Ironing Tips

Emm-in-a-pickle

I don`t iron.
If clothes are folded or rolled, or better still left on hangers rather than scrunched up while waiting to be washed they aren`t creased going in the WM.
Don`t overfill WM.
Don`t wash hotter than you need.
BIGGEST TIP - Empty WM as soon as it stops. I never put my WM on unless I`m going to be there to empty it straightaway.
Shake clothes and hang them up immediately - hangers indoors or out on washing line. I don`t need to iron, following these steps.
Life is too short to spend hours on needless ironing, and there`s enough other stuff that does need doing.
Also, has anyone here on MSE worked out how much electricity is used on ironing?

Fruball

This_Year wrote: »

Ironing?

Our iron was last out on Christmas Eve when I ironed the tablecloth and napkins ready for Christmas Dinner.

It may come out again next Christmas for the same reason, too.

Everything that is washed gets put on hangers immediately so is ready to go from the line to the wardrobe.

I don't believe in making work!

Saying that, I don't mind ironing, it's almost soothing to do... but do not see the point.

My ironing board is an early warning intruder system... ie it leans up on the back door which, as far as I can remember, is the only employment it has had in the last 2 years. I am not entirely sure where the iron is.

I wash little and often at 30c on a 30 minute cycle and once out of the machine, clothes are on hangers within minutes. From their they go straight into the airing cupboard overnight and then into wardrobes (sometimes )

I would iron something if it really needed it but if you smooth things when they come out of the machine and hang them up, I find they just don't need it. People have been really surprised when I have told them and said they would never have guessed

Funnily enough, I don't mind ironing and I also find it quite relaxing but as ThisYear says, I do not see the point!

System

My daughter took my iron when she moved out about 4 years ago however, I think I ought to replace it. My youngest son has been buying his own clothes over the last few month or so and they really do need ironing. Hubby has a shirt that isn't a non iron shirt and ive had to hide it in case he gets it out of the wardrobe to put on cause he'll wear it ironed or not.

My daughter did her own ironing.... i'll have to send a 'how to iron' link on videojug to my son cause I don't 'do' favouritism.

flyingmamma

I have just replaced the cover on my 15 year old iron to a reflective one ... This has quicken ironing and dH got us a new iron as he dropped the old one ... It's heavier and seems better quality than the old one. I iron for 30 mins every Sunday night infront of tv.... Uniforms /shirts / work wear.one large basket full. A good friend told me she doesn't iron a thing ... On her advice I started ironing fewer items ... Don't do jeans kids play wear ... I think I have the balance right now 30 mins a week is enough!

kerri_gt

Biggest thing for me is to get the wash out the machine and hang it to dry ASAP when the wash has finished, I used to set a wash to be done when I got in from work and since I stopped that I've noticed everything is less creased and generally only needs a cursory glance with the iron when it's been hung straight up to dry.

Valli

splishsplash wrote: »

• If you dry clothes fully in a dryer, don't iron for several hours after they come out. They're usually too dry and take ages to iron, so let them 're-hydrate' first

Don't let clothes get bone-dry in a TD

Stop it; shake them out and hang if you can or fold if you can't.

Ms_Chocaholic

Make sure your washing machine isn't on the fastest spin so your clothes come out concertina-like. Yes, they will take slightly longer to dry but they will be much easier to iron if you don't spin them too hard.

Cottage_Economy

happy35 wrote: »

i bought a really wide ironing board and it saves me loads of time as I can iron a mans t-shirt and only move it once. I know it sounds a bit stupid really but I cant believe how much time it takes me.

Great tip about the wide ironing board. Where did you get yours from?

I used to hate ironing, but have always loved having freshly ironed clothes and bedding. It took me forever and despite having two irons I had never seemed to get the creases out properly whichever one I used! I seemed to spend forever going over the same bit and adding extra water with a spray bottle.

Then I did some research and realised that my irons were pretty ancient and there were a lot of newer features that could make ironing faster for me.

I bought my current iron eight years ago and got the best ceramic plated one I could afford at a time when they just came out on the market (now of course the majority of them are ceramic plated) with a high steam output and high pressure steam boost. It immediately shaved a third to half the time off my ironing time and I learnt how to use all the functions on it properly to minimise the time spent using it. It cost me what seemed a huge amount of money at the time, but it was well worth it.

One of the best investments I made. Now I don't mind ironing so much at all and the bed sheets feel fabulous to crawl between.

[Deleted User]

I find ironing quite relaxing,but then I have always ironed sitting down.Now as my family have grown and gone and I am widowed there is only me to iron for so its not a big chore.I iron virtually everything,but then I always have.The only thing I don't iron are nets which are taken in off the line almost dry and rehung straight away. I just have one of the minds that hates dis-order and to me wearing clothes that haven't had an iron on, would feel odd.My youngest DD has barely touched an iron in 20 years but then her OH bless him irons beautifully, and does the boys school uniforms every morning before school.Tess is far too busy as she is out of the door at 7.45 on her way to work whilst Simon doen't have to go until 8.45.She told him when they got married 'I don't do ironing' and he said 'OK I'll do it' and he has bless him.He also cooks sunday dinner most weeks.He enjoys doing it and they share all the chores and with four lads to bring up its a case of organising things as they both work full-time.
My eldest,like me irons everything and always has, so its a case of different strokes for different folks I suppose.
I just like to see a nice pile of neatly pressed stuff and the smell from the clothes that have been line dried you couldn't bottle.I have a friend who has always only done one hours ironing at a time and if its not been ironed in that hour then it doen't get done until the next time she gets the iron out.
I watch t.v or listen to the radio while I'm ironing so I never get bored.The only thing I do hate is putting the stuff away for some reason :):) daft as its all done and dusted

hobbitfancier

I enjoy ironing! I usually catch up tv shows I missed during the week, it takes me usually 1-2 hours to iron a family of 4's clothes.

I've now moved into a tiny little flat with no iron so am not sure what to do, will have to splash out on a new iron and do it on the dining table