding 3｜Iron only when the garment is dry

Creases in cotton and linen come out more easily when the fabric is damp. Ironing while still slightly damp, or using a spray bottle, is the method widely shared among people living in Japan.

Misunderstanding 4｜Iron straight over prints and embroidery

Heat-transfer prints melt. Iron from the reverse side, or use a pressing cloth (当て布, atenuno).

Misunderstanding 5｜Put the iron away as soon as you finish

Most burns and fires from irons involve an iron left unattended while still hot. The National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE) warns of accidents in the period when the soleplate is still hot after the power is switched off. Let it cool before storing.

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Sources

• Consumer Affairs Agency, "Care labelling (from 20 August 2024)" — iron symbols [消費者庁「洗濯表示（令和6年8月20日以降）」アイロン記号]

https://www.caa.go.jp/policies/policy/representation/household_goods/guide/wash_02.html

• National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE), "Accidents involving irons" [独立行政法人製品評価技術基盤機構（NITE）「アイロンの事故」]

https://www.nite.go.jp/jiko/chuikanki/

• Government Public Relations Online, "The new care labels" [政府広報オンライン「新しい洗濯表示」]

https://www.gov-online.go.jp/useful/article/201611/1.html

⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.

About this article

What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.

This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.

Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.

Follow the care label and the maker's instructions for any garment, shoe or bag. For expensive or sentimental items, ask a specialist cleaner or repairer.

Sources

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