How to straighten cardboard from a roll

How to straighten cardboard from a roll. Smooth out the crumpled paper. Give it to good hands

The essence of the method is that a sheet of paper is smoothed out under the weight of the load.

The cargo can be:

books;
heavy equipment;
pieces of furniture;
sports equipment;
other heavy objects.

Mode of application:

First, you need to moisten the paper a little with clean water. Water will help smooth out damaged areas and soften the paper. It is convenient to do this by spraying water on it from a fine spray bottle, at a distance of about 40 cm. Another option is to carefully, so as not to tear it, walk over the sheet with a dampened and wrung out soft sponge. To moisten the sheet, you can place a damp, but not wet, towel on it for a short time.

Important! Water quality plays a decisive role here. Regular tap water contains many impurities that can ruin paper. But distilled is perfect for this purpose.

You need to act very carefully, because water can wash away the paint applied to the paper. It is better to spray water on the opposite side of the paper from the paint.
After the sheet is wet, it is straightened by hand and placed between two pieces of highly absorbent material. These can be blotting pads, a paper napkin without embossing, felt and other options.
After this procedure, the paper in absorbent material can be placed under the press.
Next you need to be patient. Leave the paper for 12 hours, then check its condition. If it is still wet, replace the absorbent with a dry one. Even a heavily moistened sheet should dry out in three to four days.

Important! You don’t have to wet the crumpled paper, but put it dry under the press. You won’t be able to achieve perfect evenness this way, but the paper will definitely straighten out.

Basic ironing methods at home

Still, an alternative to the electric iron exists. This is confirmed by the successful use of steam, a wet towel and other home remedies.

This group of ironing methods without an iron contains those that are based on the action of superheated liquid. The desired effect is achieved in different ways, depending on what is available.

From the teapot

We achieve the desired condition of the item with less effort. To do this, you will need an electric or regular enameled (stainless) kettle. The steam coming out of the spout delicately smoothes wrinkled folds of clothing. Doesn't work over large areas.

Steam room

Using a sauna or bathhouse as an ironing unit is an expensive pleasure. But, in a pinch, this will do. A bathroom overflowing with hot steam generated as a result of filling a bathtub or shower tray with boiling water is also a suitable option to replace an iron.

Hot bath

A relatively simple and effective method. It requires:

hot water bath;
half an hour of free time;
spare hangers for hanging clothes.

Under the influence of fumes, the fabric gradually smoothes out, and the clothes acquire a presentable appearance.

Hot iron mug

A kind of miniature iron, the granddaughter of an ancient steam grandfather. To iron, you will need an enamel or steel mug, which must be clean on the outside. It must be heated (filled with boiling water). Contact of metal with the fabric of clothing inevitably causes a smoothing effect.

Wet towel

The damp cotton fabric that makes up the towel is an excellent substitute for an electric iron. The method is suitable for sweaters, T-shirts, pullovers

It’s just important not to overdo it with moisturizing, so that the clothes don’t have to be dried later.

Self-smoothing solution

The magic composition, designed to help smooth clothes, is not difficult to prepare. You will need:

vinegar;
water;
fabric softener;
spray.

The components are mixed in a 1:1:1 ratio and poured into a spray bottle. Next, all that remains is to spray the product onto the clothes being treated, and then wait for the liquid to evaporate from the fabric.

Spray

A household spray bottle filled with water is an effective alternative to an electric iron. It is necessary to spray the clothing, evenly distributing the liquid over the surface, and then dry it. As the water evaporates, it will have a smoothing effect on the fabric.

Under the mattress

The old proven method “without an iron” for students and housewives. Helps solve problems with wrinkled clothes, but requires extra time. Before going to bed, the item is carefully placed under the mattress, and by the morning it will be as good as new.

Wet hand

To quickly smooth out wrinkles on clothes when you don’t have much time for it, you can use your own hands. It is enough to wet your palm, then lightly rub it over the fabric, being careful not to wet it too much.

red-hot lamp

A hot incandescent lamp is suitable if you need to restore not too wrinkled, small-sized laundry. For example, a T-shirt or tank top.

