You’re standing there with a crumpled $20 bill that looks like it’s been through a blender, wondering if you can just smooth it out with a household iron. Maybe it’s for a wedding gift, or perhaps you’re just one of those people who can’t stand a messy wallet. Can you iron money? The short answer is yes, you physically can, but the long answer is a lot more complicated than just "set it to the cotton setting and go."
Most people think money is just paper. It’s not. If you treat a dollar bill like a linen shirt, you might end up with a melted mess or a "counterfeit" looking strip of plastic that no vending machine will ever accept again.
What Is Your Money Actually Made Of?
Before you even plug in that Rowenta, you have to understand the chemistry of the bill in your hand. In the United States, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing doesn't use wood pulp. If they did, your money would fall apart the first time you forgot a five-spot in your jeans during a heavy-duty wash cycle.
U.S. currency is a blend of 75% cotton and 25% linen. Honestly, it's more like fabric than paper. This is why it feels "crisp" when it’s new and "soft" when it’s old. Because it’s a textile, it can technically handle some heat. But modern bills aren't just fabric anymore. They are packed with security features—polymeric threads, 3D ribbons, and color-shifting inks—that react very poorly to extreme temperatures.
Think about the $100 bill. That blue 3D security ribbon? It’s woven into the paper, not printed on it. It’s made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). If you hit that with a hot iron, you’re basically melting plastic into your cotton-linen blend.
The Great Polymer Problem
If you aren't in the U.S., the "can you iron money" question gets even scarier. Countries like Canada, the UK, and Australia use polymer banknotes. These are essentially thin sheets of plastic.
I’ve seen people try to iron a Canadian $50 bill only to watch it shrink to the size of a postage stamp. It’s hilarious if it isn’t your money, but devastating if it’s your rent. Polymer bills have a very low melting point. The moment an iron touches them, the plastic shrivels. Once that happens, the bill is legally "mutilated," and you can't just tape it back together.
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Why You Might Be Tempted to Do It
There’s a weirdly large community of "money ironers" out there. Some do it for the aesthetic. Others do it because they believe it helps vending machines or self-checkout kiosks read the bills better. There is a tiny grain of truth there; a flat bill is less likely to jam a machine.
However, the risk usually outweighs the reward. When you iron money, you aren't just flattening it. You are potentially stripping away the raised "intaglio" printing that gives currency its unique texture. Feel the collar of Benjamin Franklin’s coat on a $100 bill. It’s bumpy. That’s a security feature. Applying high heat and pressure can flatten those ridges, making the bill feel "off" to an experienced cashier or a sensitive bill validator.
How to Iron Money Without Ruining It (If You Must)
If you're stubborn and absolutely have to have flat cash, don't just wing it. There is a "safe" way to do this that minimizes the chance of starting a fire or destroying your net worth.
1. The Low and Slow Method
Never use the "Steam" setting. Moisture can cause the fibers to swell and then shrink unevenly. Set your iron to the lowest possible heat—the "Silk" or "Synthetics" setting is usually best.
2. The Buffer Zone
Never, ever let the iron touch the bill directly. Place the bill between two pieces of plain white parchment paper or a thin cotton handkerchief. This protects the security fibers and prevents the ink from "ghosting" onto your ironing board cover.
3. The Quick Pass
Don't linger. You aren't trying to get a permanent crease in a pair of slacks. One or two quick passes is all it takes. If you stay in one spot too long, you risk scorching the linen, which turns the bill a sickly brownish-yellow.
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The "Book" Method: A Better Alternative
Honestly? Just don't use an iron. If you have time, the "Library Method" is 100% safer and more effective.
- Lightly—and I mean lightly—spritz the bill with a tiny bit of distilled water.
- Flatten it out as best you can with your hands.
- Place it inside the heaviest book you own (an old encyclopedia or a massive coffee table book works wonders).
- Put more weight on top of the book.
- Wait 48 hours.
When you pull that bill out, it will be perfectly flat, crisp, and—most importantly—still legal tender. No melted plastic, no scorched cotton, and no awkward conversations with a bank teller.
What Happens if You Destroy the Bill?
Let's say you messed up. You ironed a $50 bill, and now it’s charred or the security strip is a melted blob. Is the money gone?
Not necessarily. The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing has a "Mutilated Currency Division." They handle cases where money has been burned, buried, or, yes, ironed into oblivion. According to their official guidelines, if you have more than 50% of the note and it can be identified as authentic, they will usually replace it.
But here is the catch: it takes forever. You have to mail the damaged currency to Washington D.C., and it can take months—sometimes years—for them to process the claim and send you a check. It’s a lot of paperwork just because you wanted a "crisp" bill.
The Legal "Grey Area"
Is it illegal to iron money? Not exactly. 18 U.S. Code § 333 states that it is illegal to "mutilate, cut, deface, disfigure, or perforate" currency with the intent to render it "unfit to be reissued."
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Ironing for the purpose of making it look better doesn't usually fall under this. You aren't trying to destroy it. However, if your ironing makes the security features unreadable, you have effectively devalued the bill. You haven't committed a felony, but you've certainly made your own life harder.
Practical Steps for Handling Messy Cash
Instead of reaching for the iron, consider these alternatives:
- Bank Exchange: If your cash is truly disgusting or wrinkled, just take it to a local bank. As long as the serial numbers are visible and it isn't literally falling apart, most tellers will swap it for fresh bills from their vault.
- The Hair Straightener Trap: Some people use flat irons (hair straighteners) on bills. Don't. These tools usually operate at much higher, less regulated temperatures than clothes irons. It is the fastest way to singe the edges of a $20 bill.
- Wallet Hygiene: Invest in a long "breast pocket" wallet or a flat billfold. If you stop folding your money into quarters or "origami-ing" it into tiny squares, you won't feel the need to iron it in the first place.
Final Word on De-wrinkling Your Dough
The obsession with "crisp" money is mostly psychological. While a flat bill is easier to slide into a parking meter, a wrinkled bill is worth exactly the same amount. If you must iron it, use a buffer and the lowest heat setting possible. But if you have the patience, the heavy book method is the only way to guarantee you won't accidentally vaporize your lunch money.
Keep your iron for your shirts. Let your money stay a little bit "lived in."
Next Steps for Handling Damaged Cash
If you have already damaged your currency by ironing it or by any other means, follow these steps immediately:
- Stop handling the bill to prevent further flaking or tearing.
- Place the remains in a clear plastic bag or an envelope.
- If the bill is significantly charred or melted, do not attempt to "clean" it.
- Visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing website to download the "Mutilated Currency" submission form and follow the mailing instructions for a reimbursement claim.