How To Unwrinkle Faux Leather Using An Iron, Steam Or Dryer

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Great. You pulled out your new vegan leather pants to wear to the office and they are sporting the most unsightly wrinkles! You know steamers and irons are the fastest way to de-wrinkle cotton, linen, and other fabrics. But what about faux leather clothing? Can they be smoothed out with a steamer or an iron too?

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To remove wrinkles from faux leather you need gentle heat – cold methods do not work. So yes – you absolutely can iron or steam your faux leather clothes to remove wrinkles but you need to be careful and take precautions- vegan and faux leather are delicate and do not respond well to high heat (they melt!). They just can’t be treated the same way as other fabrics.

Here’s a guide to the best techniques on how to unwrinkle faux leather clothing using heat: Ironing, steaming, tumble drying, even using a hairdryer! So don’t let a few pesky wrinkles ruin the outfit you’ve planned for today- we have all the solutions that you need!

Key Take Aways

  1. Always patch test each method before you apply it to your faux leather clothes.
  2. Faux leather clothes can be gently ironed and steamed – same for vegan leather, PVC and pleather items.
  3. Low temperature, one-minute tumble drying or a hairdryer can work but not as effectively as steaming or ironing.
  4. Avoid ironing and steaming faux leather pants, leggings and jackets with special printing designs or embellishments such as sequins or glitter.
  5. Prevention is better then cure! Wash, hang and store your faux leather clothes correctly

Tools and Products For Unwrinkling Faux Leather

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What Causes Faux Leather To Wrinkle?

The cause of your wrinkled faux leather can vary:

  1. Poorly Packaged By Brand -Leather clothing can come with a few unanticipated drawbacks when you purchase them online – namely, wrinkles that have already been set into the fabric before they even enter your home due to air-sealed packaging. These creases tend to prove particularly difficult to remove!
  2. Folding – How you fold and store your faux leather can cause wrinkles to form over time. Ideally, avoid folding and hang your clothes instead. (1)
  3. Heat – Faux leather can easily be damaged by heat due to its non-breathable nature. When exposed to direct sunlight or high temperatures from washing or tumble-drying your faux leather at high temperatures, the material can begin to wrinkle and deform at the edges or seams.
  4. Moisture – Exposure to moisture can cause faux leather clothes and fabrics to warp and wrinkle, as well as discolor from water stains. (2)
  5. Ageing/ Wear & Tear – Natural wear and tear can take its toll leather, so care needs to taken of faux and vegan leather to remain looking fresh over time!
  6. Quality of the Faux Leather – Poorly-made fake leather products are more prone to creasing due to the thin PU coating or substandard fabric used in its manufacture. Avoid cheap looking faux leather and buy the best quality you can afford.
how to steam faux leather pants

How To Steam Faux Leather Using A Steamer

Gentle steaming is a great way to get rid of wrinkles in faux leather. In fact, when I spoke to vegan fashion brand Matt and Nat – they encouraged gentle steaming as opposed to ironing. (3) There are a couple of methods you can use, including a handheld steamer and steaming in the bathroom. Patch test first to make sure that you can use this method safely with your specific faux leather fabric!

How To Steam Faux Leather Clothing Using A Steamer

1.Get a Fabric Steamer

If you’re on the hunt for a steamer, invest in one with stellar reviews from real users. Whether it’s an upright or hand version, look into your options and shop around until you find something that is both reliable and well-built.

Editors Choice
Electrolux Portable Handheld Garment and Fabric Steamer 1500 Watts

I've lost count of the clothes steamers I've gone through but this is easily the best one for all fabrics and travel. Steams faux and vegan leather garments easily and has a long cord (many don't).

  • Heats up extremely quickly
  • 3 meter cord
  • Continuous steam
  • Easy to use and refill
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2. Set Steamer To Lowest Temperature

Before you begin, make sure to set your steamer to the lowest temperature. For most fabric steamers, the setting can range from 105-140°F. Don’t turn it up any higher! As with ironing, too much heat can damage faux leather and leave a noticeable mark.

3. Patch Test A Small Amount of the Material

Before steaming your faux leather garment, please conduct a patch test on an unseen area of the garment such as inside the waistband or pocket. This will help you to detect any potential heat sensitivity issues.