Stretching

First wet it, and then put it, slightly stretching it, under some heavy, flat object. These are the components of this method. It will work like using an iron, only without heating the fabric and a little longer.

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Hair curlers

If you have hair straightening irons in the house, then they will also work for ironing clothes. You need to operate the device carefully, first making sure that there is no hair or varnish inside.

Hot can

A large glass vessel with hot water will help tidy up a scarf, tie or T-shirt. It’s difficult to iron jeans, especially a suit, this way.

Curling iron

A curling iron in a travel bag or backpack takes up much less space than an electric iron. With some skill, it will help restore a crumpled tie, a small fragment (sleeve) of clothing or a trouser leg.

Hopelessly wrinkled pants will be restored if the fabric is slightly wetted and then hung on hangers, slightly weighting the edges. The main problem is securing the load to the clothing.

There is another popular method for ironing paper - using an iron.

This is a riskier option than press drying. Even if you iron a crumpled sheet under the fabric, the folds will still remain visible.

When processing paper wet, folds are removed from it before ironing, but the colors may fade, or the sheet may not withstand the treatment and may tear. Therefore, it is necessary to act as carefully as possible.

Important! If the crumpled sheet is a document that is difficult to restore, it is better not to risk it and try the method on a small part of it first.

The method of using the iron involves several simple steps.

The crumpled paper must be carefully smoothed out with your hands and covered with a cloth or towel.
The iron is turned on to the minimum temperature. Exposure to high temperatures may cause the sheet to yellow or become brittle.
After heating the appliance, iron the sheet over the cloth or towel lying on it for one minute.
Lift the towel and check the result. If the paper is not leveled, you need to increase the temperature slightly and repeat all the steps from the beginning. If the sheet is straightened, but very hot, spray it with clean water from a spray bottle and iron it again.

Important! Be careful when applying water to the painted paper as the paint may bleed.

The risk of using this option is very high - you can ruin the document forever. Therefore, if you are not sure of the correct actions, it is better to try another recovery method.

Ironing

No less popular is the use of an iron. Dry and wet smoothing methods are used to improve the condition of wrinkled paper.

Dry

When choosing this method you need:

Place the crumpled paper on the ironing board and straighten it with your hands.
Cover the top with a thick piece of fabric.
Turn on the iron, setting its temperature to the minimum level. It should not be heated too much, as the paper sheet will become brittle or yellowed as a result of overdrying.
Stroke the sheet through the fabric several times, and after a minute check what condition it is in. If creases and bruises remain, repeat the steps, slightly increasing the temperature of the iron. You need to iron on the clean side of the paper, where there are no inscriptions or images.

For sheets of paper with ink or watercolors applied, only dry ironing can be used.

Wet

If the creases in the paper are very pronounced, and the sheet itself is very hot, it is recommended to use the wet ironing method:

Sprinkle a paper sheet placed on the ironing board with distilled or filtered water from a spray bottle.
Cover with a slightly damp towel or cloth.
Set the iron temperature to the minimum level and increase gradually.
Make several smoothing movements with the iron.

How to iron safely

Smoothing out crumpled paper with an iron is one of the most common and, at the same time, most risky methods. Therefore, precautions must be taken:

Make sure that the iron is in working order, as well as that its power matches the electrical outlet used.
Initially set the minimum temperature so that the sheet does not dry out and the paint does not melt.
The increase in iron temperature should be smooth and gradual. You can't take it to the maximum level.

Is it possible to use an iron?

You can remove wrinkles on paper using an iron. However, the creases will not completely disappear. They will be visible, but the canvas itself will become smooth.

Using steam or water will smooth out the sheet better, but in this case the risk of damage increases. It will become less durable, so it may tear both during processing and after it. In addition, high temperatures can cause ink to fade.

