We have plenty of tricks up our sleeves for preventing and treating facial wrinkles, but when it comes to wrinkles in our clothing, they’ve kind of become an inevitable fashion nuisance that we expect and begrudgingly accept. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Keeping your clothes wrinkle-free is a lot easier when you know how to fend off the clothing conundrum, so we consulted a mix of laundry, textile and organizing pros to find out what causes them and how to prevent them. We’re also sharing some handy products to help get you started!
Wrinkle-prone fabrics | Wrinkle-resistant fabrics | Common laundry mistakes | Products to prevent wrinkled clothes | How we chose | Meet the experts
What clothing fabrics are naturally prone to wrinkles?
We all have at least a few pieces of clothing that seem to wrinkle no matter how much we take care of them, and that’s simply because some fabrics are naturally more prone to wrinkles than others.
“Typically, garments that have a thinner fabric are more likely to wrinkle both in general and during the washing process, especially if using a heavy washing cycle. They are prone to creasing, as lines from folding can hold their shape and remain visible,” textile expert Frej Lewenhaupt told us.
Often, these materials are natural (versus synthetic) and they succumb to wrinkling during the laundry process. Here’s a quick cheat sheet of some materials that are most likely to wrinkle:
- Silk
- Satin
- Cotton
- Linen
- Cupro
- Viscose
What clothing fabrics tend to stay wrinkle-free during the washing process?
According to Wayne Edelman, CEO of Meurice Garment Care and CLEAN by Meurice, athleisure items such as sweatpants, leggings, sweatshirts and clothing containing synthetic materials typically remain wrinkle-free.
Here’s a quick list of materials Lewenhaupt also recommends if you’re hoping to avoid wrinkles:
- Polyester
- Polyamide
- Modal
- Lyocell
- Tencel
- Nylon
- Elastane
“Knitted garments made from wool, cashmere and merino are also more wrinkle-resistant when washing, but I recommend hand-washing or steaming rather than using the washing machine for these kinds of fabrics,” Lewenhaupt mentions.
What are some common laundry mistakes people make that cause wrinkles?
When you’re washing multiple garments made of varying materials, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to laundry. But there are a few common laundry mistakes you can avoid if you want to prevent wrinkles. Here are a few biggies:
- Overloading the washing machine: “When loading a washing machine, you want to have enough clothes to prevent them from moving around too much, but also be careful to not overfill the machine,” Lewenhaupt says.
- Not paying attention to the water temperature and spinning cycle: “Washing in too hot a temperature, over-spinning during extraction (especially with newer machines that have high extract G-forces) and leaving clothes in the washer once the cycle is finished will increase wrinkling,” Edelman notes.
Products to help prevent wrinkles
Most budget-friendly: Whitmor Dryer Balls
- Helps remove wrinkles
- Reduces drying time
- Mixed reviews on quality
Count: Four balls
Professional organizer Mindy Godding suggests tossing some textured dryer balls in with your laundry to fend off wrinkles during the drying process. These are ultra popular with Amazon shoppers and have over 7,400 verified five-star ratings. The reusable balls can also prevent static cling and soften laundry.
Black velvet: Brightroom Flocked Hangers
- Sturdy and durable
- Clothes don't slip
- May leave dust
Count: 30 hangers
Sick of finding your garments on the floor of your closet? These non-slip hangers are made of a soft velvet material that keeps clothing in place and can be used for tops, bottoms and dresses alike. They’re available in three neutral hues (black, gray and white) and are ultra thin, meaning you can pack a whole bunch of them in a tight space.
Editor-favorite: Downy Wrinkle Releaser Spray
- Easy to use
- Good smell
- Quick process
- Still may be wrinkles left
Count: Pack of two (plus travel-size spray)
"No matter what I do, it seems like my clothes always get wrinkled in my dresser," shares commerce writer Emma Stessman. "However, in the mornings, I’m often too lazy to bring out my iron or steamer to smooth them out. That’s where this spray comes in," she says.
"To use it, you simply spray it on, tug and run your hands over the fabric to get some of the wrinkles out and then hang it up to let dry for a few minutes (though sometimes I just put it right on after and it’s fine) and you’re good to go," explains Stessman. The results? "I love it so much, I bought the travel size to help my clothes stay wrinkle-free while on vacation!" she raves.
Say hello to more hanging space: neatfreak! Steel Closet Rod
- Expandable bar
- Durable
- Some reviewers unhappy with height of rod
Size: 24”x 42”
When clothing is hung too tightly together, it can bunch up and result in wrinkles. That’s why Godding is such a big fan of closet rod doublers, since they increase the amount of hanging space you have. This one expands from 24 to 42 inches in length and creates a two-tiered system to help you maximize the space you do have. Brilliant, right?
