Start an ironing service... official MoneySavingExpert.com discussion

janca

Hi Kettricken,
thank you for the link, just made my web. It's not on yet, but will be on shortly and hopefully will get me some costumers.
Thanks again
Jana

kats53

Do you think it is a good idea to include your location in your web name? Such as...I'm based in Jarrow so if I include Jarrow in my web name will that be better when people are searching for an ironing service in Jarrow?
Jen

davidjwest

kats53 wrote: »

Do you think it is a good idea to include your location in your web name? Such as...I'm based in Jarrow so if I include Jarrow in my web name will that be better when people are searching for an ironing service in Jarrow?
Jen

Yes, definitely.

kats53

Thanks David.
Jen

life_in_termoil

Im offering an ironing/cleaning service in Bromyard Herefordshire if anyones interested x

mrsspoon_2

Hi,

OMG, I feel like crying today!! I have a bag of 28 shirts. Have done 20 so far, but it has taken me a total of 3½ hours . They have all been 100% cotton so far (and guessing the other 8 are too). I am really struggling with the sleeves. Most have got 3 pleats on the sleeve by the cuff and I just don't know how to make them look good. I'm getting the creases for the pleats half way up the sleeve, or 2 pleats ironed into 1, or creases in the pleats.

*insert naughty words*.

My shirt order is:

1. collar (front and back)
2. Yoke
3. Left cuff
4. Left sleeve (front first then back)
5. Right cuff
6. Right sleeve (front first then back)
7. Front of shirt (right side)
8. Back of shirt
9. Front of shirt (left).
10. Hold up shirt, realise there's still creases, try to iron them out and then make more creases whilst trying to get them out.

At the rate I'm going it will take me another 1 hour at least to do the other 8 shirts, so that's say 4½ hours work for the grand total of £16.80!

Help someone! I so badly need to speed up and I can't work out how. What am I doing wrong? Are there any good tutorials on the net anyone can recommend?

The frustrating thing is I can do my husbands shirts in around 3 minutes, so I know I have it in me - but my husband doesn't have any of these stupid posh cotton shirts with a million pleats on the cuffs.

missspeedy23

mrsspoon wrote: »

Hi,

OMG, I feel like crying today!! I have a bag of 28 shirts. Have done 20 so far, but it has taken me a total of 3½ hours . They have all been 100% cotton so far (and guessing the other 8 are too). I am really struggling with the sleeves. Most have got 3 pleats on the sleeve by the cuff and I just don't know how to make them look good. I'm getting the creases for the pleats half way up the sleeve, or 2 pleats ironed into 1, or creases in the pleats.

*insert naughty words*.

My shirt order is:

1. collar (front and back)
2. Yoke
3. Left cuff
4. Left sleeve (front first then back)
5. Right cuff
6. Right sleeve (front first then back)
7. Front of shirt (right side)
8. Back of shirt
9. Front of shirt (left).
10. Hold up shirt, realise there's still creases, try to iron them out and then make more creases whilst trying to get them out.

At the rate I'm going it will take me another 1 hour at least to do the other 8 shirts, so that's say 4½ hours work for the grand total of £16.80!

Help someone! I so badly need to speed up and I can't work out how. What am I doing wrong? Are there any good tutorials on the net anyone can recommend?

The frustrating thing is I can do my husbands shirts in around 3 minutes, so I know I have it in me - but my husband doesn't have any of these stupid posh cotton shirts with a million pleats on the cuffs.

I know just what you mean!! I had a new customer the other week that sent me 50 shirts, I could have cried. It must have taken me 5 hours to do them.

I do the shirts in more or less the same order as you but do the cuffs last rather than first. To be honest I don't make too much of an issue over the pleats. I tend to hold them flat and then with the iron on the sleeve pull the cuff which straightens the pleats out. If I get a really bad one I use my sleeve board but that can be just as slow sometimes.

I'd be interested in how other people do them too

Stephb1986_2

Why are you ironing the back of the collar as in the bit that isn't visable??? I've never done that yet no one sees underneath it. That should save you a minute

As for cotton shirts get a spray bottle, put a small amount of fabric conditioner in the bottle and add some water then spray all of the shirts with it and then leave them for 5 minutes or so make a cup of tea or something then come back and it should be a bit easier.

I certainly wouldn't be fussing it too much as they know what they are like they've ironed them themselves before now so they are just taking the pi$$. We are getting more and more dress trousers and shirts. So for people who are not sending a mixed load with a few tshirts in they will get charged £15 per 20 items instead of £12.50.

You will find people taking the mick more and more so if you find people are doing that warn them that you will be charging them extra.

Steph x

missspeedy23

I only iron the front of collars on shirts too, though one of my customers is fussy and only wants the back of his collars ironing! Not sure how he'd notice the difference though...!

I get quite a few customers sending things screwed up in bin liners and I'm seriously considering charging extra as they're a complete pig to iron! I hate ironing expensive clothes too as they are more fitted/pleated - give me a bag of George any day

janca

Hi everyone,

I had my first costumer on Monday. He called on Sunday at 9pm ! Have done his 20 shirts, in about 1 1/2 hours, which were ok. I was really scared as they came in all stuffed in a bag, but luckily were nothing like my husbands shirts.

So far nothing else though, so will print some leaflets and take them around today.

Thanks for your help everyone.