To minimize risks, you should try to process a small area of the document. If nothing bad happens, you can begin the smoothing procedure.

The sequence of actions is as follows:

The sheet is leveled as much as possible and covered with a clean cloth;
The iron is heated, but not too much. The temperature on the regulator is set to minimum. Otherwise, the leaf may become yellow and brittle;
When the iron is hot, it is applied to the fabric and ironed. Average exposure time – 1 minute;
After processing, you need to check the status of the document. If there are still dents on it, you can increase the temperature slightly.

As for the thickness of the fabric, material that is too thin will not work. It is best to use a terry towel.

Having decided on such processing, it is necessary to assess all possible risks.

Especially if we are talking about an important document, for example, a passport. In this case, it is recommended to trust professionals

Professional methods

If the value of the document is high, it is better not to take risks and give it to specialists.

Restorers

To straighten a sheet of paper that is of particular value, you can use the services of archivists and restorers. They will help restore even old paper or paintings.

Important! You can find such specialists at museums, in restoration workshops or in the library.

Professional moisturizing

Water, of course, helps smooth out and restore the structure of paper, but professionals know that it can also ruin the document forever. Therefore, before using methods on how to straighten a sheet of paper using water, it is better to try them on a draft.

Important! A simple but dangerous method is the Horton humidifier. For this, the document is rolled into a tube and placed in a glass or other suitable container, after which the container with the paper is placed in a closed flask with water poured into it and closed with a lid.

The method is very dangerous at home - you can accidentally spill water on the paper, or mold may grow on it. Experts sometimes impregnate the sheet with special substances against fungi. But if you use them at home, there is a risk of ruining not only the document, but also your health.

Professional drying

You also need to dry the paper carefully, as it can shrink or ripple. In case of leveling it under a press, experts recommend clamping the document between two absorbent pads in a vice.

Important! Also, when drying, professionals use special adhesives that lose their properties when dry.

Is it possible to iron paper with an iron?

In general, you can use an iron to restore wrinkled documents. The method of leveling with an iron is the most famous, and one of the riskiest. You can use it, but you need to do everything carefully, following the rules.

How it all happens

The crumpled paper needs to be smoothed out as much as possible so as not to make new bends. Cover with a towel or cloth to protect it from extreme heat.

Set the iron to the lowest power, gradually increasing the temperature in the process; at higher temperatures, the paper may turn yellow. After ironing one side, the sheet must be turned over and the procedure repeated.

Other methods

Don’t forget about emergency measures like smoothing out a sheet of paper. If time does not allow you to study, use methods using an iron, a press, or run to specialists, then there are ways to quickly improve the situation:

You can try spreading a sheet of paper on the edge of the table. It is better not to use this method with important documents, since they can tear under strong pressure, but it is perfect for smoothing out crumpled money.
If the original document is not needed very often, then a photocopy will help you. But here it is better to go to a large copy service. Professional equipment will press the document harder than homemade equipment, and in addition to a high-quality copy without traces of creases, it can help straighten the paper a little.

Important! If the format allows, there is another interesting way to straighten a sheet of paper: run it through the printer without printing on it. This method is possible if there are no strong creases on the paper.

How to Remove Wax Stains from Fabric

Candles often leave marks, for example on tablecloths, carpets and tables. In this case, ironing is also suitable. Place a paper towel over the stain, iron, remove the paper, and wipe the area with the cleaner and towel. This method will help get rid of traces of chewing gum on fabric.

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Adviсe

If a person does not have enough time for the above procedures, you can try to level the sheet on the edge of the table. This may help if the folds are minor. The main thing is to do this not with enormous force, but carefully, without pressure or tension on the paper. Otherwise it may tear.

Also, many people think several steps ahead by making photocopies of documents. By the way, equipment for making photocopies can also be a great help in deciding how to smooth out paper. This is explained by the fact that the device acts as a press.

