boring ironing

Life is far too short and far too busy for ironing. My husband announced years ago that he doesn’t want me to iron his clothes and I just iron my own, where necessary. I always iron in front of the tv but wouldn’t dream of ironing bedding or towels. I’m not that keen on housework either but I do like cooking. Perhaps that’s why my husband stayed for 50 years!

I don't like ironing but as I only wear cotton tops I have little choice. I do iron bedding - nothing like getting into a bed with fresh ironed sheets! I don't like daytime TV so usually watch a DVD.

Arthritis and shoulder problems here too so DH's shirts and duvet covers go to a lovely lady under a railway viaduct in a shop called Steam-iron and I keep my ironing time for my sewing,pillowcases, teatowels and handkerchiefs. I tend to wear natural fibres but I line dry using coat hangers to minimise creasing. I share Varian's bewilderment over microfibres. Just like diesel - you start off doing your best and then you find it's wrong.

I always iron bed linen and anything else that looks like it needs done. I try to wash, dry and iron on the same day. I find there is more ironing during the summer when clothes are hung out rather than tumble dried. I don’t like ironing so try to make sure it never builds up to a large amount.

We've been together 37 years. I've never ironed anything of Mr Iams. We shared the ironing of the children's clothes but from about age 13, they ironed their own. I iron linen, cotton etc clothes of mine but never iron bedding, jeans etc. There are so many more interesting things to be done.

I discovered an 'easy iron' setting on my washing machine - it's really just a minimum spin. Combined with the hot weather of recent weeks, this has enabled me to skip ironing even pillowcases.

pollyperkins my husband makes me feel like I'm too fussy for ironing duvets and some other things. As if no one else would do it. and then I feel guilty for wasting time.

I must admit that I do as little ironing as possible, because I loathe it and it kills my back. But some things really do need it, don't they. However, I am a great believer in Folding and Patting.... it works with lots of things.

Anyone over 12-ish should do their own ironing if they want things ironed. I do the occasional blouse in summer. That’s all. All else is a waste of time that could be much better spent.

Annep my husband does like things ironed and has been known to iron his own shirts on occasion. He does say not to iron his garenin g clothes etc (but I sometimes do.)
My daughter however lost patience with me when she spotted me ironing pyjamas ! But I love nice clean folded pyjamas every week and dont like them put in a drawer crumpled. I'm not doing this daily!
However I have recently stopped ironing duvet covers (which I hate doing so its a relief). Still do pillow cases.

I've done a session with the iron and ironing board today. It is boring and there are more interesting things to be done, but it's just one of life's necessary chores if you are like me and want ironed clothes and bed linen and no I'm not one of those who has to iron their knickers why would you? Now my husband is retired he does his own ironing. We do it every few days or so and not longer than say half an hour each. I do have an ever present basket of stuff "to be ironed" that never gets any smaller.

I am not that fond of ironing but do insist that my bedding is ironed for some reason I just cannot seem to get away without duvets coming out of the machine without being very creased'
Yesterday I stood and ironed 3 x 4 sets of pillowcases and just one KS duvet cover I just couldn't face ironing the other 2 duvet covers they will have to wait until next time I feel the urge to plug in the iron.Luckily all my pillow cases match the duvets that are ironed as all my colours match up with the bedroom decor.

It takes an hour a week and I find something easy on the eye and undemanding to watch while I do it.

Apart from wrinkled bedlinen, going non-iron means wearing lots of artificial fabrics, polyester/acetate tops, hot and slimy in summer; cold and 'orrible in cooler weather.

I prefer to wear cotton, linen and wool, and if that requires ironing, it is worth it.

A roller iron.....it makes it all so fast and easy and bed linen is a doddle.

thanks everyone. roller iron - I will investigate!

the roller iron (rotary?) is very expensive and you would have to fold duvet covers. Doesnt look practical for clothes, just flat things like pilloe cases tea towels.

I don’t mind ironing if I am in the mood and have something to watch or listen to while doing it. While my husband was ill he suggested using an ironing company as time was short after caring for him. He has now died and I iron again but have found a local lady who does the bed linen. I find it very difficult to fold the big sheets on my own. One tip I learned from late father was to make the bed using a top sheet under the duvet. That way the duvet cover does not need to be washed so often. There is a throw over it during the day. I hate changing the duvet cover!

Have you heard about Effie? Google it.

I think the roller iron and the Effie are out of the price range of many GNs (I know it is out of mine!!)

I don’t wear linen, but lots of cotton does’t need ironing if you dry it carefully. I wear cotton tops that look fine not ironed. My bed linen is pure cotton. It looks a bit creased after washing until it goes on the bed, where it miraculously smooths itself out.

I have a Miele Rotary iron. It wasn't cheap I'll grant you but I wouldn't be without it. I do all the ironing this way, even shirts etc., as they can be folded and fed through. I put stuff through damp and then hang them up to finish off. Unfortunately it can be tricky if you need help folding bedclothes but on the plus side your only effort is in taking stuff from the washing machine, pulling up a chair and putting it through the rollers.

tweedle24. good tips. Still not convinced on the roller but if it works for you MillieBear..great.?

Effie looks wonderful but, it looks very expensive!

I don't iron towels, underwear or socks but do iron the rest unless it's the sort of material which doesn't need it. My husband has a shirt on every day so don't see how you can get away without ironing those and I do like to have the duvet covers and pillowcases nice and crease free.

I hate ironing, like a lot of people do. I never iron underwear, teatowels, bedding or anything that looks fairly decent and not too creased.

I iron shirts, trousers, dresses, some blouses and t-shirts.

I fold up bedding and flatten it, smoothing it down. I keep it on the bottom of a pile of other bedding in the cupboard.

I don't intend wasting my time on things I don't like doing.