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Ironing

(121 Posts)
Singlegrannie Mon 05-Feb-18 11:23:34

I noticed on the thread about extra rooms several people mentioned wanting a room for ironing. Am I alone in not doing much ? I tend to buy clothes that don't need it, and after washing I remove things from the machine and put them on hangers, shaking and pulling out the creases, or tumble drying.
Even when late DH was around I rarely ironed shirts, and my daughter ironed her own school shirts from the time she started secondary school.
I do do some, particularly in summer, but it's usually only a couple of items , don't do bedding !
Hope not too many folk are shocked !

Nanny41 Tue 06-Feb-18 11:07:03

Not keen on ironing I must admit, although I have just finished two shirts and a couple of tee shirts.
The other day my DH declared "when are you going to iron the three shirts that have been here for ages" I did say when I was in the mood, and if he wanted them urgently he knew where the iron was.Incidentaly, he has a wardrobe full of shirts!

Lilyflower Tue 06-Feb-18 11:08:40

I like a little ironing but not too much so I iron three people's clothes every day to keep on top of the clothes pile. My DH also loves ironing so he will willingly do his and my DS's clothes or even all of it if I am busy elesewhere. Sometimes we fight for the ironing! I find ironing therapeutic and listen to Radio Four catch-up drama whilst doing it.

Having said that, I don't enjoy an excessive amount of any type of work so, since I retired, I have devised ways of doing 'lazy' tasks: 'lazy cooking', lazy cleaning', 'lazy gardening', 'lazy car cleaning' and, of course, 'lazy ironing'. I break down the tasks into the minimum effort and movements combined with the maximum effects. It takes my DH about four to five minutes to iron a shirt and I can do it in half the time for the same result.

jollyg Tue 06-Feb-18 11:19:35

I hated, notice past tense.,

However when OH retired he offered to take over.

Now he complains about it!

No wonder he is a shirt freak, albeit without a tie.

allule Tue 06-Feb-18 11:21:36

I bought some iron on tape to shorten a hem, but couldnt find my iron.....sure I had one somewhere...

Tooyoungytobeagrandma Tue 06-Feb-18 11:21:48

I'm in the hang, smooth, tumble dry camp. Spent hours of my life on a Sunday ironing only to find it hung on the floor by oh and kids so stopped doing it and no one commented. If going to a special do and blouse needs ironing I'll do it but otherwise don't bother. My mil used to iron everything including towels and socks!!

lovebeigecardigans1955 Tue 06-Feb-18 11:26:01

I only iron the things which need it. My ironing board is in the spare bedroom (north facing) at the front of the house so I see the world go by out of the window. I try to get it done first thing so that it is out of the way quickly and I can get on with more enjoyable things.

GrandmasueUK Tue 06-Feb-18 11:46:39

I used to enjoy ironing, not so much now, but I do have to iron cotton sheets and pillowcases. I love a freshly made bed. My mum used to iron for me when I was working full-time and she used to say that she "wasn't ironing the towels - just running the iron over them!" I like to see the pile of freshly pressed clothes but then there is the chore of putting them away!

Diggingdoris Tue 06-Feb-18 11:55:16

I only do shirts, blouses, t shirts and duvet sets, as little as possible. I use the spare bedroom with the radio on or my tablet propped up watching programs I've missed.

Milly Tue 06-Feb-18 12:09:01

I'm like you Singlegrannie, whip the clothes out of the tumble drier and fold them or put on hanger and no need to iron - hooray. It sounds expensive instead of using a washing line but I am in Retirement flats and we have a laundry room (with ironing board!!!) and not allowed to hang clothes in the garden.

JanaNana Tue 06-Feb-18 12:24:40

Only do ironing during spring and summer months when more cotton shirts and summer dresses are in use. Otherwise during the colder wetter weather months use the tumble drier, if you don't overload it and put things straight onto hangers there,s hardly any creases at all. We used to be in the forces years ago when everything was ironed or pressed within an inch of its life. Now have a far more relaxed attitude to it.

Hilmix Tue 06-Feb-18 12:30:33

When my youngest son was born the midwife, seeing I felt overwhelmed, said to me to just keep the bathroom and kitchen clean and not worry about ironing or dusting. I've never ironed since and my son is 36 this year ?