If a person smoothes a photocopied document with an iron, then it is necessary to start only at low temperatures so that the paper “gets used to it.” Otherwise, the inscriptions may melt and stick to the ironing surface.

In any case, the main thing is to strictly follow all instructions, as well as accuracy and patience. Knowing how to smooth out paper, a person can quickly solve the problem.

Method using an iron to straighten wrinkled paper

Nowadays it’s quite easy to use a method like smoothing a document with an iron, because every home has such a piece of equipment. It will not be possible to completely get rid of the crumpled appearance without moisturizing, but you should understand the risk of yellowing forming on the document itself. Therefore, you need to analyze all the nuances of the question of how to iron paper so that it is beautiful and even.

IMPORTANT!! There is no need to wet the paper too much and turn on the iron at maximum temperature, because this can cause the paper to become too dry and brittle, and also turn yellow. Therefore, before smoothing a sheet of paper with an iron, you need to try to do these manipulations with a simple and unnecessary piece of paper. Otherwise, you risk losing an important document.

If necessary, you can increase the temperature and even spray a little more water on the paper, but the result may be a little disastrous, since you can iron a sheet of paper, but it will become yellow and brittle.

This method can easily be used for such occasions as ironing a notebook.

Helpful Tips:

Processing printed text at hot temperatures may cause it to melt and eventually stick to the fabric it is lying on. Therefore, heating should be carried out gradually, starting from the lowest temperature.
Don't forget to be careful - before working with the iron, read the recommendations for its use.
To ensure that there are as few situations when you have to restore a document as possible, just purchase a convenient plastic folder for papers.
Remember that paper is afraid of damp rooms and direct sunlight.

Important! Do not use a hair dryer or hair curler to heat the paper to straighten it. Such methods are doomed to failure.

Heavy press

This method of smoothing the paper can take a long time, but it is the safest. The entire “rescue operation” takes place in several stages:

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The document must be sprinkled with water. It acts as a glue that helps connect the paper fibers. The document will become softer, which will make it possible to smooth out and even out all wrinkled areas. It is necessary to use purified water; tap water is saturated with various substances that can ruin the paper. Remember that the document has inscriptions, drawings, and seals. This means that ink, paint or other material may become blurry

Such sheets should be moistened carefully from the clean side of the sheet. The use of water can be avoided altogether, but then only the largest creases will be eliminated

Fix the wet sheet between layers of water-absorbing material. The resulting layered “pie” must be placed on a flat and hard surface, further smooth it out and weigh it down with a heavy stack of books or something similar. Let the paper dry completely. This will take several days. If necessary, replace the water-absorbing material.

Ambulance

First of all, assess the scale of the incident and analyze the composition of the paper and substance with which the inscriptions or drawings were applied. Further manipulations will depend on this.

Banknotes, even those that have gone through a full washing cycle in an automatic machine, are least afraid of exposure.
Office papers that have been spilled with coffee or crumpled in a bag are less stable.
The most susceptible are notebook or book sheets; they are afraid of water, as well as the heat of an iron.

Material on topic! How to remove ink from paper

How the image is printed:

Banknotes have a durable coating and are not afraid of exposure to either high temperature or moisture.
Documents printed on the printer are resistant to moisture, but have temperature restrictions.
Printing ink is resistant to moisture and is not afraid of heat.
Ballpoint and gel pen ink can be called persistent, but oil and capillary pastes are afraid of both water and heat.
An image painted with watercolors or gouache paints should not be moistened.

If possible, moisturize

Gently straighten the washed piece of paper or banknote, leaving it to dry on a flat surface. If the paper is simply wrinkled, straighten it by smoothing it with your hands, trying to straighten out the folds and creases.
Prepare your work surface; it should not only be straight and smooth, but also hard enough. A regular ironing board will not work. It is better if it is a table without polishing.
Cover the prepared area with a sheet folded in half. A terry towel is not suitable due to its softness. The selected fabric should not have a raised pattern (for example, like on waffle napkins).

