Download Article Download Article

Humidity can make even mint-condition cards bend and bow over time. Fixing your bent cards will involve using heat to draw out the humidity. Most every method for fixing bent trading cards utilizes items you can find around the house. Use an iron, hair dryer, or ceramic bowl to flatten out your bent trading cards. With some work, your old trading cards can become like new again.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Ironing Your Cards

Download Article
  1. Because paper cards are flammable, an iron can burn or even set fire to your cards. Laminated cards can also melt under extreme heat. Use a cloth (like an ironing pad or old tee shirt) as a barrier between the cards and your iron. [1]
  2. Your iron setting will vary based on what you use to cover the cards. The higher the heat resistance, the hotter the temperature setting your cloth can withstand. [2]
    • Fabrics with high heat resistance include: linen, denim, cotton, polyester, rayon, and silk.
    • Fabrics with low heat resistance (to avoid) include: wool, acetate, acrylic, nylon, and spandex.
    Advertisement
  3. Trading cards are prone to water damage. As humidity often causes bending, using steam to iron your cards will lower their quality and value. Double-check that you have turned off this setting before you begin. [3]
  4. Once you've secured the cards under the heat-safe cloth, you're ready to iron. Move your iron back and forth across the bent cards to evenly spread the heat. After about thirty seconds, remove the cards from under the cloth to check their progress. Continue this process until your cards are no longer bent. [4]
  5. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Blow Drying Your Cards

Download Article
  1. Lay your card face down so it's curving into the surface rather than outward. Creased cards can be resistant to bending back in shape. Keeping the card face-down will help guide it back into shape. [5]
  2. Heat will remove humidity from the card and press out stubborn creases. Choose the hottest setting when blow drying your cards. Blow dryers do not get as hot as irons (nor do they touch the card directly), so you do not need a barrier between it and the trading cards. [6]
  3. Move your blow dryer back and forth over the bent cards. If your cards blow away, hold them down with your hand. Your dryer should be close to the cards but not touching. After half a minute has passed, inspect your cards for remaining creases. [7]
  4. Your cards might not regain their shape after the first try. Keep blow drying your cards in thirty second increments, checking their progress as time passes. If your cards remain bent after several minutes, try another method.
  5. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Steaming Your Cards

Download Article
  1. Boil water over your stove. For the water to steam, you will need it boiling hot. Add tap water into a pan and heat it over your stove. Wait until bubbles are breaking the surface and your pan emits steam. Place a lid over the pan to trap the steam until you can move it to a bowl. [8]
    • Turn off the stove once it starts boiling.
  2. The bowl you use will need to hold boiling water without warping. Some plastic bowls cannot hold water. Make sure the container you use is heat-resistant. Use glass, ceramic, or porcelain bowls for added protection. [9]
    • Take caution while pouring to avoid burning your hands.
  3. Pan lids will neither fit over your bowl nor allow enough heat through to warm your cards. Apply a piece of saran wrap large enough to cover the entire top of your bowl. Within a few seconds, you should see condensation forming. [10]
  4. After tightly wrapping the bowl, place your card directly on top (face down). Monitor the card for thirty seconds to one minute, then check the card for creases. Repeat this step until your card is no longer bent. [11]
  5. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • Take care of your cards after fixing them to avoid future bending. When you're not using them, store your cards in a protector sheet. Make sure the spot you choose is warm and dry. [12]
      • Keep cards in a plastic sleeve to retain their shape while you play. [13]
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      • Heat-safe cloth
      • Iron
      • Ironing board
      • Blow dryer
      • Pot
      • Water
      • Glass, ceramic, porcelain, or heat-safe bowl
      • Plastic wrap

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 161,704 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement