Getting creases out of flags

Started by Eclipse, February 15, 2020, 01:42:24 AM

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Eclipse

OK, I have two brand shiny flags with heavy creases from our good friends at
Glendale.

Any easy way to get them out, or is this a trip to the tailor?

BTW, the Perfect Fit 2-piece poles and matching Army spears are really nice.

"That Others May Zoom"

I_Am_Twigs

Is it not made from an iron-able material?

I collect flags and I always iron them before i hang them, although, I'm sure the flag
you bought is of higher quality.

Perhaps give it a light ironing?

Another option, if you don't feel comfortable ironing it could possibly to leave it
sitting on a flat surface with something that has some weighted and a flat bottom.

Yet another option could be to let it hang vertically and give it a bit of a steam bath.

Hope some of this helps :)
C/Maj, CAP
"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." --Winston Churchill

Eclipse

I'm not going anywhere near these with an iron, but the steam shower was on my list
of "trys".

These are fairly high quality shiny nylon, and I'd like to see them used at least once
before they are ruined.

My intention is to store them rolled, so once smoothed out they should be less susceptible
to the thick fold creases.

"That Others May Zoom"

I_Am_Twigs

If they're like the flags that my squadron has for color guard, then rolling them up
around the flagstaffs will wrinkle them, but it's nothing too bad and it actually adds
to the aesthetics of the flag.

The steam shower should do the trick.
C/Maj, CAP
"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." --Winston Churchill

baronet68

Get a hand towel wet, but not dripping, and toss both the towel and flag into a clothes dryer on lowest heat setting (not "air dry" as it needs some heat to work).  Check on it every 5 minutes to avoid overheating.
Michael Moore, Lt Col, CAP
National Recruiting & Retention Manager

Eclipse

Isn't there a risk to the fringe with that?

"That Others May Zoom"

PHall

Iron the flags with a damp towel between the flag and the iron.
Use a low heat setting on the iron.

baronet68

Quote from: Eclipse on February 15, 2020, 05:06:53 AMIsn't there a risk to the fringe with that?

If the fringe is sewn-on (as opposed to being glued with fabric adhesive), I'd expect a brand new flag to withstand a brief tumble.  If the flag were ever dry cleaned, the dry cleaning process would soak it in solvent and then tumble dry in a similar manner. 

I do like PHall's suggestion but I think you might need to iron the entire surface of the flag and not just the creased areas as I've witnessed a slight color shift occur in a flag that was spot-steamed.  Admittedly, that flag wasn't new at the time so the moisture might have displaced soiling already in the fabric.  We steamed the rest of flag to even out the color shift.  YMMV
Michael Moore, Lt Col, CAP
National Recruiting & Retention Manager

NIN

I've used a clothes steamer with the flag draped over a shower rod.

It seemed to work. Started slow, didn't get the steamer close at first, worked it closer until the wrinkles were coming out with minimum steam
Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
I have no responsibilities whatsoever
I like to have Difficult Adult Conversations™
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Al Sayre

Wet it down with cool or lukewarm water and hang it up vertically on the clothesline to dry.  Use several clothespins to attach it to the line so it doesn't sag in the middle.
Lt Col Al Sayre
MS Wing Staff Dude
Admiral, Great Navy of the State of Nebraska
GRW #2787

SarDragon

Quote from: PHall on February 15, 2020, 06:31:13 AMIron the flags with a damp towel between the flag and the iron.
Use a low heat setting on the iron.
This would be my method of choice. Use the lowest setting, and a wrung out towel.

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Dave Bowles
Maj, CAP
AT1, USN Retired
50 Year Member
Mitchell Award (unnumbered)
C/WO, CAP, Ret

Eclipse

I borrowed a steamer from my neighbor (almost bought a professional-grade standing one at Goodwill the other day, then
sanity set in).

Hoping to try it this weekend.

Another challenge already overcome, parade-sized poles don't fit in the same-sized
cases as flight guidons, and certainly not with the spades on them.

"That Others May Zoom"