You will also need two blank A4 sheets.

Place between blank sheets

How to dry and level books

Before drying and straightening a wet book, remove moisture from the pages using a white towel or napkin and separate the pages. Place the book half-open and place blotting paper between the sheets.

Leave in a well-ventilated area, you can turn on the fan. Monitor drying and, if necessary, carefully separate stuck pages.

You can also use the extreme method of drying the book in the refrigerator. To do this, remove as much moisture as possible from the pages using a towel, napkin and blotters. Then place the book in a ziplock bag and seal.

There should be air left in the bag. Place the book in the freezer and leave for one to two weeks. By the way, you can also stretch your shoes using a freezer. For more information on what to do if your shoes are too small or too tight, see here.

Do not dry sheets and books on a radiator or under the influence of electrical appliances or direct sunlight! Otherwise, the image will fade, the ink will fade, the paper will turn yellow, and the sheets will become wavy. To prevent the paper from getting wet or wrinkled, store documents in special files and folders, and books on shelves in the closet.

How to quickly straighten paper

To quickly straighten a crumpled sheet, roll the document on the edge of the table. This method will eliminate strong and major creases. Try making a photocopy of a document on a large copier, which will press the paper hard. A home appliance may not be able to handle this task, and the copy will end up with wrinkled lines and streaks.

Another original method is to run the sheet through the printer without printing on it. The device will eliminate light creases. However, this method is only applicable if the paper format is suitable for the printer. To straighten wrinkled paper, do not use a straightening iron, curling iron or hair dryer! Otherwise, you will irreversibly damage the document or notebook.

If the paper is very wrinkled, you can smooth it out using a press and an iron. Thus, you will smooth out any document, sheet, notepad and notebook, banknote and even wrapping paper. In addition, such methods are also suitable for smoothing files. Let's find out how to do this.

How to iron paper

Take a towel or thick cloth and a spray bottle with distilled water. Do not use tap water as it contains certain minerals that will make the sheets hard and brittle.

First you need to lay out the paper on the ironing board and straighten it with your hands. Cover the document with a towel or thick layer of cloth. Set the iron to the lowest temperature so as not to overdry the items and make the canvas brittle or yellowed.

Then you need to carefully smooth the crumpled paper with an iron through a towel or cloth. After a minute, check the result. If the sheet is not leveled, slightly increase the heat of the iron.

If the sheet gets too hot, moisten the back of the document with water from a spray bottle. Then the product must be gently ironed again. Repeat the procedure until you achieve the desired result.

Canvases after watercolors, after chalk and inks that are not resistant to moisture should not be wetted with water! Increase the heating temperature of the iron gradually and start with the lowest one. Otherwise, when the printed text is processed at a hot temperature, the latter will begin to melt. As a result, it will stick to the towel or fabric through which the document is ironed.

Do not use too much water when spraying, otherwise the text or design will float. Do not iron your passport or other document without a towel or cloth. Without this, the sheets will turn yellow and will not smooth out. It also increases the risk of ignition and fire.

Hot iron

Crumpled paper can be ironed. This method is much more effective than the previous one, but more dangerous. You should think carefully before using this method. He can make the sheet flat, but he is unlikely to be able to straighten all the folds. Ink can transfer from the paper either onto the iron or where you iron it. A previously moistened document may tear when smoothed with an iron. But for the brave and fearless, the technique of the entire process is described:

Flatten the sheet with your hands and cover with a material that will absorb some of the heat and not damage the paper. Use a towel, several sheets of paper, natural fabric. This method is often used in emergency cases when there is absolutely no time left. Always take safety precautions. Nobody needs a fire or an even more damaged document.
Although warmth is your ally, you should know when to stop. The temperature of the device should be low; high temperature will only ruin the document.
Now the smoothing process. Run the iron over the fabric as you would with normal ironing. But to be careful, do not leave the iron in one place for too long; it is better not to stop moving it over the fabric at all.
After waiting a minute, make sure that the document is not damaged. If irregularities remain, the temperature can be increased.

