Ironing

What is ironing?

I can’t say I enjoy ironing, but I would never contemplate putting anything on or sleeping in non-ironed stuff.

My mum said you should iron undies because it kills germs! I don’t go that far though I used to iron cloth nappies but not thoroughly, just the folded squares. I don’t think any of my girls iron though my SIL irons his shirts apparently. Bad neglectful wife hehe.

Back in my days at work (teaching) I often rose early to mark books. By 6.00am, I’d be ironing so that everyone had their shirts and blouses ready for the day. With DH and three children there was always plenty to do but I did quite enjoy it. Nowadays, the infirmities of old age mean that ironing is low priority although I generally manage to keep up with it (eventually!)

This thread has prompted me to replace my disgraceful full of holes ironing board cover, but I couldn’t find anything as nice as yours nanna8 so I’ve opted for a very practical German made cover. Boring though.

I must get back to sleep!!

Lovetopaint I agree with you ‘what is ironing’ I haven’t ironed for years

I had the same thought about my cover. My ironing board is permanently up so I tend to put things on it and therefore the cover needs replacing quite often. I quite like ironing and it would be nice to have a colourful cover.

I used to iron everything, I didn’t enjoy the process but loved the result.
My C always had beautifully ironed uniform and my H had a job where a fresh shirt was must every day.
Now, I am on my own, if an item of clothing needs ironing it does not get bought.
I do have an iron and I vaguely know where it is but only once in a blue moon does it get used.

I really only iron top things. Shirts, jumpers etc. Bed linen only if we have people staying. Oh and handkerchiefs. DH always has a large white hanky somewhere about his person.

My sister used to iron everything including socks and underwear. I quite enjoy ironing but have never gone that far. What I dislike is the hassle of getting the ironing board out etc.

My mum was a good ‘ironer’, I don’t think I am, but I iron every week.

It’s very obvious many people don’t, as their clothes are creased and crumpled.

If the washing hasn’t dried very well, (I don’t have a tumble dryer), ironing helps it a bit on its way.

I am an ironer, and still carry on, but it is about comfort most of all. All our family have sensitive skin, and I rarely wear anything manmade, but have cashmere jumpers and mostly cotton shirts,blouses etc, and one or two precious silk blouses and a lovely very very old cheongsam in silk which I am quite proud that I can still get into and it feels lovely. Used to iron school shirts etc, but now a widow and live on my own, I still iron my things and yes that includes pants! When they are ironed they dont have creases and everything feels so much smoother and better. On mornings like this when I am awake at some stupid time, I sometimes start ironing very early before breakfast. It works very well, a quiet job , not to disturb neighbours, warms me up on a chilly morning and that satisfying thing where you see all your favourite things to choose from. I also do not use a tumble dryer, being a yorkshire woman I prefer my clothes dried out on the line, and come in smelling beautiful and dried free!!

Now if you were talking about dusting, a boring waste of time to my thinking! Ah well each to their own.

I once started ironing when a grandchild ( obviously not a toddler) was present. She looked at the steam with horror and asked, ‘What are you doing, Granny?’
‘Ironing’
‘WHY?’

Lovetopaint037

What is ironing?

One of my children (age 5) had been sent for a speech assessment by the schools service Ed Psych, who told me later that there was nothing wrong with their vocabulary and understanding. When shown flashcards of everyday items the child correctly named all but two.

" Iron" and "ironing board"

I hate ironing but love clothing and linen that has been pressed.
Every tea towel sheet etc is ironed as are all our clothes bar the odd fleece type top.
My airing cupboard is a joy, it also smells lovely.

Haven't ironed in 10 years,everything now is wash hang up on a hanger to dry,or tumbled dried depending on the weather,

I can't imagine sleeping on an unironed pillow case. How do those who don't iron get them smooth?? Especially the one or two all cotton ones I have.

I still do ironing.
The tumble drier reduces the need to iron everything but bedding and some clothing still needs it.
I remember the old days with my Granny and her flat irons. She would stand them with their bases facing the fire under the copper. To see if an iron was hot enough she would spit on the base and if it sizzled she could start ironing. When it cooled she would swap it for another.
My Mum had an electric iron but in order to use it she had to stand on the dining room table and unscrew the lightbulb. She then fitted what looked like an upside down 'y' and put the lightbulb back in one side and screwed her iron into the other.
What a faff. Do any other GN's remember those days?

The last time I ironed anything was a pillowcase for my five-year-old grandson who was coming to stay. He’s 17 now.

Seriously, ironing is largely unnecessary and a waste of time. Some people just do it out of habit, and because their mothers did. Use your intelligence and avoid it. Spend your time on something more interesting.

I wear a lot of natural fabrics and always have cotton bedding, so I always iron. I really couldn’t wear anything that was creased. Also there’s nothing like getting into freshly laundered and ironed bedding. Fortunately DH likes ironing as well, his DM had an arm disability due to Polio, so he learned to iron at an early age.

Can I just have a little brag about my truly beautiful and functional ironing board (and matching sleeve board)?


It can stand up when folded all by itself, unfolds easily and has a little shelf.
I don't iron a lot but shirts and linen mostly get a go.

My super-duper ironing board can also be wheeled to its storage place.
Small joys!

Had been coveting these since I saw them in Italy... found one in a damaged box at half price on Ebay! 🙏

I have to iron a lot of summer things, since they’re nearly all cotton or linen or a mix, and look awful if I don’t. But I’ve never enjoyed ironing!
Hardly any of my winter things - mostly jeggings and jumpers - need any ironing.

All our bedding is cotton, but the only bits I ever iron are pillowcases if guests are coming to stay. Duvet covers are mostly patterned so creases don’t really show, and in any case they soon smooth themselves out.

My elder sister was once staying in an emergency with younger sister in the US, so while younger sister was at the hospital with her dh, elder Dsis thought she’d do the ironing for her - but as she told me later, she’d looked everywhere for an iron but couldn’t find one.

Younger Dsis told her later, ‘That’s because I haven’t got one!’
(She tumble dries virtually everything, which is normal across the pond.)

I remember my mother and grandmother plugging the iron into the light socket above the ironing board. I iron shirts, trousers and handkerchiefs.