4. Reverse Pants Inside Out

To protect your faux leather clothing and avoid any scorch marks or unwanted discoloration, remember to turn it inside out before steaming.

5. Hang Your Garment

To achieve the best results when steaming faux leather, make sure to hang the item vertically. The steam will soften the leather and let gravity take over; it’ll pull the wrinkles down and out for a smooth finish. Use either your hanger or the rack of your standing steamer.

6. Steam Faux Leather Item

For the best wrinkle-reducing results, use the steamer to evenly coat your garment with steam. Keep the device four inches away from the clothing and only hold it on each section for one second as you move it around. Doing so will help ensure that wrinkles are completely smoothed out quickly and effectively! Be careful not to burn yourself too!

7. Allow Garment To Cool and Dry

Allow the faux leather to cool and dry completely before wearing or storing. Hang your cothing immediately after steaming and avoid folding. This will help keep the wrinkles at bay!

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how to iron faux leather pants

How To Get Wrinkles Out Of Faux Leather Using An Iron

You can iron and remove wrinkles from faux leather using a steam iron or dry iron. But there are a few caveats. Faux leather can be damaged by excessive heat – so you can’t just crank the temperature up to the max and leave it unattended.

Tip – Do not attempt to iron any faux leather clothing with special printing, embellishments, or designs. 

How To Get Wrinkles Out of Faux Leather Using An Iron

  1. Turn Clothing Inside Out

    Start by turning your faux leather item inside out. This protects the exterior finish, and can also help you avoid any unsightly iron marks or discoloration.

  2. Use An Ironing Board

    Do not use your bed or couch to iron your faux leather pants, jacket or wrinkled leggings! The uneven surfaces can cause slipping and accidental scorching of furniture. An ironing board provides the perfect combination of stability, flatness, and padding. This will ensure that creases are quickly and easily removed without accidentally damaging your clothing or furniture.

  3. Set Iron To Lowest Temperature

    Start by setting your iron to the lowest temperature setting (ideally between 110-140°F). Don’t be tempted to turn them up higher – faux leather can melt if exposed to too much heat!

  4. Use a Pressing Cloth For Protection

    Don’t apply the iron directly onto the garment, as the heat can ruin the leather material. For maximum heat protection, use a pressing cloth between the iron and the fabric of the item of clothing. This can be an old cotton tea towel, pillow case or any other piece of cotton fabric. Make sure the cloth is white or neutral in color and is clean and dry.

    You can also use a teflon pressing sheet or minky iron pressing cloth.

  5. Patch Test A Small Area

    Patch test on a hidden area of the garment such as the inner waistband or pocket before ironing all over. This will help you identify any heat sensitivity issues, and ensure that the faux leather won’t warp, bubble or melt!

    Once you’ve set up your iron, place the faux leather item onto an ironing board and position the fabric. Remember to place a protective layer between the iron and leather. Using the edge of your iron, press down on a small piece of the leather. Check the trial area for any damage before starting on the rest of the garment.

  6. Iron The Clothing

    Once you’re sure your iron isn’t too hot, press down firmly but gently on any wrinkles or creases. Gently press or run the iron over the front of your garment in slow, even motions while keeping the fabric taut to avoid creases and wrinkles. Be sure not to apply too much weight and pressure to the iron, as this could damage the material. You should be lifting the iron on and off the fabric slightly as you move it around the item of clothing.

  7. Hang Faux Leather Clothing

    Hang your faux leather garment immediately after ironing and allow it to cool before wearing or storing.

Editors Choice
Morphy Richards 303250 Cordless Steam Iron

I bought this iron on the recommendation of the Good Housekeeping Institute because I needed an iron that heated up quickly, was cordless and had a vertical steam function that allowed me to steam hanging garments.

  • Heats up extremely quickly
  • Cordless
  • Continuous steam
  • Works well on faux and vegan leather
  • Easy to use and refill
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Editors Choice
Brabantia - Ironing Board B

Remember to consider the importance of having an excellent ironing board to achieve well-pressed fabrics that appear professionally done.

