Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Buttons that withstand ironing are those made of thermosetting materials – urea and melamine – as well as metal buttons and natural materials such as mother-of-pearl and corozo. They do not soften under the iron or the press. Polyester and other thermoplastic buttons usually tolerate home ironing, but with direct contact with a hot plate, steam and pressure they can deform, lose their gloss or leave an imprint on the fabric.
Why buttons get damaged during ironing
During ironing a button is exposed to heat, steam and pressure at the same time. With a home iron the contact is brief, and most people iron around the buttons. In garment factories and laundries, however, the following are used:
- steam presses with hot plates that press the entire front;
- automatic shirt finishers that iron the collar, cuffs and placket in one go;
- tunnel finishers, where the garment passes through hot steam and air;
- flatwork ironers for flat items such as aprons.
A thermoplastic softens when the temperature at the contact point reaches its limit. The button can then warp, stick to the fabric, its rim can “spread” or the surface can become patchily matte.
Which buttons are iron-resistant
| Material | Behaviour during ironing and pressing | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Urea (UF) | Does not soften | Standard for shirts and uniforms |
| Melamine (MF) | Does not soften | For the toughest conditions |
| Metal | Does not soften | Gets very hot, take care when touching |
| Mother-of-pearl | Withstands heat | Sensitive to impact under the press |
| Corozo | Withstands moderate heat | No direct hot plate |
| Polyester | May soften under strong heat and pressure | Suitable for home ironing |
| Buttons with lacquer, paint or metallisation | The coating may be damaged | Iron around them |
If the garment will go through industrial pressing, the safest choice is urea buttons. Mother-of-pearl buttons are also used for luxury shirts, but the press must then have a soft padding layer or recesses for the buttons.
Ironing symbols on the care label
The care label according to ISO 3758 shows the maximum iron temperature with dots:
| Symbol | Maximum soleplate temperature | Typical fabrics |
|---|---|---|
| Iron with 1 dot | 110 °C, no steam | Synthetics, acrylic, polyamide |
| Iron with 2 dots | 150 °C | Polyester, wool, silk |
| Iron with 3 dots | 200 °C | Cotton, linen |
| Crossed-out iron | Do not iron | – |
The button must withstand at least the setting shown on the label. With cotton and linen shirts marked with three dots, the difference between urea and polyester becomes significant, especially with pressing in the factory.
Iron-resistant buttons – tips for the factory
- Test on the press that will be used for the production run – with the same temperature, steam and dwell time.
- Use pads with recesses for the buttons or a soft layer when pressing fronts.
- Iron the shirt before sewing on the buttons when the process allows it.
- Watch the colour – some pigments in thermoplastics darken with repeated heating.
- Do not mix materials in one garment if it will go through the same press.
How to iron a garment with buttons at home
- iron on the reverse side when the buttons have relief or a coating;
- lay the garment buttons down on a terry towel – the buttons sink in and the fabric is ironed evenly;
- do not run the iron directly over the buttons, but around them with the tip;
- with polyester and decorative buttons, lower the temperature or use a pressing cloth;
- do not steam wooden or leather buttons directly.
Do buttons melt when ironed?
Quality buttons do not literally “melt” during normal home ironing. Problems are usually caused by:
- direct and prolonged contact with an iron on its highest setting;
- cheap buttons made of an unsuitable thermoplastic;
- industrial pressing without testing a sample;
- decorative coatings not designed for heat.
If iron marks on buttons are a frequent problem in production, switch to a thermosetting material rather than lowering the temperature and sacrificing pressing quality.
When polyester is perfectly sufficient
Polyester buttons are suitable for most fashion garments that are ironed at home on a medium setting and do not go through hot presses in the factory. They offer more colours and effects and a lower price. The key is to know the whole process – from the garment factory to the end customer’s laundry.
Blazers and coats
Finished blazers and coats go through a final steam pressing. If you use polyester buttons, sew them on after pressing or use pads with recesses. With urea buttons this step can stay in the usual order of operations.
Shirts for industrial laundries
Hotels, restaurants and companies that have staff shirts washed in a shared laundry use shirt finishing machines with hot forms. There every button goes through heat and pressure after every wash, so urea is practically mandatory if you want the shirts to look good after months of use.
Polkom – buttons for garments with industrial pressing
Polkom is a Bulgarian manufacturer of accessories for fashion, furniture, footwear and bags from Sofia with over 30 years of experience. We supply urea buttons and other heat-resistant styles to shirt, uniform and blazer manufacturers throughout the EU. We make samples quickly so you can test them on your press. Send an inquiry via the contact page.
