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When we leave home and venture out into the wide world, many challenges await us. We learn all about the joys and tribulations of washing machines and cooking for ourselves, for example, and we definitely learn about grocery budgets, rent and the need for balance. If you've had a mother or father who graciously ironed your clothes for you, however, one of the most difficult things to come to terms with is that you now have to do it for yourself. At first it looks easy--how tough can it be to rub a piece of hot metal over a shirt?--but then you discover that in fact it's an art form that appears to have skipped a generation, and you're all out at sea trying to figure out how to get yourself to work without looking like you slept in your work clothes. Despair no longer, friends, because this article will give you all the advice you need to have your office attire looking crisp, clean and wrinkle-free!Getting StartedFirstly, it's important to fill your iron with distilled water rather than water straight out of the tap. The reason for this is that tap water contains minerals that can be harsh and cause build-up and rust on your iron, which could in turn damage your garments. Another thing to remember is to wait until your iron is hot enough before you start. Many modern irons will have a light that indicates when it is hot enough so be patient--otherwise you'll end up having to iron clothes twice, anyway! It's crucial to look at the ironing instructions on the tag of your clothing to make sure you don't end up with a disaster zone front and centre of your new shirt! Also, check what fabric your garment is made of and set the temperature on the iron accordingly- most models will have different settings for different types of fabric.IroningMake sure the ironing board is set at the correct height so that you're comfortable and able to properly maneuver. Don't try and iron both sides of the material at once--where possible, stretch the piece of clothing over the ironing board so that you're only ironing the one layer of fabric. The reason for this is that if you try to iron more than one layer the bottom layer can often become wrinkled without you realising. Keep the iron moving at an even pace, and never leave the iron face-down without keeping it moving, as this will burn your clothes. For particularly difficult wrinkles and creases, use the steam function (usually a button on the top of the iron) which will give you the extra power needed.Cleaning and MaintenanceTaking care of your iron won't just ensure that it lasts a long time, it will also protect your clothing from being damaged or ruined as a result of a faulty or dirty iron. A good idea for cleaning your iron is to fill the water reservoir to halfway with white vinegar. Run the iron and iron an old towel until the vinegar has run out, and you'll find that the acidity of the vinegar has cleared out the vents in your iron. Once you're finished run another load of water through in order to get rid of the vinegar smell before you iron your other clothes.Funnily enough, we fastidiously read the 'how-to' instructions on everything from our refrigerators to our electric toothbrushes, but when it comes to ironing, a lot of us just wing it, remaining frustrated for years until we hit our stride. Developing a technique that works is easy when you have the basic information, so get going now and enjoy wrinkle-free clothes forever! Womens True Religion Skinny Jeans-009