How To Iron On Patches Without An Iron? 3 Effective Alternatives

Last Updated on 6 months by Susan Mayrich

Iron-on patches are an easy way to express your personality and add some fun to your clothing. They’re also a great way to fix up a hole or add some flair to plain clothing. However, not everyone has access to an iron.

Iron-on patches have a heat-activated glue on the back that allows the patch to stick to fabric when the two are placed together and ironed.

Fortunately, there are several ways to apply iron-on patches without an iron. Heat is what makes the adhesive stick on the patch, so you need something that can get hot enough to do the job. Here are five methods that require no iron at all.

How To Iron On Patches Without An Iron?

Iron-on patches are a great way of creating personalized garments. They give an instant look that is also long-lasting. You can use them to cover up holes in your favorite jeans or add some extra detail to a plain top or bag. The possibilities are endless.

But what if you don’t have access to an iron? Don’t worry. All you need is a little bit of creativity and some common household items that you probably already own.

Using Hair Straightener 

You’ll need a hair straightener instead of an iron, they have the same function as iron but make it easier to do it yourself. You can use it to attach the patch and keep it in place permanently.

Gather the right tools

The patch, and your garment. Lay your patch out on a piece of cardboard or other smooth surfaces, then place it face-down so that the adhesive side is facing up (it should be shiny).

Place the patch in the position

Place your garment over the patch, with the area where you want to apply it facing down as well. Use tape to hold these two pieces together if necessary (this will help keep them in place while you work).

Turn on your hair straightener 

Turn on your hair straightener and make sure that it reaches 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit). 

Place over the patch

Put your hair straightener on top of the patch and press down gently for about 10 seconds. Wait for at least 2 minutes before removing the towels and lifting the hair straightener off.

Wait for it to cool

Let the patch cool completely before trying it out by wearing your jacket or by washing it in cold water or with gentle detergent.

Using a Frying Pan

Use a frying pan on high heat to apply pressure and heat to your patch. This is also effective if you have an iron or hair straightener.

1. Clean the frying pan – Before you start using a frying pan, make sure it’s clean and dry. You can use a towel to wipe it out of any grease or food stains.
2. Get a frying pan and heat it up – You’re going to use this as iron, so you want it to be as hot as you can get it without smoking.
3. Place the patch on the area you want to put it on – Place the patch on the desired area. Make sure the patch is properly positioned before you start ironing.
4. Place the heated frying pan over the patch – Now place the heated pan on top of the patch for about 15-30 seconds, depending on how large the patch is and how hot your pan is.
5. Press down firmly with the frying pan – Press down firmly with your hot iron until the patch is fully affixed to the garment.
6. Wait until cooled and you’re done – Let your garment cool for about 10 minutes before testing how well your patch is attached.

Using Hairdryer

This is a super easy method that doesn’t require iron

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1. Lay the patch on the fabric where you want it positioned. Make sure the patch is facing the right way and will be placed the way you want it on the finished piece of clothing.
2. Grab a paper towel, and place it over the patch to ensure that no moisture from the iron or steam from an iron gets on your patch.
3. Using your hairdryer, heat up the patch for about 30 seconds (or until very hot). Make sure that you keep a steady stream of heat on one particular area to not burn any part of the patch or fabric.
4. Once heated remove the paper towel and let cool for about 5 minutes. The glue that was activated by heat should now have cooled and re-bonded with the fabric, leaving your patch in place permanently.

Other Methods Without Using Iron

Using Needles Or Pins

You can sew your patches onto your clothes using a needle and thread, or a sewing machine. You can also use needles or pins to hold the patch in place while you sew it into place.

Using needles or pins is a great choice if your iron is broken and you still want to iron on your patches, as long as you have a working sewing machine. It’s also an excellent choice if you’re traveling because all these tools are very small and portable.

Adhesive Spray

If you can’t use heat, an adhesive spray is your next best option. It’s easy to find in any craft store or online. A simple spray will make the application process a breeze and it’s incredibly cost-effective.

You’ll need to use this method for both fabric and clothing. As for the process, it’s easy as can be. Spray the backside of the patch with a thin coat of adhesive and then allow it to dry completely before attaching it to your clothes or other materials. 

How to Iron on a Patch with an Iron

Iron on patches is used for decorating and repairing clothing and other fabrics. You can sew or iron the patch onto the desired material. 

Follow the step-by-step instructions below to learn how to iron on patches.

• Place the patch on the desired position of your garment.
• Preheat your iron to a hot setting, then remove any steam feature. Steam will prevent the adhesive from bonding well with the fabric, thus causing it to fall off in time.
• Place a thin cloth over the patch to prevent direct contact with your iron and make sure no edges are sticking up.
• Iron over the patch for 30 seconds to one minute, applying constant pressure throughout this time period without moving around too much so that you do not burn or ruin your clothing or the patch itself by making uneven contact or missing spots entirely.
• Turn off your iron and allow the garment to cool down for about 5 minutes before checking its status. 
• If you see that any part of the patch has not yet bonded, place a cloth over it again and run your iron over it again for another 10 seconds before cooling it down for another 3 minutes and checking again for proper adhesion.

Final Words

We hope that this article has been helpful and shed some light on the different techniques for ironing on patches without the use of an iron. Take the time to try out each method, and select the technique that works best for you. 

This is a useful skill to have in your bag of tricks, and using one of these methods could very well make all the difference when it comes to adding a patch to your next project.