Ironing- if I have to do it, when would I do it?

[ohhellohnoitsagruffalo]

According to ongoing debate on mumsnet and another recent thread about looking groomed, ironing should be done after all. I stopped a while ago but feel as I am getting older and am in a more professional role that I should make more of an effort. Also for my DCs to look less scruffy. But I'm wondering, when does a working parent find the time to do it? How much time do people spend on it? It seems like a bloody lot of work.

[MarkRuffaloCrumble]

I don't actually mind doing it, but never do! My kids' clothes end up on the floor anyway, so no point trying to make them look neat!

DP buys easy non iron shirts and usually wears them for 2 days so even if he does need one ironing, it's rare and I don't mind doing it for him before work, but I work at home so can be a bit more relaxed in the mornings.

If I were trying to get out in the mornings I'd go for a Sunday night iron-athon in front of the TV.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

Sunday evening here too, stick something on the telly and work through the pile.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I do 20 mins every evening after dinner till it's done ( usually three nights). I'm in a professional/clinical role so need to look crisp and efficient.

[ohhellohnoitsagruffalo]

Ironing in front of the tv, I hadn't thought of that. at your username!

[JackandDiane]

oh ffs it takes TOPS an hour
Put tv on
stand
iron

[Sleeplessinmybedroom]

I iron on Sunday evenings. The only things I iron are school uniforms.

[ohhellohnoitsagruffalo]

Lonecatwithkitten I'm in a professional/ clinical role too at a senior level so it makes me cringe to really think about it. I am going to have to start doing it.

[JackandDiane]

also do lower spins for polycotton mixes
800 for those
1200 for cottons
1600 for jeans and towels

[Patterkiller]

Everyone has a basket which is folded from line or dryer, I also hang stuff from dryer that obviously doesn't need ironing.

I usually end up with half a basket that needs ironing and spend 30 mins on a Sunday. Job done. The iron probably need to come out once more a week for the odd needed item.

[ohhellohnoitsagruffalo]

Jackanddiane does that mean you accumulate all the week's laundry and iron it in one single hour session? The issue I have is I do several loads of laundry through the week, usually fold and put away (unironed) a load as I'm doing the next one. I'm imagining a huge ironing pile if I left all of the week's laundry for sunday evening. Washing it and putting it away takes loads of time as it is.

[TheFairyFellersMasterStroke]

Bottle Glass of wine and a DVD - you won't even notice you're ironing.

Or if it's a sunny day and you're all out in the garden, get an extension cable and take your ironing outside.

If your DCs are over the age of ten, there's no reason why they can't start doing their own ironing. DPs are also quite capable, so if you only have your own stuff to do then it shouldn't take too long.

[raspberryrippleicecream]

I generally do one ironing session a week. Sunday evening with something on TV. Just stack it during week in a basket.

[jazzandh]

family of 4 and I iron most things (including pyjamas) as I am rubbish at the MN "shake and fold" system - and equally dislike a a crumpled look. I take clothes from the line and bung it in ta pile to iron.

Sometimes I iron straight from the washing line etc...but a whole weeks worth of ironing with a decent steam generator iron takes 40 mins or so. I watch a saved programme and do it one evening.

I actually quite enjoy it!

[GiveMyHeadPeaceffs]

My dp does it...after I've gone to bed

[JackandDiane]

dont do sheets and stuff
yes i have three sons - there are loads of shirts
Just an hour

[jazzandh]

I wouldn't do it on a Sunday evening though - feels a bit too much like back to work night - tend to do mine on a Tuesday, as long as you have sufficient school uniform to roll round etc....

[JackandDiane]

just get on with it and stop making it a big deal
fold and put away as you go.
get kids to do socks and pants
iron once a week

[elQuintoConyo]

On Sundays I organise what I'm going to wear mon-fri and iron it. Then hang it up so i have, eg:
Monday: blue dress, jacket/cardi, necessary underwear;
Tuesday: jeans, blouse, scarf, underwear.

I run the iron over stuff the night before I wear it or the morning of, as I wait for my tea to brew. Takes 10 minutes a week to go over DS' shorts and tshirts. DH does his own

I don't iron in winter

[janethegirl2]

1 hour once a week generally suffices

[WorraLiberty]

Mine and DH's work uniforms never need ironing ( I mean they actually really don't), so it's just DS2 who wears a different shirt to 6th form everyday, and DS3 who makes do with 3 shirts a week for school + a couple of pairs of trousers each.

So that's 8 shirts and 4 pairs of trousers.

I used to iron them all on a Sunday night, until I realised it was actually spoiling Sundays for me.

So now I just whip the iron out for 5-10 minutes every evening and life is much better

[Ilovewillow]

I iron in the evenings after children have gone to bed so about 8.30, probably 3 times a week. I am an anal ironer though and a night owl plus my youngest is only 2 so wouldn't iron when he's up! I always iron in front of the to!

[snowgirl1]

I iron on Sunday evening in front of the TV (where else would anyone do it?) and start when DH does DD's bedtime (we usually take turns to do bedtime but he does bedtime every Sunday evening - the deal is he does bedtime and I iron his shirts). It takes a couple of hours - I iron everything bar underwear. I each time a take a load of washing off the clothes airer I just put it into a laundry basket for ironing.

[HarryDresdensLeatherDuster]

I iron as needed. Clothes washed and dried and either hung or folded for drawers. If someone wants to wear something that is not as pristine as they want it, then they iron it.

DD never bothers to iron anything. DS1 very bothered and irons everything. DS2...a work in progress.

Me - if something I want to wear needs ironing, then I iron it.

Never quite understood why you would iron things and then put them away. Surely they just get creased again??

[RedSoloCup]

I just sift out the few things that need ironing when I put the washing away and do them as I go, it's only really a few bits for my work and a few uniform bits never loads, the rest just gets put away.

[23jumpstreet]

I iron as and when it's nedded, can't stand ironing for more than 10 minutes.