# How to iron trousers with a crease Canonical page: https://everydaygarmentcare.co.uk/ironing/iron-trousers-with-a-crease/ Publisher: Everyday Garment Care Ironing / Garment guide Align the trouser seams, follow the original crease and press in short sections. Check the label and use a suitable cloth to help protect the face. By Everyday Garment Care · Updated November 2026 ![Tailored trousers arranged on an ironing board along the leg crease]() ## Follow the existing crease, one leg at a time Read the care label and find the original line before applying heat. Match the leg seams, support the whole section and press the existing fold in short passes. Let each section cool before moving it. ## Check whether the trousers are meant to have a crease Find the old line before you set up the iron. Hold the trouser leg in good light and look near the hem and knee, where a previous fold may still be visible. The front crease may run into a pleat on a tailored pair. Follow the finish that is already there. Chinos and other casual trousers can have a smooth leg, even if they arrived with a fold from packaging. Read the iron symbol and any written instructions. The wool content alone cannot tell you the right temperature. Tailored trousers can have a different fibre in the lining, a bonded waistband or an outer fabric with a lower heat limit. The professional cleaning instruction and the ironing symbol cover separate jobs. If pressing is ruled out or the maker's advice is unclear, leave the iron off and check with the maker or cleaner. Clear the pockets and open the fastenings so you can arrange the upper section. Check the soleplate and cover for marks. If you can press the fabric, try the permitted method on a less visible section of the same cloth and let it cool. Woolmark advises against heavy pressure on wool because the surface can become shiny. A clean, suitable [pressing cloth]() gives you a barrier where the garment permits the method. ## Smooth the upper section without imprinting the pockets Slip the top of the trousers over the narrow end of the board if that fits. Work around the waistband in small sections. Lift each panel and check what is underneath. A bunched pocket bag can leave its outline on the face. Smooth it flat and move its edge away from the area under the soleplate where possible. Keep the iron clear of the zip, buttons and other fastenings. Pause at pleats and darts so the cloth sits in its original shape. If the fold belongs to a pleat, use the stitching and old line to work out where it ends. Press the cloth you can support flat. At the waistband, the bulk of seams and lining can make a ridge that only shows after pressing. If you cannot move it out of the way, use a smaller section and check the finish before continuing. ## Match the seams to find the line Set one leg on the board and move the other out of the way. At the hem, bring the inside and outside seams together so the two faces of the leg lie evenly. Follow that alignment upwards without stretching the fabric. The existing front crease should sit along the folded edge. If the old line sits inward from the new fold, check the seam alignment and ease the cloth back into its original position. A longer deck can help you see more of the leg at once. The Brabantia Board D Titan Oval, model 345647, has a 135 × 45 cm pressing surface. Check how much of the leg you can support without the rest of the trousers pulling it out of alignment. If using a shorter board, work in sections and inspect the fold again after moving the garment. [View on Amazon]() For a long deck and higher adjustment ### Brabantia Board D 345647 A 135 × 45 cm deck and integrated heat-resistant parking zone give a conventional iron a place to pause without a projecting rest. Good for Broad linen sections and a working height up to 102 cm. Bear in mind The parking zone is for a suitable steam iron. Check the 163.5 cm overall length for storage. - 135 × 45 cm - 79–102 cm height - Integrated parking zone - 163.5 cm overall length Park the iron and inspect both sides of the fold. If you can see a twist or lump underneath, straighten the leg before pressing. A line that looks straight from the front can have the rear panel shifted beneath it. Lay the leg so its weight is supported and the other leg cannot drag it as you lift the iron. ## Press the crease in short sections Begin near the hem where the fold is easy to verify. Place the iron briefly on a short section at the approved heat, lift it and move along the line. Keep enough of the previous section in view to align the next one. With a pressing cloth in use, lift and reset the cloth to inspect the line. This makes it easier to preserve alignment than pushing the iron along the whole leg in one pass. If steam or a damp cloth is permitted, use the amount the garment and iron instructions allow. Check the cloth is evenly damp if you use moisture. Avoid holding an iron down to compensate for a crease that will not take. Recheck alignment and heat permission first. Work up towards the original stopping point and leave the fold as it was designed. Repeat for the back only if that pair has a back crease, then match the second leg to its own existing line. ## Let the leg cool and check for a second crease Rest the iron as directed and let the pressed area cool before moving it. Lay the two legs together and check that the lines sit symmetrically without twisting at the hem. Once the trousers are dry and cool, hang them without folding across the fresh line. If a double crease appears, identify the original before trying another pass. Where the label permits, open the leg and lightly smooth the unintended fold from the reverse. Allow it to cool, align the seams again and press the original line. If the wrong line is persistent or the face becomes shiny, stop and check with a professional cleaner or tailor. ## Smooth trousers designed to have a plain leg If your pair has no crease by design, set one leg on the board and press the broad centre of the supported area. Leave space at both folded edges. Rotate the leg so each previously folded strip lies flat across the middle, then work along it in sections. This also helps you avoid pressing a shipping fold into casual trousers. Check how the leg hangs once it has cooled. For a hanging touch-up on trousers that allow steam, see [how to use a steamer’s crease attachment](). ## Garment and board instructions - [Suitsupply trouser care guide]() - [Orient Electric trousers and crease pressing guidance]() - [Woolmark ironing symbols and wool pressing guidance]() - [Woolmark guidance on ironing pressure and shine]() - [Proper Cloth guidance on pleats and front creases]() - [Brabantia Board D 345647 specification]() ## Frequently asked questions ### Where should the crease in suit trousers go? Use the existing crease as your guide. It normally runs along the front of the leg. Some trousers have a back crease too. Follow the original endpoint and any pleat rather than pressing a line up to the waistband. ### How do I avoid ironing a double crease? Work one leg at a time and match the inseam to the outer seam near the hem. Find the old line and check the alignment from the hem upwards before pressing. Recheck each time you move the leg. ### Do I need steam to make a trouser crease? Follow the garment label and your iron's instructions. If steam is permitted it can help with some fabrics. A garment that specifies dry ironing needs steam switched off. ### How do I avoid shiny patches on dark trousers? Keep within the label's heat limit, use light pressure and try a suitable pressing cloth if the label permits. Test the method out of sight and let the cloth cool before checking the face. ### Can I press dry-clean-only trousers at home? Check the separate ironing symbol and any written instructions. If the maker prohibits ironing or the instructions for a lined or structured pair are unclear, ask the maker or a professional cleaner. ### Should I put a sharp crease into chinos? Some chinos are designed for a smooth leg without a sharp line. Look at how the pair was made and finished. To smooth a leg without creating a crease, keep the iron clear of the folds and rotate the fabric. **Everyday Garment Care** We research manufacturer instructions and product specifications to explain practical garment care and equipment choices. [Editorial policy]() **Affiliate disclosure.** If you buy through a product link on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. [How our links work]().