Reluctant ironer seeks advice on organisation.

[FlyMeToDunoon]

I confess - I rarely iron. However I am trying to turn over a new leaf and make a teeny effort but it is such a faff.
First get the ironing board out and put it up in the living room so I can watch Top Gear at the same time.
Get out the iron and fill with water.
Try and plug it in but no plug is near enough to actually allow ironing. Or is iron lead too short.
Find and plug in extension.
Get basket of ironing.
Get spare hangers.

Ah finally - iron.

Hang stuff up erm on the door handle, the door frame and over the sofa arm. hmmmm

Unless I dedicate the dining room solely to ironing and have the board, iron and extension out at all times, buy extra hangers and a rail to hang things on and another TV for in there too so I can watch Top Gear I'm never going to iron again.

Am I?

[notnowbernard]

I hate it too

But have got myself into a routine of doing it once aweek, on a Monday, no matter how much or how little of it there is to do

I find an accompanying glass of wine helps

[whomovedmychocolate]

Right.......you can get a metal gizmo to fit on the wall - we have ours on the back of a long cupboard door, which holds iron and ironing board. We also have a hangaway which is like a tripod with arms to hang hangers on when you iron.

But yes it is a faff unless you have it all there when you want it.

[Wordsonascreen]

You lost me at Top Gear

[FlyMeToDunoon]

I am having a beer too which has helped and we are onto the rather more enlightening Antiques Roadshow.
Perhaps a bar in the Dining room too?

[DreamTeamGirl]

I try and iron as I go

I have a little iron board from Ikea that is a tabletop one- Betterware also do one i think and its so so quick. I loathe the balava of getting it all out too, so lovemy table top/ counter top board
The iron is rarely away (doesnt have a home tbh which is a really poor show as it tend sto become clutter) and the cable is plenty long enough

Maybe do it little and often instead?

[glacierchick]

I loathe ironing too, but fortunately I don't really need to do a lot as it's mainly DH's work shirts. My office wear is very laid back so I don't bother with my day to day clothes normally, unless I need something to look really nice for going out or whatever.

My grandmother irons everythign including socks, pants, bed sheets and tea towels. There's more to life in my opinion...

So my suggestions are:

1. Decide what really needs ironing and only do that. Do not feel guilty about the rest of it. No one irons t-shirts for instance...
   
   
2. If you have space in your wardrobes/cupboards hang or fold the dry washing inside until you are ready to do it. This has the additional advantage of not makign you feel guilty about not having doen it yet (out of sight out of mind)
   
   
3. Use the low crease setting on your washing machine. i.e. don't put on the washing in the morning, only to have it all crumpled and creased all day in the machine, before you get chance to empty it. Keep it in the water, and spin it just before you empty it (hope this makes sense)
   
   
4. The best tip I can offer is hang out the shirts/blouses/trousers whatever really does NEED ironing on hangers straight out the washing machine. We have a clothes horse that goes outside when the weather is good enough, or takes over the spare room when it's not, with space for lots of items on hangers. The creases drop out as the clothes dry making it much easier and faster to iron and having done all this stuff you'll find some things don't need ironing at all.
   
   
5. An optional extra tip that works well for some people - train the rest of your household to do their own ironing. Or failing that, employ a cleaner who is also happy to iron.....
   
   
6. Oh and one final thing, look up some ironing advice on the internet, my grandmother once showed me how to iron a shirt "properly". It now takes me less than half the time it used to and I get better and neater results. I imagine youtube will be full of helpful how to videos...

[Lovesdogsandcats]

I don't use a tumble dryer, I use a rack, and hang creasable tops on hangers to dry, after a good stretch. The only time I iron is the odd pair of jeans or combat trousers.

[FlyMeToDunoon]

Oh I avoid ironing most clothes by all of your tips already
In the summer the ironing pile gets emormous due to:
linen items
DD's cotton dresses
and DP's shirts.

I don't actually iron all winter.