If the sheet gets too hot, dampen it with water and iron it again, but tears may form.

How to straighten paper under a press

Lightly moisten the document with distilled water from a spray bottle at a distance of at least 30 centimeters. Or blot the sheet with a damp cloth;
Remember that water will wash out chalk, water-based inks and watercolors. In this case, moisten the sheet from the back side;
If the watercolor paper is wrinkled, you should not use water at all. Place dry sheets under the press;
Place the crumpled paper between blotting sheets, wool felt or other material that absorbs moisture. It is better not to use paper towels, as text or drawings may be imprinted on the product;
Place the resulting stack on a hard horizontal surface and smooth it out with your hands. Then place heavy objects on top. This could be a stack of books or other cargo;
Leave the paper to dry completely. Check every day to see if the sheets are dry. Change absorbent materials as necessary. Slightly damp paper dries in one to two days, completely damp sheets take up to four days to dry.

Method of smoothing paper using a press

The first method, namely how to smooth out crumpled paper under a press, can be used when you are outside the house, because you do not have access to an iron to use it for such an important task. To do this, you just need to have the following items:

The first point that can answer the question about how to smooth out crumpled paper is that you need to lightly sprinkle water on the desired sheet; this can be done using a spray bottle. This should be done at a short distance from the sheet so as not to flood it too much. For this you need to use only distilled water, because it does not contain harmful components that will negatively affect the condition of the paper.

To prevent your sheet from transferring its data to the press, then you need to put it in paper that can absorb all the excess moisture. For these purposes, it is best to use woolen products or other various materials that have excellent absorbent properties.
Then you should create a press yourself - for this you can use a large number of books, which will level the paper with their pressure and thereby bring it to normal condition. The answer to the question of how to smooth out a document lies in the fact that you need to place it on a flat surface and smooth out all the irregularities that it has with your hands. And only then lay out a large mountain of heavy literature.
Now all that remains is to check whether the paper is dry or not, so it is necessary to carry out checks every day. If the sheet was well wetted, then it will take up to 4 or 5 days to level it, and if the water was lightly sprayed, then half as much - two days.

This method is suitable for such an option as smoothing out money, but the main thing is not to forget that you left it among the books, otherwise after a while there will be a pleasant surprise.

If the paper is wet

When paper gets wet, it can ripple and wrinkle, losing its attractive appearance. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures to dry the material as quickly as possible. Wet paper without drying not only wrinkles, but also gradually becomes covered with mold. In addition, ink or paint will bleed when exposed to water.

Sort out the wet sheets and place them in a well-ventilated area, open the windows or use a fan to dry. To dry papers and folders, cover the items with blotting sheets or other absorbent materials. Leave the sheets in a well-ventilated area and change blotters regularly.

Dip sticky wet laminated paper or wet photographs into a container of clean water and carefully separate them in the water. Then place the items face up on a towel and leave them in a room with good air circulation until completely dry.

The most popular way

This method involves smoothing the paper using a press. A book can play its role.

First you need to moisten the paper with clean water, just a little. It is important to remember that the sheet will become very soft and may tear, so you should do the procedure carefully. You need to spray water or simply blot the paper with a damp cloth. Very little distilled water is needed if there is ink or paint on the paper, as it may bleed.

Before looking for a press, you need to place a blotter on top and bottom of the paper, which will absorb any moisture that appears.

After this, you can take two thick books and place office paper between them. You should turn the paper over every few hours to ensure it is evenly aligned. The approximate drying period is one day.

How to dry and level books

Before drying and straightening a wet book, remove moisture from the pages using a white towel or napkin and separate the pages. Place the book half-open and place blotting paper between the sheets.

Leave in a well-ventilated area, you can turn on the fan. Monitor drying and, if necessary, carefully separate stuck pages.

