Ironing Day Blues!!

ixwood

I don't even own an iron. I'm always amazed that so many people spend hours doing it.

I also shake and hang instead.

Pretty much everything comes out fine. I work in an office and I don't constantly get people telling me I'm creased or anything.

If you have high crease standards, just buy non crease stuff only. Anything with polyester or lycra (it's used in a blend in easy care stuff sometimes, doesn't mean it's going to be tight and stretchy) in the mix won't need ironing ever.

You can get quite smart golf polos made from polyester mixes usually and they're very comfy, crease proof and dry incredibly quick.

Fleece is another winner in my book. No creases, warm, comfortable and very quick drying also.

GreyQueen

I don't mind it toooo much but then I only do about 10 minutes' wrth a week, a few work blouses which wouldn't look good un-ironed. I like linen and cotton linen blends and I hang these straight from the washer onto hangers on the clothes airer, iron them very damp after about an hour, then back on the hangers. By next morning they're perfectly dry.

You can get a lot of modern fibres that don't need ironing at all, like my work trousers, and suedette finish blouses and tops. There are also pre-creased syntheics. I've acquired a small selection of them for my travelling wardrobe. Whenever ou're shopping, if it's new or c.s. always scrutinise the label.

I couldn't do away with my iron as I use it a lot when sewing but I don't ever intend to be a slave to it.

squeakysue

I too hate ironing and use the dryer to *iron* most things, even if they have been line dried a quick 10 mins in the dryer gets the creases out f most things. I do have to iron OH's work shirts though and dd's dresses, pretty little dresses look so sweet on but r a nightmare to iron grrr. I got a steam generator iron through a bzzzz campaign a couple of years ago, it only cost £20 ( was worth about £80) and it is fab, it cuts ironing time down and you only have to do one side of an item so once a week I will put on one of my sky plus shows and blast the ironing basket.

tsstss7

We are officially a no iron household now as ds1 put iron back wonky a few months ago and it fell and got broken. I've not felt the need to go get a new one though. Even in summer when I line dry I find if you shake creases out of the clothes etc they will dry relatively crease free and anything that seems to need it eg linens will get the bathroom treatment.

purpleivy

valk_scot wrote: »

I've got an iron now but it's for pressing seams when sewing, not actual ironing. .

this is a good plan and one to which I adhere, mostly, though hubs workshirts get a quick show of the iron. If you're careful how you launder, then not much ironing is ever required.

Kids - as soon as dd found she had to do her own ironing lowered her standards. not difficult as being her mother's daughter they weren't that high any way. DS really doesn't see the point.

I think that uniform stuff needs ironing, morris whites, guide shirt and suit for ds for school. DD does stuff for dance comps.

heretolearn_2

I wear smart suits too and hate ironing but it isn't that much of a chore if you split it up.

I never stand there and do a big batch, too depressing.

When I get in from work I get changed out of my suit and hang it up. That way the trousers/skirt don't need ironing very often at all. Jackets don't get ironed.

Blouses, I do each day before work. I stick the iron on to heat up, go clean my teeth, come back and iron the blouse (2 mins) and off for my shower.

I must iron for a total tops of 15 minutes a week, and that includes doing my jeans and weekend Tshirts etc. (again just a couple of minutes ironing before I put them on).

What are you ironing for it to take 2 hours a week? I choose very unfussy styles for work, no ruffly/pleaty things that you have to fiddle about with. I don't iron bedding or underwear, or pajamas, or anything that I don't absolutely have to. I don't do anyone else's ironing.

kazmc

another one here who NEVER irons.... I dont even know where my iron is. Havent used it for about 9 years I think :j
The secret is in what you do after its all washed....

Take the clothes out of the washing machine AS SOON as its finished.
I then fold or lay out flat (depending on the size) everything immaculatly (sp) on top of each other (if you can manage to put a towel in with each wash put that on the top of the pile). This gets all the creases out with the weight of everything on top of each other. I leave it like that for a day. So if I take it out of machine in the morning it stays like that till the evening.
Then hang it all as neatly as possible on a clothes airer and VOILA everything will dry crease free.
I work fulltime and wear smart clothes and neither me or my daughters school uniform ever look anything but smart and non-creased!!!
Try it.... I promise it works :T:T

poet123

I send my ironing out...30 shirts and five blouses a week, no waay do I have the time or inclination for that lot.

Apollonia

If you absolutely have to iron some things, I found that getting a proper felt underlay for the ironing board cut the time needed by half. Most board covers these days only have a thin foam cushioning layer on top of a metal mesh/grid surface so the heat of the iron escapes easily. I bought one of these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brabantia-Replacement-Felt-135x49cm-White/dp/B0002EXY7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298284876&sr=8-1

and the difference is astounding!

GreyQueen

Apollonia wrote: »

If you absolutely have to iron some things, I found that getting a proper felt underlay for the ironing board cut the time needed by half. Most board covers these days only have a thin foam cushioning layer on top of a metal mesh/grid surface so the heat of the iron escapes easily. I bought one of these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brabantia-Replacement-Felt-135x49cm-White/dp/B0002EXY7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298284876&sr=8-1

and the difference is astounding!

I'd agree with that. I have a double thickness of of old woollen blanket under my ironing board cover and it really makes a difference. If anyone wants to do same, no synthetics as they'll meeellllllltttttttttttt.:)