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

polki

I just wanted to share a tip I used to hear talked about on our local radio station, which was to iron standing feet apart on a normal bed pillow. Apparently this acts as a shock absorber to prevent the aches and pains.

Hopefully this will help someone. Keep up the good work.

mrsspoon_2

clairibel wrote: »

Have you tried doing some stretches maybe yoga to stretch it all out as thats a lot of ironing your doing.

I do about 4 ish a day and i find my legs are the bits that hurt the most.

I don't know why I didn't think of yoga, it's just finding time to fit it in..

Will try the pillow too!

On a separate note, the first combat shirts of summer arrived today *sigh*....is there an easy way to deal with them? I tend to do the pockets on the legs first and then do the best I can laying the legs flat on the board. Is this how you all do it?

missspeedy23

mrsspoon wrote: »

I don't know why I didn't think of yoga, it's just finding time to fit it in..

Will try the pillow too!

On a separate note, the first combat shirts of summer arrived today *sigh*....is there an easy way to deal with them? I tend to do the pockets on the legs first and then do the best I can laying the legs flat on the board. Is this how you all do it?

I hate combats!! I tend to do the back of the legs first, then turn over and do the front as I find once you do the backs, the front ends up looking a mess! If it's one where there's like a bit when it kind of overlaps the material (can't really explain it!) I tend to hold that bit flat and iron the top part of it and then the bit underneath. If it's a pocket that wraps round both sides, I do it a side at a time. And use spray if it's that awful material

missspeedy23

Does anyone have any tips for getting "tram lines" out of trousers? A customer I had yesterday had obviously attempted to put creases in some trousers (numerous times) and they looked horrendous. I sprayed them and pressed them really slowly so they looked better but they still weren't great, you could still see some of the other creases no matter how hard I tried!

maisy_daisy

Just checking in Feeling a teeny bit down that I've not had any customers yet - I did get an enquiry via my website but heard nothing more, and my website comes up on Google's first few results when I search for ironing in Doncaster. Someone must want me to iron for them!!!

clairibel

missspeedy23 wrote: »

Does anyone have any tips for getting "tram lines" out of trousers? A customer I had yesterday had obviously attempted to put creases in some trousers (numerous times) and they looked horrendous. I sprayed them and pressed them really slowly so they looked better but they still weren't great, you could still see some of the other creases no matter how hard I tried!

I have this problem with some shirts, ground in tram lines and i just do my best and tell the person its impossible to shift the other lines.

Combats i also hate but i use a pad that i shove inside the pockets and i do the back first and then just put the pad in the front and do the best i can, takes ages though.

I'm getting a lot of over dried linen shirts and pants at the mo, just never looks neat They know what a nightmare they are to iron though thats why they send them

missspeedy23

Oh I hate linen too, awful!! Especially white for some reason - never looks ironed when you've finished! I end up spraying them with loads of softened water but they still don't look great.

I've got a pad that came with my press so might give that a try

missspeedy23

Another question! For those with steam presses - when the foam needs replacing where do you get it from? Mine's started to look a bit squashed so could do with a new one but don't know if normal foam cut to size would be good with the heat or if it's special foam??

Jo

missspeedy23

maisy_daisy wrote: »

Just checking in Feeling a teeny bit down that I've not had any customers yet - I did get an enquiry via my website but heard nothing more, and my website comes up on Google's first few results when I search for ironing in Doncaster. Someone must want me to iron for them!!!

You'll get there! Where have you advertised? My first customer came from some leaflets I left in a kids soft play area so I was quite surprised! I can't remember if you're on Google Places or not but most of my recent customers have been from there.

Also - if there's any free local guides that come round by you, try a month or 2 in there - I also had a good response from that but stopped advertising as I couldn't take any more work on at the time (I worked full time too then!). I got one or 2 calls from a leaflet drop I did but it probably worked out about 1% so not a great return. I've got vinyl lettering on the back of my car now too so I advertise while I'm driving

It is disheartening when someone rings you for a price and then doesn't ring back, makes you wonder why doesn't it. It did take a good couple of months for me to get my first customer so just hold on in there!

Jo
x

kats53

Hi everyone
Haven't been on here for a while as I've been having surgery for cataracts and have been giving the computer a miss while they've been healing.
Nice to see some new folk joining the "ironing elite" lol. Good luck to you all, don't worry if you haven't had much interest at the beginning, it will come. I seemed to go for ages without hearing from anyone then got a few all at the same time!
I was just wondering what everyones worst thing to iron was, have just read the post about ironing combats and totally agree they can be a nightmare. You just get one side ironed nicely and then by the time you do the other side the first is a mess! I have been using a sleeve board for combats and childrens jeans this last week and although a wee bit fiddly at first its not a bad solution.
I also hate frills and fiddly bows, girls and womens clothes tend to be more fiddly and time consuming than mens.
See you all soon and happy ironing!