Dry ironing is suitable for clothes that are easy to be watermarked or shrunk by wet heat, and wet ironing is suitable for ironing thin fabrics such as cotton cloth and linen.

Dry ironing is a method of ironing directly with an iron, which is suitable for clothes that are easy to be watermarked when wet or shrink when wet and hot. This ironing method can avoid clothes from contacting with water when they are hot, thus reducing the risk of watermark and shrinkage. Dry ironing is also suitable for thin fabrics such as cotton, chemical fiber, silk and hemp, which can make clothes smooth and crisp. Wet ironing is suitable for ironing thin fabrics such as cotton and linen. Wet ironing is to add a proper amount of steam in the ironing process, so that the cloth can be easily flattened by hot pressing through the heat and moisture of steam. For thick coats, sweaters and other clothing, sometimes it can be wet ironed first, and then dry ironed, so that all parts of the clothing are flat and stiff, avoiding shelling and pilling, and the effect of keeping the clothing flat and stiff is more lasting.