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'Take in' some ironing!

71 replies

Theironladie · 22/01/2025 15:46

Name-changed for this post. I know it is a well worn cliché on MN to suggest ‘taking in ironing’ when someone needs to make extra money. However this is exactly what I’m thinking of doing! I need to make/save as much money as possible in next 12 months towards a house deposit. I don’t mind ironing and think I’m pretty good at it. I just need to think through a few aspects of it and would appreciate some input please. I live in a relatively affluent part of the SE of England; what would a reasonable charge be? (until recently we had a cleaner who charges £16 per hour for context). Would it be best to charge by item or by the hour? If I offer to collect and deliver in local area could I charge an extra fee for this? I work 4 days per week, so would have Monday to Weds evenings, and all day Friday and weekends to iron. How fast a turnaround would people expect? I will look in to getting insurance in case an item of clothing was damaged etc. I plan to set up a facebook page and advertise via local community groups but with a business name, rather than my own name (partly because I feel slightly embarrassed as I know lots of people in the area, and particularly don’t want my recent cleaner/ironing lady to see that I’m setting up in competition with her). Any genius idea’s for names? The best I’ve come up with is ‘The Iron Lady’… Thanks. Any insights appreciated.

OP posts:
Greyish2025 · 22/01/2025 18:14

Ericabro · 22/01/2025 17:49

I used to be called pressed to impress and would now charge £20 for a mixed bag of 20 items and duvet cover/sheets £5 a set depending on size good luck love in summer have a spay bottle with water and fabric conditioner in and spray all linen items and obviously stuff people had left on the washing line all day before starting work also turn everything inside the right way before plugging in and wasting electric and ask for hangers love best place to advertise local shops

have a spay bottle with water and fabric conditioner

I wouldn’t put fabric conditioner in it, some people hate the smell of some fabric conditioners

whatsappdoc · 22/01/2025 18:18

The Ironizer?

HaveANiceFuckingDay · 22/01/2025 18:18

I'm in Essex and my ironing lady charges £21 for 40 items . She picks it up and drops it off normally 24 hours turn around.

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NormaleKartoffeln · 22/01/2025 18:18

Possibly not as simple as it sounds.
Possible issues:
Insurance needed
Increased electricity usage
RSI/Back pain
May need a better iron/board
Needs to be an original name (not a name already associated with a band, for example)
Need to register with HMRC

Greyish2025 · 22/01/2025 18:20

Some possible names for the business:

  1. Wrinkle Wizards
  2. Pressed for Time
  3. Smooth Operators
spilltheteapot · 22/01/2025 18:23

“Pressed to Impress”

3luckystars · 22/01/2025 18:24

Crease Lightning 😁

sHREDDIES19 · 22/01/2025 18:40

I would be a terrible customer as I don’t iron a thing!

PandoraFrontier · 22/01/2025 18:50

Bloody hell. This is a lot of work for not much money. Especially after insurance, electricity and potentially mileage!

FictionalCharacter · 22/01/2025 18:58

I've used ironing services in the past. Definitely charge by item, bag etc. I wouldn't use one that charged by the hour because I'd have no idea what I'd have to pay.

I stopped using one, because she was a dog breeder and the clothes had a faint but noticeable smell of dog when she brought them round. I love dogs, but not doggy smells on my clothes!

NormaleKartoffeln · 22/01/2025 19:19

sHREDDIES19 · 22/01/2025 18:40

I would be a terrible customer as I don’t iron a thing!

I don't either. Waste of time and energy.

Dontlletmedownbruce · 22/01/2025 20:42

Check out laundry costs at all the local hotels and maybe any other private services in your area.

I came here to say Iron Maiden but I see many others got here first!

Get the little board for sleeves too, it will make the job much easier. Consider getting a steamer too, much faster for some items. There might be some going second hand.

Procrastoolate · 22/01/2025 20:58

Don't forget to factor in fuel costs. The person who did my mum's ironing stopped as it was no longer worth it when petrol costs went up.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 23/01/2025 06:36

Pressed for T

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 23/01/2025 06:38

Pressed for Time

Please let me know if you're in S/W Yorkshire!

achangeofusername · 23/01/2025 06:41

Our ironing lady charges £2 per lb in weight which works out extremely cheap. She picks up and drops off 24 hours later- both pick up and drop off are in the evening.

AwakeNotThruChoice · 23/01/2025 06:47

I don’t iron.

But to the poster who used to offer this. I wouldn’t want my clothes sprayed with fabric conditioner!!

CatsMagic · 23/01/2025 07:02

PandoraFrontier · 22/01/2025 18:50

Bloody hell. This is a lot of work for not much money. Especially after insurance, electricity and potentially mileage!

I agree.

As someone who grew up in poverty I am always baffled by the suggestions on here when people ask how to make extra money- usually pages of ‘side hustles’ which are a terrible return - lots of time for very little money!

The most efficient way to make extra money is to pick up overtime in current role
or get a second job in hospitality or retail (quick hiring process and often offering evening/weekend shifts).

Theironladie · 23/01/2025 10:52

CatsMagic · 23/01/2025 07:02

I agree.

As someone who grew up in poverty I am always baffled by the suggestions on here when people ask how to make extra money- usually pages of ‘side hustles’ which are a terrible return - lots of time for very little money!

The most efficient way to make extra money is to pick up overtime in current role
or get a second job in hospitality or retail (quick hiring process and often offering evening/weekend shifts).

There is no overtime available in my full-time job and family commitments mean I can't take an extra job evenings or weekends. I already make a fair bit from other 'side hustles' that work for me. Even if after insurance and electricity I made say (guessing at this point of course) £10 per hour from the comfort of my own home, doing something I strangely enjoy while watching tv etc, why would this not be worthwhile?

OP posts:
OSU · 23/01/2025 11:00

No idea on prices as I inly iron something when I need to wear it but wrt names:
Smooth Operator

Theironladie · 23/01/2025 14:31

OSU · 23/01/2025 11:00

No idea on prices as I inly iron something when I need to wear it but wrt names:
Smooth Operator

Love the name, thanks!

OP posts:
BoudiccasBangles · 23/01/2025 14:33

2catsandhappy · 22/01/2025 16:52

The Board Housewife.

This is brilliant.

chattyness · 23/01/2025 14:44

Good luck with it, I used to do this years ago when I was single and working in a local pub. We had few single/divorced lads that wanted their ironing done so I took it in and charged £10 -15 a basket, depending how much they crammed into it. They dropped off and picked up as I didn't drive. I like ironing and am good at it so it never felt like a job but was a nice little earner I could do it at home while watching TV. It was lucky for me as they would ask if I had a slot when popping in for a pint after their work.

Theironladie · 07/02/2025 12:48

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 23/01/2025 06:38

Pressed for Time

Please let me know if you're in S/W Yorkshire!

Sadly not! SE England.

OP posts:
JC03745 · 07/02/2025 13:07

As someone who has never used an ironing service, but now thinking about it, here are my questions/comments:

If someone is too busy to iron, won't they be too busy to wash also? Why wouldn't they use a laundrette that also collects/drops of, but also washes and irons the clothes if wanted?

Would you also be offering washing of the clothes too?

Do the clothes get returned folded up, or on a hanger? If a hanger, how will you transport these in a regular car?

I did use a laundrette when renovating, and they sold large, zip up bags as an optional purchase