Abstract: An apparatus for decreasing the friction of pieces of wet or damp laundry pressing surfaces of one or more steam trough mangles applies a liquid lubricating agent such as silicone oil or silicone oil emulsions. The lubricating agent is applied in atomized, pressurized form uniformly over the entire width of the pressing surface of one or more steam trough mangles with the droplets of the atomized, pressurized lubricating agent being applied at the same time to the entire width of the pressing surface. The lubricating agent which has been atomized in at least one atomizer by a gaseous medium under pressure is transportable by such a gaseous medium through at least one conduit and is delivered to the pressing surface of the steam trough mangle through a pipe which extends substantially horizontally over the entire width of the pressing surface and which has openings extending over substantially the entire length of the pipe.