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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to pay someone to do my ironing?

61 replies

OhTheConfusion · 13/12/2011 10:30

I am married with 3 dc's (youngest is 3mths) and have the washing machine on twice a day (plus bedding).

No matter what I do I always seem to have a HUGE ironing pile that never get's smaller so I looked online, found a company and they have just came and collected 50items of our clothing Blush

I told my MIL and she asked what exactly did I need that for and surely her son wouldnt want to 'waste' his money on that! Frstly, I earn money and all money is ours... but aibu to want to spend time with my baby and going to dc's festive concerts etc than trying to tackle the mountain of ironing?

OP posts:
HazleNutt · 13/12/2011 13:38

YANBU. I don't iron anyway, but it is totally reasonable to pay someone to do something you don't want to do. Why not if you can in fact afford it?

You need to get a bigger washing machine though if you need 2 loads for 2 children's tennis kits.

entropyglitter · 13/12/2011 13:45

hmmm I used to have an iron....I wonder where it is....

GoingForGoalWeight · 13/12/2011 13:57

entrophyglitter - that really made me chuckle Xmas Grin

good for you Smile

Original poster
OhTheConfusion · 13/12/2011 14:52

HazelNut, we can afford it... I would rather have the ironing done for me than a bottle of wine a week. And im afraid the tennis kits etc are on top of the everyday washing. If only someone could figure out how to safely wash darks and whites together I could fill the 8kg drum happily once a day!

Am I the only one with so much laundry? Do you all have nice (non pukey) clean children?

OP posts:
AMumInScotland · 13/12/2011 15:00

Can't you just alternate days? Do dark stuff on Monday and Wednesday, light stuff on Tuesday and Thursday?

eurochick · 13/12/2011 15:08

yanbu at all. We both work full time (no DCs yet) and would often have no clothes ready for work if someone else didn't iron them. Our cleaner does ours. She hates it as much as I do but at least she is getting paid for it and I am getting a couple of extra hours a week that are not taken up with work or household chores.

DoesNotGiveAFig · 13/12/2011 15:12

YANBU, ironing sucks if you don't enjoy it. Which i don't so have a very wrinkly looking family who can iron it themselves if they want it

swanrevelry · 13/12/2011 15:17

I pay someone to iron my husband's shirts. YANBU to pay someone to iron something, no different for paying for anything which you hate doing, whether it is biscuits, clothes (after all, people did use to make their own clothes...) bread, nappies, pre-cooked meals occasionally, takeaways...

But, Otherwise, we don't iron anything. Why do you have to iron swimming kit and school uniform (it's all drip dry)? Or PE kit even? Or babies' bibs and vests? That is a bit U. [Actually I know exactly where you are coming from, because I used to iron my baby clothes obsessively. But I shouldn't have, because there were better things to do...]
I know people who just like ironing, and people who feel very happy in ironed clothes. I just now avoid clothes that need proper ironing or I think the washing would never ever get finished and put away.

Enjoy your new baby!

Lizcat · 13/12/2011 15:23

Bed sheets, knickers, sports kit, PJs and most childrens clothes do not need ironing in my book. The rest goes in a big blue ikea bag and a lovely chap comes every other Tuesday takes it away and returns all the clothes hung on hangers, ironed and cover in plastic. I work way to many hours to stand over a hot iron for any time at all and it is worth every single penny I pay.

Original poster
OhTheConfusion · 13/12/2011 19:22

I think I have confused everyone. I don't iron swim kit etc I was talking about the amount of laundry in general we seem to go through and by the time I have dealt with the washing and drying I really can't be bothered with the ironing!

I am also not nutty enough to iron the baby's vests, tights, frilly knickers etc. They are folded and used as they come.

My bedroom looks like a room again as opposed to the laundrette!

OP posts:
marriedandwreathedinholly · 13/12/2011 21:03

YANBU for sub contracting the ironing. YABU for telling MIL.

21 years with DH have taught me never to tell MIL such things. I have significant extravagances in her eyes: a motor car, a £59 pair of cotton trousers, an au-pair when the dc were 7 and 10 and i went back to work full time, highlights, ooh and I don't count potatoes and slices of meat Shock.

Fancy coming for Christmas - I could see if I can get you a tongue shield!

duvetdayplease · 13/12/2011 21:06

You can pay me to do it. I don;t buy anything for me that needs ironing and I'm an evil wife so my DH does his own but I will happily do yours for cash.

cozietoesie · 13/12/2011 21:09

I actually possess an iron. It's in the hall cupboard. On the top shelf (9 foot up.) I have no idea if it still works because I haven't used it for 5 years. In my view, ironing is one of the tasks that you would get in purgatory and nothing would get me to do it here. Nothing.

If you're a good enough laundress and buy your clothes appropriately, ironing isn't necessary.

Nikkid21 · 13/12/2011 21:20

Yadnbu

Although I may be biased as my mum & dad have a small business taking in ironing and delivering it back. Mostly it seems to be shirts or bedding.

A small request from the pros - please don't tumble everything until crispy dry and then squash into the smallest bag possible. It doesn't need to come folded but you shouldn't be able to stuff a kingsize bedding set into a tesco carrier bagGrin

humblehippo · 13/12/2011 22:56

YANBU

If you want it and can pay for it then what has it to do with your MIL?! I would be irritated at the comment about "wasting your DH money". Just don't mention these things to her if that is her take on things.

chickydoo · 13/12/2011 23:01

I have a lovely lady come in and do my ironing once a week, she is really reasonable, stays for 3 hours and irons whatever I put inthe ironing basket....total bliss, I work 6 days a week, don't have time to iron. No guilt here, op YANBU

Original poster
OhTheConfusion · 14/12/2011 08:11

Nikkid21, some people amaze me! I am happy to say my 50 or so items left neatly folded in two black bags (not a bed sheet in sight!).

OP posts:
flamegirl77 · 14/12/2011 08:11

Our iron is used for weddings, funerals and job interviews. Although we are lucky that my husband can dress -scruffy- casual.

TubbyDuffs · 14/12/2011 08:42

And how happy do you feel to see your bedroom floor again and know that its all done! That feeling is priceless!

Original poster
OhTheConfusion · 14/12/2011 08:58

Sooooooo happy :) It looks like a room you wish to use again!

OP posts:
ChristmasIsAcumenin · 14/12/2011 09:02

I have never owned an iron. I am, admittedly, disreputable and slovenly.

PieCherry · 14/12/2011 09:10

OMG Hell No!

I'd give up alcohol before I give up my ironing lady!!

get on with it - fuck the MIL!!

nicenivea · 14/12/2011 09:10

YADNBU - I pay someone to do as much as possible of all my household tasks and I am a SAHM! Life/short and all that...

starfishmummy · 14/12/2011 09:11

YANBU at all.

I only work p-t, and have one ds who is disabled so I often send dh's shirts to be laundered/ DS and I wear stuff that we don't need to iron!!

EauDeLaPoisson · 14/12/2011 09:15

I bought a new iron 4 months ago- its still in the box.
YANBU and MIL's are just there to dissaprove anyway!

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