Kreukelen

Kreukelen is a Dutch verb that describes the formation of wrinkles or creases in fabrics, paper, or skin. The related noun kreukel refers to a wrinkle or crease. The term derives from the Dutch word kreukel, which denotes a fold or bend, and is used across textile and everyday language to describe wrinkling phenomena.

In textiles and apparel, kreukelen occurs when fibers or yarns deform under mechanical action, moisture, or heat. Fabrics with high crimp, low dimensional stability, or insufficient finishing are more prone to kreukelen. Factors that influence wrinkling include fiber content (natural fibers such as cotton and linen tend to wrinkle more than many synthetics), fabric structure, finishing treatments, laundering conditions, and folding or compressive storage.

Care and management of kreukelen include selecting fabrics with wrinkle resistance, using appropriate washing settings, and applying finishing techniques. Preventive measures include tumble-drying with moisture, removing garments promptly, and using steam or light ironing to restore smoothness. When wrinkles occur, they can often be reduced by steaming, ironing with the correct heat setting for the fabric, or applying wrinkle-release sprays. In professional textile testing, the tendency of a fabric to kreukelen can be evaluated to assess its care requirements and performance.

In Dutch usage, kreukelen can also appear in everyday descriptions of clothing and textiles. For example, one might say a shirt kreukt snel after washing, or that a fabric has good kreukbestendigheid (wrinkle resistance). The term is primarily encountered in fashion, textile engineering, and consumer care contexts.