An electric iron is used to remove wrinkles from clothing, tablecloths, drapes and other fabric items. Read the iron's manual to determine whether or not steam is needed to iron the fabric or garment. If so, fill the iron's reservoir with the type of water specified in the manual.

To operate an electric iron, plug it into an outlet and select a setting. Though the manual an iron comes with will explain the settings in detail, irons are generally labeled with settings for a variety of types of fabrics, including cotton and linen. Some irons also have steam features to steam items on hangers. Read through the manual thoroughly for more tips and tricks.