Preventing the appearance of folds and creases

To ensure that the veil does not lose its beautiful appearance before the bride shines in front of the groom and her closest people, you need to follow some recommendations. Direct ironing alone will not be enough to ensure that the veil retains its appearance until the wedding. You need to learn how to store it correctly. Simply putting it in a closet with other things is not a suitable option. This way the veil will become unusable, and creases and folds will appear on it again, which are difficult to remove. Several ways have been developed to preserve an ironed veil until the wedding:

covers for a wedding dress - if space allows, the veil is placed in a cover for the dress, so it will retain its freshness;
special case - for a decorative veil of a large size or with a lot of beautiful additional details, a case is made separately;
homemade bag - great if you have a sewing machine in the house - you can sew the cover yourself in a few minutes in the manner of a regular duvet cover, but smaller in size; in extreme cases, use plastic storage bags.

Only completely dry items are placed in bags or cases. If you put something wet inside, it is more likely to wrinkle.

Interesting ways to smooth paper using an iron and more

It's no secret that paper products are short-lived and wrinkle easily. It’s good when a simple piece of paper with notes that can be rewritten turns out to be spoiled. And if these are, for example, important documents or banknotes, then you certainly cannot do without recommendations on how to smooth out a sheet of paper.

Learn from this article about several effective methods for restoring paper products at home or in specialized centers.

How to seal a plastic bag

Using a hot iron, you can seal a bag with any filling to protect the contents from dirt, insects, etc. You can also seal a broken bag. Our mothers and grandmothers actively used this method. Take a bag with the necessary contents, wrap the edges that you are going to glue with foil. Preheat the iron and place it on the foil, pressing it down. Under the foil, the edges of the bag will melt and stick together. When the foil has cooled, you can remove it.

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Methods for straightening paper

You can straighten crumpled sheets using special devices and available tools.

Using the press

The whole operating principle of this method boils down to the fact that paper alignment occurs naturally under the weight of the press (large books, interior items, heavy appliances). Below we leave useful information on how to smooth a document using a weight:

A sheet of paper must be moistened with water. Distilled is perfect, as it does not contain anything that can spoil the quality of the coating. Moisture will straighten damaged areas and make them softer. The most convenient way to do this is to use a sprayer, which is usually used to spray indoor flowers in the heat. You need to hold it at a distance of approximately 30-40 cm from the paper sheet. If you don’t have one at hand, you can put a terry towel on the document, previously soaked in water and wrung out well.
You need to act slowly and carefully so that the ink or paint applied to the paper does not accidentally float. Otherwise, you may damage it without being able to restore it in the future.
After the sheet is wet, it is smoothed with your hands and pressed tightly between two absorbent materials. These can be paper napkins, wool felt and more.
At the final stage, the paper is placed under a press for at least 12 hours. After this time, its condition is checked. If the surface is still wet, then it is necessary to replace the absorbent pad with a new, dry one. It may take about 3-4 days for a heavily moistened sheet to dry.

Important: you don’t have to pre-wet the crumpled paper, but immediately put it under the press. Although a perfectly flat surface cannot be achieved this way, there is a high probability that the sheet will be accurately smoothed without loss of data.

Straightening paper with an iron

This method of dealing with creases is chosen by many, however, it is riskier than drying with a load. Even if you smooth out a sheet of paper under a layer of fabric, the folds will still not disappear.

If you wet pre-treat the sheet with water, although the creases will disappear, the paint can easily lose its rich color or run. In this case, you need to act with extreme caution. Do not forget that if a crumpled sheet is of particular importance to you, it is better not to take risks and try this method of restoration on a slightly noticeable part of it. Find out how to iron paper correctly:

Flatten the crumpled sheet and place a piece of cloth or towel on it.
Plug in the iron and set the panel to the minimum temperature to avoid yellow spots appearing on the surface of the paper after the procedure.
Iron the sheet for one minute on the side where the print is missing.
Visually evaluate the result. If the paper still looks wrinkled, then you need to do the same steps again.

