A method for manufacturing a creped fiber web is provided and includes providing a rotating cylindrical dryer surface, applying an ionene adhesive to the rotating cylindrical dryer surface to form an adhesive dryer surface, conveying a fiber web to the adhesive dryer surface, drying the fiber web on the adhesive dryer surface to form a dried fiber web, and creping the dried fiber web from the adhesive dryer surface. The ionene polymer can be a crosslinked polymer of an alkylamine, a haloepoxyalkane, and an amine that differs from the alkylamine, such as a terpolymer of dimethylamine, epichlorohydrin, and ethylenediamine. The ionene adhesive may further include monoammonium phosphate. The ionene polymer may be water-soluble and cationic.