Wrinkles might look endearing on someone's face, but when it comes to clothes, they'll ruin everything from a first impression to a first date. 😕
Sometimes you can't avoid wrinkled clothes, especially if you travel a lot. Maybe you're like me and love wearing fabrics that aren't at all wrinkle-free. Linen and cotton come to mind.
When I discovered wrinkle release spray, I admit, I was excited — although I don't mind using an iron and a little steam on my clothes. Who wouldn't rather be doing something other than wrinkle control?
One of the products I tried is Downy Wrinkle Release. Read on for everything you ever wanted to know about getting rid of wrinkles without dragging the ironing board out of the closet.
🧺 Downy Wrinkle Release Spray Facts
The wrinkle release spray I tried contains eight ingredients. The first two are water and alcohol. This spray also includes:
👚 PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
👚 Butyl Acrylate Methacrylic Acid Copolymer
👚Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
👚 Benzisothiazolinone
👚 Nitrogen
Fragrance is also included, but since most manufacturers consider fragrance ingredients proprietary information, there's no requirement to list them on the package. Maybe it's enough to know this product smells fresh—at least, according to the manufacturer, P&G.
Downy Wrinkle Releaser may be a reasonably new product, but Downy, the company, has been making fabrics softer and fresher since 1961. So, my mom and probably yours used Downy fabric softener. I love using trusted brands, so I wasn't nervous about trying this one.
You can find wrinkle-release sprays at most discount stores, but I've seen them available online too. Depending on the size, it costs between $1.99 and $10.00.
🧺 How to Use Wrinkle Release Sprays
Since I love wearing linen and other fabrics that can look rumpled after wearing them for a short time, I hoped this product would work miracles. After reading the instructions on the label, I tried the spray on a t-shirt.
First, I laid the shirt flat on the bed. Then, I used a quick, sweeping motion and sprayed the product on the shirt until it felt damp. Next, I smoothed the fabric on both sides and gave the shirt a few pulls and tugs.
If I'd had time to follow the manufacturer's instructions strictly, I would have given the shirt a few good shakes right after spraying it down to help loosen up the tighter wrinkles. ⏰
I left the shirt flat to dry, but many people who've tried this spray suggest hanging the clothes up. Either way, my shirt looked neater but wasn't wholly wrinkle-free.
🧺 Why Did I Choose the Downy Product?
I'd never seen a wrinkle release spray, so when it caught my eye, I picked it up—it had nothing to do with brand loyalty, although I like some of the other Downy products. 🛍️
Whenever I buy laundry products, I pay attention to:
Packaging
I don't need any more bulky bottles of cleaning solutions. Also, since I travel, I like travel-size packaging. 🧳
Downy packages their wrinkle release spray in a single 33.8 fluid-ounce plastic bottle with a trigger spray, a 19.4-ounce aerosol spray, and a 3-ounce travel size.
Cost 💵
I think I'm pretty savvy about saving money on laundry products. Spending $1.99 for the travel size didn't break my budget. If I buy a full-size bottle, the price still seems reasonable at between $5.99 and $10.00.
If I fell in love with it, I could buy it in 2-packs of full-size bottles.
Ingredients
Let's face it, just about everything is full of ingredients with long names that the average person can't pronounce, much less know what's in the product. I noticed water and alcohol were the first listed ingredients.
The rest of the ingredients are all things commonly found in laundry and cleaning products. They're all probably okay to use in small quantities, but if I had any sensitivities, I would proceed cautiously.
Ease of Use
I don't have time for any laundry product that takes too much time or too much deciphering of complicated instructions. Downy Wrinkle Releaser advertises that it's a spray-and-go product.
That's one point in the spray's favor!
👃🏼Fragrance
Did I mention that this spray also eliminates odors? Another win, but only if it doesn't mask them with a strong scent.
Downy says their product smells fresh, and that is true.
I'll admit that I also hoped it would help me get rid of my steamer. Alas, there are no guarantees. P.S. I still use my iron and steamer.
🧺 Pros and Cons of Wrinkle Release Spray
When I fall for a product, I tend to fall hard. I'm loyal to a fault. I can't say Downy Wrinkle Releaser will be on my top ten clothing care products list, but I didn't hate it.
Every product has pros and cons. Wrinkle-release spray is no different.
Pros:
👗 Tames wrinkles without an iron
👗 Minimizes static cling
👗 Eliminates odors
👗 Refreshes and softens fabric
👗 Comes in a travel-size
👗 Works on dry clean only fabrics
While it's supposed to help smooth tight and deep wrinkles, it didn't remove all the wrinkles from my t-shirt. Granted, the shirt was pretty wrinkled when I started, but I expected the material to look smoother than it did at the end.