Fan favorite: Smart Sheep Store Wool Dryer Balls
- Shortens drying time
- Makes clothes soft
- Mixed reviews on smell
Count: Six dryer balls
With over 54,500 verified five-star ratings backing them up, this bestseller comes well recommended and can last for up to 1,000 laundry loads, according to the brand. Lewenhaupt is a fan of using wool dryer balls and explains that they “help your laundry dry more evenly and prevent wrinkling.”
Shop TODAY contributing writer Megan duBois tested these dryer balls and was pleasantly surprised. "My clothes came out static- and wrinkle-free and just as soft as they felt after a turn with my regular dryer sheets," she explains.
Smooth and steamy: PurSteam Professional Grade Steam Iron
- Glides easily
- Lots of steam
- Some users wish it held more water
Dimensions: 11.8” x 5.11”
“I recommend a product that is both a steamer and iron in one so you can achieve a pressed or more natural look,” Lewenhaupt tells us.
This two-in-one bestseller has over 36,000 verified five-star ratings and several handy features, including easy thermostat control, an automatic three-way shut-off system for safety and an anti-drip feature.
Holds a lot of clothes: Clothes Drying Rack
- Lightweight
- Holds a lot of laundry
Count: 20 hooks
Lewenhaupt suggests air-drying clothes whenever possible and said it’s a “gentler method that will make them last longer.” This bestseller has over 4,300 verified five-star ratings and collapses easily when not in use. It can be used to dry clothing, blankets and more and can even hold up to 200 pounds of weight, according to the brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What you do to your clothes after they’re washed and dried can also influence whether or not they have wrinkles. According to Godding, there are five main organizing and storage mistakes to avoid when it comes to keeping your garments crease-free:
Disjointed laundry routines: “[Avoid] storing clean, unfolded garments in the laundry basket or allowing freshly dried clothes to sit in the dryer for an extended amount of time. As the fabric cools, wrinkles will set. We usually see this happening when we’ve forgotten the laundry cycle or don’t have enough time to completely put clean clothes away.”
Tightly packed clothing storage: “When closets and dressers are overstuffed, hung and folded clothes are compressed tightly, making the fabrics more likely to wrinkle."
Poor quality hangers: “Plastic and wire clothing hangers allow garments to slide down. The lack of friction and severe rounded ends can cause shoulder ‘puckers’ as the garment is pulled down by gravity."
High stacks: “As more folded clothes are stacked on top of each other, the clothing on the bottom becomes crushed, causing creases to set into the fabric."
The Chair: “It seems like everyone has that chair or bench in their bedroom that collects a pile of clothes that are not-quite-dirty, yet not-quite-clean. The longer clothing remains piled, the more wrinkled it will become."
Sick of wrinkles wrecking your look? Here are a few expert-approved ways to stop them before they even start:
Consider air drying: “Airing your garments outside will help unwanted odors disappear and can also remove some wrinkles on your clothes. This will also refresh your garments so you can wash them less frequently, allowing them to keep their shape and color much longer,” Lewenhaupt says.
Try steaming: “Steaming is a quick and easy way to keep your clothes fresh, smooth and wrinkle-free. Steaming not only smooths creases, but also removes unwanted odors and bacteria thanks to the hot steam,” Lewenhaupt adds.
Do a routine clothing edit: “I recommend going through your closets and dressers at least twice a year to evict items you have not worn or to switch out seasons. When you pare down to the essentials that you wear frequently and love, it’s much easier to care for your garments. Give clothing items space to breathe!” Godding notes.
Get creative with your closet organization: “Use closet rod doublers to increase the inches of closet rod for hanging,” Godding suggests. “Use shelf dividers to keep stacks from falling over or becoming crushed.”
How we chose the best products to prevent wrinkles
The Shop TODAY team rounded up the best products to help prevent wrinkled clothing by enlisting the recommendations of cleaning and laundry experts. We also asked our editors to share their tried-and-true favorite laundry solutions as well.
Meet the experts
- Frej Lewenhaupt is co-founder and CEO of Scanvinavian clothing care brand Steamery.
- Wayne Edelman is the CEO of Meurice Garment Care and CLEAN by Meurice based in New York City.
- Mindy Godding is a certified professional organizer and founder of Virginia-based Abundance Organizing, a company that specializes in home organization and downsizing. She previously talked to Shop TODAY on the most effective storage methods for holiday decor.
