Ironing advice needed please.

poohbear59

We have recently started a new business and as a result have a lot of bedding to wash and iron.

DD has been doing this but is finding all the ironing of the bedding is extremely time consuming. As I propose to pay her by the hour I too should be helping to cut down on the ironing time or to make it easier for her.

I have looked at ironing presses and rotary irons. Does anyone on here have any experience to share to help us to decide what, if anything we need to buy. Obviously we don't want to spend unnecessarily but are willing to buy something if it is going to be cost effective.

DD has to iron 12 pillowcases, 5 duvet covers and 10 sheets each week for me. She already has a full time job and also cleans for me.

I can't iron because of a back problem. I hope there is someone out there who has a business which uses a lot of sheets etc and can give me some advice. Thanks.

ankspon

Can you not sit down and iron?

greenbee

Ask hex... She uses a press

A friend's mother used to have holiday cottages and I used to help her get the laundry sorted out. She was very particular about how it was folded as it made a huge difference to how easy it was to iron!

hex2

I do indeed have a steam press, have had for 5 or 6 years. It was c£100 and I will live on lentils to replace it when it finally dies - and you know how much I dislike lentils! I am sure I have an iron somewhere too, not seen it for years though.

Hurts a lot less than using an iron as you move less, great for big areas once you get used to the technique. You can use it sitting down but I don't recommend drinking wine or watching TV at the same time. Much faster than a conventional iron. There is a knack to it, and you have to experiment till you get used to it.

Also have you tried fitting stuff warm from the TD? I mostly get away with not ironing bedding this way.

meritaten

I would love one of those presses - but it was all I could do to persuade OH to shell out £35 for an iron (it was half price in a sale) last time I needed one. He cannot see that a 'good' iron makes a lot of difference both in the finish of the garment and the time it takes to iron it!
if you cannot afford the £100+ for a good press - then get the dearest iron you can afford and look for bargains in the sales.
My Iron is a Phillips and after using cheaper Irons (around about £12 to £15), I can honestly say that while it doesnt make ironing a pleasure, it DOES make it faster and easier and the finish is better!
I have just mentally calculated how long it would take me to do that amount of bedding and I think about two hours.
except I never normally Iron sheets (even my cotton ones) I too am fussy how they get folded out of the tumble dryer or off the line - because as soon as they are folded they are put in the airing cupboard at the bottom of the line stack and the sheer weight and warmth of the pile presses them!

Puddleglum

I ran the house as a B&B for some years and found a press really helpful. Colleagues who owned a rotary iron seemed to have an easier time of it though. If you use a tumble drier and are fast off the mark the duvet covers can often go straight back on the bed without ironing when they are still warm. Likewise bottom sheets if you pull them hard and tuck in firmly. Top sheets and pillowcases really do need ironing though. Sometimes things can be ironed on the bed (I know all the dodges!). Lots of spare sheets are a must in case no one can face the ironing one night. Failing that, if your business brings in plenty of money, there are lots of laundry companies out there.

Hope this is of some help.

redlady_1

I have a Tefal steam generator. It is just amazing at going through sheets. It uses the steam to get out the creases. Pricey but lasts for years. Mine is at least 10 years old now.

skintbint_2

if they have been left folded for a bit - a quick 10 mins in the tumble drier with a wet towel looses the creases and makes it a lot easier than spraying them.

hth

jools27_2

I also have a steam generator and wouldn't go back to an ordinary steam iron, and mine is an argus value one but works a treat!

poohbear59

Thank you everyone for your ideas. We have been very careful when things have come off the line or out of the tumble dryer to fold properly but DSs who help a lot are not as careful as I would like. But I can't complain or they won't do it.

I probably knew that hex had a press greenbee but didn't register as I have had no need for one until now. I didn't know that steam presses existed though.
Puddlegum, I wasn't sure if we could get away with leaving the bottom sheets unironed, I will certainly suggest it for this weeks laundry. Maybe see if anyone notices.

I am off to check out steam presses now hex. And steam generators.

bluebag

I know a woman who puts the sheets on the bed then gives them a once over with the iron, pugged in next to the bed. She puts the bottom sheet on first and does mainly the middle and then folds the top sheet in four and irons it on top of the lot. Leaves it for a few hours to air and then makes the bed.

It isn't me though, I would rather have my eyelashes pulled out than iron bedding. I sleep with creases. LOL