Cons:
Now for the featuresI didn't care for—a few cons that might make me consider not buying the full-size product.
👚 Takes a few minutes to dry
👚 Doesn't work on 100% polyester fabric
👚 Contains chemicals
Probably the most significant con I associate with any wrinkle release spray is that it doesn't replace my iron or steamer. ♨️
One thing you can't fix with a wrinkle-release spray is stinky sneakers. While this product might help eliminate odors, you'll need to do a deep clean on them instead.
🧺 The Competition
Let's take a look. 👀
Magic Wrinkle Releaser
Manufactured by Faultless, Magic Wrinkle Releaser spray comes in a 10-ounce aerosol can. It seems lots of people like this spray—been using it for years—and I agree with what most say about it doing a decent job. Magic tames most wrinkles and minimizes static electricity.
There isn't a smaller-sized can and not being able to throw it in my carry-on makes it less appealing. This one goes on quite damp (like all sprays), but it dries fast—in seconds.
The Grove Collaborative Wrinkle Releaser
One thing I like about the Grove Collaborative's spray is its paraben-free. The packaging is 80 percent post-consumer recycled materials. It's also fragrance-free. ♻️
The pump on the bottle is user-friendly. There was no need to follow up the spray with the steamer—even on my notoriously difficult-to-keep-looking-smooth linen slacks. This isn't the spray for you if you wear a lot of 100 percent polyester, rayon, or silk.
The Laundress Crease Release
The Laundress specializes in eco-friendly, cruelty-free products. Their wrinkle release spray is popular with people with chemical sensitivities and skin allergies. 💚
I tested the spray on cotton, silk, and wool. I also used it on a set of new curtains. It did a great job of releasing wrinkles caused by being stuffed into a shipping envelope.
What isn't as enjoyable about this spray is the price. Laundress Crease Release runs anywhere from $7.00 for 2 ounces to $17.00 for an 8-ounce bottle. It's also mostly water!
And the Winner Is 🧺
How does Downy Wrinkle Releaser spray compare to other popular brands?
All the wrinkle-release sprays I tried to have some fantastic features. Some work wonders on heavier fabrics, while others don't take long to dry. Downy can compete with any of the sprays in this review.
Downy's wrinkle release spray does a decent—but not perfect—job of wrinkle removal. It also eliminates odors and continues making fabric smell fresh, even when something like my t-shirt sits in a drawer for several days—or weeks.
Other than the fact that it doesn't contain eco-friendly ingredients and takes a bit longer to dry, Downy is as good as the other sprays reviewed here. I wouldn't buy it as a replacement for ironing and steaming, but I will use it for travel or when I need a quick remedy for removing more minor wrinkles. 🚄
Why Follow My Lead? 🧺
About anyone can write a product review, but not everyone spends time getting to know the products they review. I buy most of the products I try from a retailer. And then, I use them!
You can trust my unbiased opinions on whether a product is good or not. Also, just because the product isn't perfect doesn't mean I write it off as unusable.
I've reviewed multiple clothing care products. I also love wearing delicate fabrics, which often require special handling. That means I've tried plenty of products to find my favorites. 👗
Five Questions About Wrinkle Release Sprays
Here are a few frequently asked questions about wrinkle-release sprays. If you're curious, read on.
1. Does this work on linen blouses? ✨
Yes. Downy Wrinkle Releaser works on linen clothing, napkins, and tablecloths.
2. Can it be used for maintenance of pants between dry cleaning? Is it compatible with clothes that need to be dry cleaned? ✨
Yes. It's best to keep pants hung on a hanger between wearings, but this product will help keep dry-clean only clothes looking neat between launderings. It's compatible with most dry-clean-only fabrics except silk.
3. Do you need to use it with a steamer? ✨
While it's necessary to use the spray with a steamer, if you want to maximize the power of the product, using a steamer will do the trick.
4. What is the difference between the wrinkle releaser PLUS and the wrinkle releaser that's not PLUS? ✨
Both products include a static reducer, but the PLUS version contains enhanced static reduction.
5. Does it have a scent/fragrance? ✨
Yes, this product has a fresh, clean scent that's not overwhelming.
🧺 Would You Buy a Wrinkle Release Spray?
For convenience, a wrinkle release spray makes a great companion for your travel clothing care products. While the advertisements may say you can get rid of your iron and steamer, you might want to keep them around.
Since I prefer ironing by hand, I will keep this spray to use when I travel or in an emergency, but I'll continue to rely on my faithful iron. 🛩
Would you try a wrinkle-release spray? Or do you have one you enjoy using? Let me know in the comments! 😎
#homeessential #clothes #hack
