To improve a smoothing effect on items of clothing by subjecting the items to moisture and heat and, thereby, relaxing the fabric of the clothing items to reduce creases, an apparatus and a method of smoothing includes subjecting the items of clothing, preferably, in a heated and moistened state, to at least one gas jet, in particular, a compressed air jet, which is not aligned parallel to the clothing item and which exerts a force on the clothing item. Advantageously, the clothing item is subjected to gas jets from both sides.