With a high-quality ironing board, the task of ironing can become faster and more enjoyable, with comfortable and easy-to-use features such as a spacious surface area, thick padding, adjustable legs, and a sturdy frame.

If you're in search of a high-performing ironing board, the Brabantia version is highly recommended since it possesses all these features and more.

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Editors Choice
Protective Ironing Scorch Mesh Cloth
  • Protects delicate fabrics
  • Easy to use see through mesh
  • Prevents scorching and shiny marks
  • Re-usable and washable
As an Amazon affiliate, we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. We only ever add brands & products we truly believe in. Thank you for supporting the brands who are making the world a better place!

How To Steam Faux Leather Using The Shower

If you don’t own a steamer, you can use your shower to get rid of wrinkles in faux leather:

1.Turn Clothing Inside Out

As usual, turn your faux leather clothing inside out before steaming them. This will help protect the material from potential heat damage.

2. Hang The Garment

Hang the item of clothing from the top of your shower door or towel rail but not too close to the taps or shower head. You don’t want to wet or burn your faux leather item with the hot water.

3. Turn on the Hot Water

Let the hot water run for a few minutes until steam begins build up and in the bathroom and the bathroom mirror begins to fog up. Keep the bathroom door, windows and ventilation closed to keep the steam in. The combination of heat and moisture will relax and soften the wrinkles in the fabric.

4. Allow Faux Leather To Steam

Once the steam has filled the room, leave the garment in the bathroom for at least 30 minutes. The wrinkles should relax and disappear as they steam.

5. Allow Garment To Cool

Once the steam has cleared, take down the garment and allow it to cool and dry completely before wearing or storing

Alternatives To Ironing And Steaming Faux Leather

Not keen on steaming or ironing your faux leather? There are two methods – tumble drying and using a hairdryer, that while not as fast and reliable as gentle steaming and ironing, can still do the trick for light wrinkles.

Remember to carefully read through any care labels before attempting either option and keep temperatures on the low side; no longer than one minute of heat at any given time for either method.

how to unwrinkle faux leather using a tumble dryer

How to Remove Light Wrinkles -Tumble Dryer

  1. Turn the garment inside out
  2. Place your faux leather item in the dryer on a low heat setting.
  3. Add a few towels to lower the temperature,ensure there is enough padding for the garment and to reduce friction between the item and the tumble dryer drum.
  4. Run a one minute cycle and allow the garment to cool completely.
  5. Repeat if necessary.
  6. Allow garment to cool before wearing or storing
how to unwrinkle faux leather with a hairdryer

How to Remove Light Wrinkles -Hairdryer

  1. Turn the garment inside out.
  2. Hang the item from a rail
  3. Set the hairdryer to low heat and hold it at least six inches away from the wrinkled area of your faux leather.
  4. Move the hairdryer back and forth over the wrinkles for no more than 30 seconds at a time. Be careful not to apply too much heat as this can damage the faux leather.
  5. Allow the garment to cool before storing
Editors Choice
Parlux 3200 Compact Ionic & Ceramic Hair Dryer

After 15 years of hardcore use I've just replaced my first Parlux hairdryer with the Parlux 3200. Yes, it's expensive but the durability, speed and finish this hairdryer offers is well beyond any other hairdryer I've tried.

  • Most widely used hairdryer by professionals and salons
  • 550 grams - lightweight to hold but extremely powerful
  • 71 cubic metres/hour concentrated airflow 
  • Ionic ions and ceramic to reduce static and stress to the hair
  • 3 meter cable
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How To Prevent Wrinkles in Faux Leather

Ideally, you want to prevent wrinkles from happening in the first place! Here are some tips for you to follow:

  1. Follow the care label for washing and drying your faux leather clothes.
  2. Hang your clothing up immediately after washing and drying to avoid wrinkles forming
  3. If you plan to store your faux leather, avoid folding or rolling. Hang them instead.
  4. After wearing your faux leather garments, hang them up as soon as you’ve taken them off.

How To Stop Faux Leather Pants From Squeaking

How Long Does Faux Leather Last?

Sources

  1. https://www.marthastewart.com/
  2. https://www.thespec.com/
  3. https://uk.mattandnat.com/ – Email from customer care 15th March 2022
  4. https://www.americanscientist.org/