What makes the most difference to ironing?

[StandUpPirates]

Took some photos of Dc and you can see every crease in their t-shirts 😳
I've dug the iron out (MIL's old one) and my flimsy ironing board with equally old cover.
Ironing on steam setting cotton even though most clothes say level 2. T-Shirts don't look much less creased than before

What is most important when ironing? If I replace something should it be the iron, the board or would a decent cover be enough to make a difference?

Fabric conditioner.
Get out the machine promptly
A flick before hanging out
Fold them until you iron
Hot iron.

Tumble drying is the best thing but I avoid it now cos of the cost

It’s spray starch. The end.

I never iron anything, how do they get so creased? So you get them out the dryer as soon as the wash has finished? Do you use fabric softener?

I used to spend hours ironing. Waste of a life.

I now fold the T-shirts as soon as they're dry. Sharp creases down the sleeves and make sure they're smooth and wrinkle free. They look fine and I used to be a right fusspot about creases.

Anyway, they look creased again within minutes of wear.

As long as they are clean.....that's all that matters.

Polti iron and a good size ironing board. Only iron what you need to.

If you can see the pattern of your ironing board through the cover then you definitely need a new cover, preferably a thick reflective one. If your iron doesn't seem to be getting the creases out maybe it needs descaling. You could try using a spray bottle of water while you iron if the clothes are very creased.

If possible best time to iron is when the clothes are still a bit damp.

Decent iron - I iron everything I can on highest steam setting

Hang dry and don't leave in washing machine / ironing pile if you want to avoid creases

Spritz with water when ironing - most irons have this option built in

You can get those ironing board covers which reflect the heat back up, supposedly halving your ironing time as you only have to do one side. I still do both sides but the other side doesn't seem to take as long so maybe it does work 🤷‍♀️

What is this crease release you speak of?? I think I might need it in my life!

It's wonderful stuff. I get it in Home Bargains in the laundry aisle. A few sprays where things are creased and either hang them up and let them dry and watch the creases fall out or you can do the crack-whip type action a PP mentioned and they come out even faster.

It is one of these, although I got it for less: like everything even in a few months they seem to have gone up a lot in cost. 😩

https://ironingpresscompany.com/products/Clothes-Steamers/Propress-Steamers/Propress-PRO290-Professional-Clothes-Steamer-2litre.html

I did a lot of research (initially intending to buy one of the handheld ones for under £100 but those seem to be mainly for getting small creases out of clothes that have been ironed already and maybe packed in a suitcare or creased up in an overcrowded wardrobe; they are good for their purpose but not a substitute for an iron).

The Propress ones are pricey but it's one of those cases of buy quality that actually works and buy once. It saves SO much hassle and over time is more than paying for itself with reduced wear and tear to clothes and reduced dry cleaning.

It's also way more fun to use than doing ironing! How sad my life has become. 🤣🙈

I don't iron. Except for the odd shirt for a wedding for DH. I haven't used my iron since we moved house which was a year ago, and can't remember when I used it before that.

You need to perfect the art of a really strong flick of your clothes when they come out of the washing machine. I dry shirts and some of my tops on hangers. And buy M&S non iron school shirts.

My bedsheets/duvets do have some creases but I'm really not bothered. Clothes aren't creased.

These are the ones a lot of costume designers or dry cleaners use. It is brillianr, although I balked at the cost and took ages to decide to get it. No regrets.

If you line dry a T-shirt it shouldn’t need ironing. What happens once clothes are dry? Are they getting crumpled after being dried?

To iron, put a towel on the board if you’re getting board marks. And use steam and the sprayer from the iron.

I did this for years: just bought clothes with no ironing needed. But started to feel guilty when DCs looked scruffy in uniforms that I had no control over choosing, despite the shaking/ straight out of tumble dryer etc.

Spray with water before you iron each item

@EdBallsDay, many thanks - will check it out! 😁

I mean I bought the steamer in maybe March? And prior to that had not even owned and ironing board or iron in a decade. 🙈🙈

😊

🤣

I genuinely didn't realise people still ironed.

Doing something more valuable with your time? I promise you, on your deathbed you won't say 'I'm so glad I removed creases from clothes'