How to Get Rid of Wrinkles on Foam Koozies (3-Second Heat Press Fix)

Foam koozies ship folded flat, so they often arrive with creases or wrinkles across the body. The fix takes seconds: lay the koozie flat on a heat press set to 275°F, cover it with a Teflon sheet, and press for 3 seconds with light pressure. The foam relaxes and the wrinkles smooth out.

What you need

• Heat press
• Teflon (PTFE) sheet or parchment paper

Heat press settings for wrinkled foam koozies

• Temperature: 275°F (135°C)
• Time: 3 seconds
• Pressure: light
• Cover: Teflon sheet or parchment paper

Step by step

1. Set the heat press to 275°F with light pressure.
2. Lay the koozie flat on the bottom platen, wrinkled side up, and smooth it out with your hand.
3. Cover it with the Teflon sheet.
4. Close the press for 3 seconds. No longer than that.
5. Open the press and let the koozie cool flat for about a minute.
6. Flip it over and repeat if the other side is wrinkled.

Tips

• For wrinkle removal, 3 seconds is enough. Pressing longer than needed can shrink, glaze or warp the foam.
• Decorating is different. DTF, vinyl and sublimation each use their own time and temperature, so follow those settings when you print.
• Deep creases may need a second 3-second press after the koozie has cooled. Very deep or old creases may not come out completely.
• Printed koozies can be pressed too. A 3-second pass at 275°F matches the first DTF press and is shorter and cooler than the vinyl and sublimation settings, but that is not a guarantee for every print. If you are unsure, test one koozie first.
• Trying this for the first time? Test one spare koozie before you run a whole batch.
• After pressing, store the koozies flat to help keep new creases from forming.
• This also works as a pre-press before you decorate. Wrinkle-free foam gives you a flat surface for DTF, vinyl or sublimation.

Why foam koozies wrinkle

Foam koozies are packed and stored folded flat to save space. The fold line and any creases from packing stay in the foam until heat relaxes it. The wrinkles are cosmetic only and do not affect how the koozie works.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature removes wrinkles from foam koozies?

275°F with light pressure. That is the same temperature used to apply DTF transfers on koozies.

How long should I press a foam koozie?

3 seconds for wrinkle removal. Pressing longer than needed can shrink or glaze the foam. If a deep crease is still there, let the koozie cool and press it again for another 3 seconds. Decorating uses its own settings for your transfer method.

Will pressing damage a printed foam koozie?

It should not. A 3-second pass at 275°F matches the first DTF press and is shorter and cooler than the vinyl and sublimation settings. That is not a guarantee for every print, so test one koozie first if you are unsure.

Related

• Heat press settings for vinyl, DTF and sublimation on koozies
• Frequently asked questions