Tip: do not use various heating devices (hair curlers, heat gun) to straighten the paper web. This method will definitely turn into a complete failure.

Straightening with a printer

If the format of the damaged sheet allows, then you can run it through the printer. Be careful, as the equipment can chew it. Remember: this method will only work if there are no strong creases.

Other methods

If you have a limited amount of time or don’t have an iron nearby, you can smooth out small wrinkles on the paper by rolling it several times on the edge of the table. This method does not guarantee complete restoration of the material, however, after the procedure the sheet will look decent.

As mentioned above, a humid environment helps correct wrinkles that appear when paper fibers tear or move. This method is also called the Horton method, and it is often used by professionals. The whole point is that a sheet of paper is rolled up and placed in a plastic cup. Then the dishes are put into a plastic container filled with water, which is closed with a lid.

Important: using the latter method can lead to the appearance of mold on the surface of the paper, and such a problem will be difficult to deal with at home.

Pros and cons of ironing paper compared to other methods

The method using an iron should be used if the document needs to be straightened in the near future. If there is enough time, then it is better to choose a safer option. Leveling under pressure.

The sheet must be placed between two even and heavy objects.
It is used when there is a lot of time: the option takes about two to four days. The second and final way
is to take the paper to a specialist for alignment.

Leveling with an iron does not require as much time as with a press, however, the method using a press is much less risky. And although the option in which you need to take the document to a professional is the safest, most likely it will be expensive.

Ironing paper with an iron is not an easy task.

To avoid causing any damage, you need to follow certain rules.

There is no need to iron immediately at high temperature. The inks may melt and the sheet may deteriorate. The temperature must be increased gradually. It is better to moisten the sheet using a spray bottle, in this case there is less chance that the paint will flow.

Do not push the degree mark on the iron to the maximum setting.

You need to iron at a mark slightly above average. If you don’t have time to wait for the paper to dry, you can iron it without getting it wet. However, fold marks may remain visible. To avoid similar cases, it is better to buy a document folder.

The paper should be handled carefully. After all, with such treatment you can avoid troubles. But if they happen, the iron will help correct the situation

When using this method, you must be careful. If you do not calculate the temperature, or make a mistake in something, you can completely ruin the document

Do you have a document that you accidentally sat on, accidentally wrinkled or folded by mistake, or even made an airplane out of it? Even after such a test, the document can still look presentable if you lightly wet it with distilled water and then place it between two heavy books or iron it through a towel. But remember that these methods are risky as the paper may tear and colors may disappear. You may be better off taking your very important documents to a professional restoration shop.

Professional methods

If a document is of particular importance to you, then it is better to play it safe and immediately turn to professionals. The workshops have special equipment with which you can quickly restore paper.

To level the sheet, contact restorers at specialized centers. They will restore paper of any quality for you. After all, craftsmen often deal with historical artifacts, so this will not be a problem for them.

Advice: you can find people in such professions by visiting a museum, restoration workshop, library, or using the Internet.

Now you know how to smooth out paper that seems beyond repair. We hope that our tips will help you deal with this problem. Store your valuable documents in files and folders for decades, protected from mechanical stress, water and ultraviolet rays, so you don’t have to think about how to restore their neat appearance. Good luck!

Restorers

The method is the simplest, because the work is left to experienced restorers. They know exactly how to smooth out crumpled paper because they work with historical documents that, when excavated, look unreadable.

To avoid such situations in the future, you can carefully monitor how specialists smooth out crumpled paper

We suggest you familiarize yourself with: Rules for storing cereals and flour: how to store cereals for a long time so that bugs do not infest

Also, one of the options to prevent the problem is proper storage of papers. Special envelopes or folders are perfect for such purposes. Moreover, they can be purchased at any office supply store. A minimum of actions and an excellent result in the end.

Create a special place where you will store documentation. The main rule is isolation from small children, because they often cause wrinkled paper.