how much ironing do you do?

Justcoll

Aril wrote: »

OH has actually done the ironing for me this week as I've been working late and when small person is of the right age I shall iron his school uniform and if he wants the rest of his clothes ironed then that will be his responsibility. Yes harsh Mother I know [and unrepentant:rotfl:]
Aril

Not harsh at all. As long as he is old enough to iron safely then you are doing him (and your future daughter-in-law) a huge favour.

I think good parenting is (like good teaching) all about enabling. If you continue doing everything for your children they'll remain dependent on you which is no use to anybody. Enabling boosts self-confidence, self esteem and independence.

tanith

I find not having an ironing basket works for me, I loathe ironing always have, have always ironed the necessary shirts, trousers etc and do admit I like ironed pillow cases , once I retired I only have OH and my own now and I can't stand a pile building up so anything that has to be ironed is layed on the back of a kitchen chair so I know if I don't get on and iron the few bits there the damn chair will eventually tip over :rotfl:so every few days it takes me 15/20 mins or so and its done... one of my daughters irons nothing (sensible girl)

rosalie-lavender

My mil irons everything, socks, pants, knickers and recently ruined a bra ironing that!
I don't particularly mind ironing, cleaning windows and toilets are my pet hates.

I try and iron a bit at a time but with five of us that isn't always possible and sometimes it builds up. I totally agree a good steam iron is a big help. I have recently put my foot down and said I will no longer iron bedding, boxers, nightwear and I only iron things that are really creased. If oh and the kids don't like it they can iron those things themselves.

lady_isa

I iron DH t-shirts and hang them up. iron my own as i need them.
never iron bedding - life's too short.

juliapenguin

I agree with tanith - if you haven't got an ironing basket it can't build up. My clothes go straight out of the washer onto hangers, then when they are dry they get a quick go in the tumble dryer, and most of them are fine like that. Anything which needs ironing gets done straight away before it's got more creased in the pile. 20 minutes per week. If I didn't deal with all my clothes every week I'd have to go to work in my pyjamas as I haven't got enough clothes to leave any languishing in an ironing pile.

I used to iron for my husband too, but when he forgot to say thank you once too often, I refused to do it any more. I relented once, he saw me ironing his shirts and 'forgot' to thank me again, claiming afterwards that he 'didn't want to make a big thing of it'. Fool. I'm never ironing for him again as long as I live!

daska

I threw my last iron away several years ago. My back thanks me regularly but my electricity provider is probably a bit miffed...

Patchwork_Quilt

In winter, I only iron DH's shirts and one or two items that just cannot get away with being left. In summer, I have to iron T-shirts and all those linen skirts and trousers.

However, it only takes me about an hour a week, at the most. I'm not sure I could iron bedding, as it creases the moment I get into it, and the same goes for nightwear.

Caterina

I never iron my own clothes, but often do DH's shirts, which he needs ironed for work, and sometimes his trousers too.

I wait to have a fair pile of stuff because it is more economical in energy terms than switching on and off an iron for just one or two things.

He used to change shirt every day but now he uses shirts twice, especially in winter when he wears a vest under the shirt. When he comes home from work he gets changed into home clothes and hangs his shirt up, then he alternate them. This has halved my ironing and I am delighted for it.

I read somewhere that easy-iron shirts are coated with formaldehide and other chemicals that are not very nice to wear on one's body so I am quite happy to iron more but stay chemical-free (him and me).

I agree that a good quality iron makes all the difference and because it is more efficient, in the long term it is more economical too.

It would be great to have no ironing to do but while DH needs his work shirts it is one of the things that I am glad to do for him, in exchange of being able to be able to stay at home and not go out to work (other than my small part time job from home). Fair exchange, I feel.

frosty

I never iron,I wait until the clothes are nearly dry then shove them in the dryer for 10 mins and then fold or put on a hanger.Its been years and years since my iron came out.

abbecer

I am a freak!! I love ironing! Especially on Sundays when I watch weeks worth of Come Dine With Me! I don't iron underwear, towels or bedding though.