In many cases after degaussing the field distribution in a magnetic material there may be regions within the magnetic material that have ordered domains that contribute a remnant field. There is the need to reduce or eliminate non-uniform fields within a volume of interest left after degaussing a magnetic shield. Degaussing coils surrounding a metal shield can be used to favorably order magnetic domains within the material to counteract the remnant fields left behind following imperfect degaussing. The remnant field value can be measured and a small current may be applied through the degaussing coils. After removing the current, the field can be measured again and a higher current may be applied again through the coils. Repeated applications of currents and field measurement will progressively order domains in the direction of the applied field, resulting in a reduction of the net field and lower field gradient across the volume of interest.