MissAdventure Tue 06-Feb-18 12:35:03

grin

raggyanna Tue 06-Feb-18 12:35:33

For fifteen years we lived in a large house with our large family, our own and a number of foster children. I had an ironing room....it even had an enamel sign on the door.....unfortunately it was a depository for clothes needing ironing!!! Oh the rush on Sunday afternoons ironing 9 or 10 sets of school uniform, finding mouldering games kit etc! Just have a big basket now and when its up to the top l have an hour or 2 with the iron. First time l have posted, hello everyone!

Mapleleaf Tue 06-Feb-18 12:35:41

I find the opposite effect when clothes have been tumble dried - they seem to have lots more creases in them, even when not bone dry. Must be doing something wrong, though not sure what as I've used tumble drier sheets (makes no difference), taken them out slightly damp and shaken them ( still more creased than line dried), taken them out straight away after the cycle has finished, still creased. Oh well, such is life sometimes ?

kircubbin2000 Tue 06-Feb-18 12:36:16

I rarely iron. Used to be fussy about bedding but when I stay with d she never irons my bed so I don't bother when she visits.

GabriellaG Tue 06-Feb-18 12:49:39

I haven't ironed anything in over 20 years. Sheets go to the laundry in winter but on the line in summer, pillowcases done at home. I do have a steamer which is handy but no tumble dryer which wears out material...just look at the fluff it captures as opposed to line drying. I smooth everything straight out of the washing machine and even jeans only take 24 hours to dry indoors...and I'm very fussy about folding and hanging clothes properly. I do have an iron and board but they've never been used since I bought them after moving here.

GoldenAge Tue 06-Feb-18 12:51:35

Ideally, I would love a room for ironing - it would be a good-sized utility room with washer, dryer, sink, clothes rack from the ceiling, ironing board, lots of wooden slatted shelves for storing the towels and linen, hanging space, and a music system. In a previous existence before I retired, I had such a room which meant I could manage the house, iron both mine and my husbands' shirts, and look good for work. Now in retirement and living in a much, much smaller house in the most expensive city in the UK, I have none of this - consequently, I don't iron! Hubby irons his own shirts now and has to put up the ironing board in the kitchen - how great that he does this for himself, but he still can't get into the habit of putting the ironing board down, or putting the iron away - grrr.

grannyinmypocket Tue 06-Feb-18 12:57:52

I hate hate hate ironing, I don't do it and try to buy things that don't need ironed,
My iron is years old and looks brand new, Ironing !!! No life's too short for that malarkey ,

Ellie Anne Tue 06-Feb-18 13:32:32

I don’t mind ironing. I watch tv while I’m
Doing it. I do a lot for dil when I’m at her house. My daughter never irons.

pollyperkins Tue 06-Feb-18 13:34:46

I agree with mapleleaf. Clothes are still creased after tumble drying (and in any case I tend to airdty them mostly.I dont exactly love ironing but dont mind it while watching tv or listning to the radio and I hate wearing creased clothes. I like the pile of sweet smelling ironed and folded clothes at the end . Now I do hate cleaning!

grandtanteJE65 Tue 06-Feb-18 13:39:21

I find cotton clothes, sheets etc. that have been in the tumbler dryer are shocking crushed when they come out, but no, I only iron cotton blouses or shirts if we are going out for a meal or to a party.

I do, however, iron tray covers and table clothes at Christmas and Easter, and am seriously considering whether my tea towels would not look much nicer when in use if they were ironed.

I'm actually a member of the club that likes ironing.

Alidoll Tue 06-Feb-18 14:25:01

Don’t iron - that’s what DH is for lol!

(I do most of the DIY though so works out fine)

nannabo Tue 06-Feb-18 14:29:26

I iron most of my clothes not so much sheets and I also do ironing for other people put radio 2 on and away you go ☺

Greciangirl Tue 06-Feb-18 14:40:32

Paddyann.
I think you have made a rod for your own back doing all your daughters ironing, and 8 bags a week sound s excessive.
If she is so fussy, get her to do it herself. She may be a bit more relaxed about it then.
I only iron jeans and trousers, and the odd tops. Summer time it seems requires more ironing.

inishowen Tue 06-Feb-18 14:45:04

I do as little as possible. None of my clothes need ironing. I am more lightly to put them back in the tumble dryer with a handful ice cubes than iron them. (I read this tip somewhere and it works, just around 12 minutes does it) Unfortunately I still have to iron DH's shirts and jeans. Before you all jump on me, he does all the cooking so I'm not hard done by.