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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

At what age should a child start ironing?

558 replies

Boogers · 13/04/2016 19:13

H and I had a big argument last night about the things that DS(12) can and can't do. I said DS should be learning how to iron by now, to which H strongly disagreed.

I remember ironing my dad's hankerchiefs when I was about 7 or 8, and when I was about 12 or 13 I was ironing my school uniform on a Sunday evening (in autumn it was 5 shirts, 3 box pleated skirts, 1 blazer, in summer it was 5 dresses and 1 blazer).

DS had no issues with co-ordination or ability to sense hot and cold, there is no reason why he can't learn to use an iron. H says that he and his brother never ironed when they were younger (his brother is 40 and has never ironed in his life; his parents, my in-laws, do it all for him).

Who is being unreasonable here, me or H? Should I encourage DS to learn how to iron?

OP posts:

purplevase · 15/04/2016 11:01

I'm still puzzled as to why anyone needs to "learn" how to iron. Surely it just needs a bit of common sense

I agree - I also think you have a knack or not - husband didn't iron until he left home but he is much better at it than I am (but probably also because he spends about 15 minutes per shirt and I spend about 2). And it also depends what sort of iron you have - I think you get what you pay for. But as I said further up the thread, I just iron stuff so it's wearable and doesn't look like it's just come out of the washing machine, and buy a lot of tops that don't need ironing.

LittleLionMansMummy · 15/04/2016 11:03

Only on mn could the issue of ironing or not turn into a bun fight! Who knew that ironing could be so divisive?! Is there a full moon?

Kit30 · 15/04/2016 11:05

Irony

Mommawoo · 15/04/2016 11:05

Glad to see so many non-ironers out there. Mil thinks im weird because i dont iron dd babygros. Fucking babygros

merrymouse · 15/04/2016 11:06

Children's clothes are generally made out of fabrics that don't crease. If you like t-shirts and jeans to look 'pressed' that is as much personal choice as wearing make-up or getting your nails done. It's not about being lazy or not lazy.

Schwabischeweihnachtskanne · 15/04/2016 11:12

No First - more espresso and Kidnapped

albertcampionscat · 15/04/2016 11:21

Babygros mommawoo? That's nuts.

prettybird · 15/04/2016 11:23

Littlelionmansmummy - I'm not always that organised

If I do let it pile up when I'm feeling depressed it's amazing how I can prioritise. Pillowcases are then a low priority. (By the way, I don't iron l duvet covers as life is indeed too short to grapple with a superking size duvet cover so I choose textured ones )

It did take me until my 40s to understand and act on my mum's advice of hanging things out carefully. I love properly windy days as they also help reduce the crumples.

I'm no domestic goddess though - I hate washing things by hand and can let handwash items fester at the bottom of the washbasket literally for years before putting them in the washing machine anyway (My next washing machine will have a handwash cycle ).

espressotogo · 15/04/2016 11:24

This thread reminds me of the story my friend once told me about when her mum went to visit her sister (so her daughter) in Australia. When she was there she got the ironing board out to iron one of her tops and her granddaughter said 'What's that nanny, did you bring it with you ?' - clearly she had never seen it before

I have repeated said story in tones of shock, horror and wonder over the years while grabbing for my pearls :)........

Marynary · 15/04/2016 11:27

Wouldn't it be more accurate to conclude that some people do notice un-ironed clothes, and some people don't?

If anyone did notice that I don't iron my clothes and "judged me" for it, I still wouldn't care. The opinion of that type of person isn't of much interest to me.

espressotogo · 15/04/2016 11:28

I also proudly iron DPs shirts clearly I have ishoos :)

But when alls said and done if most people didn't iron, places like Currys and Argos wouldn't have millions of sodding irons for sale would they ???

merrymouse · 15/04/2016 11:31

I think most people iron things like shirts as necessary. What they don't do is iron everything in the wash.

Marynary · 15/04/2016 11:31

Oh come on, they weren't going to say 'well we thought you looked a bit crumpled,' were they?

If you knew them and me you would know that they would say something. They certainly wouldn't have been surprised.

NotnowNigel · 15/04/2016 11:39

Ironing clothes helps to kill the bacteria that cause BO.

Washing clothes kills most of that bacteria, but not all, particularly if the fabric can't be washed at a higher temperature.

At work, if I see anyone with crumpled clothes I think either, dumbo it's not much of a skill to learn, or lazy sod can't be bothered to come to work looking like they've made some effort. I wouldn't say anything though. I think personal comments are intrusive (and boring) whether positive or negative.

FirstWeTakeManhattan · 15/04/2016 11:40

If you knew them and me you would know that they would say something. They certainly wouldn't have been surprised

I had a feeling you'd say that

Sorry, but the truth remains that some people really can tell if you haven't ironed. Really, really they can. And they don't say anything because they don't care.

Other people don't notice. They don't care either.

It's not a biggie. You choose not to iron. Some people will notice that. Some won't. No one minds either way.

Marynary · 15/04/2016 11:43

Mary, I don't consider myself morally superior because I iron my kids clothes. No their happiness does not depend on it - what a ridiculous thing to say ! I am just saying that it is personal preference - clothes look better ironed IMHO. I am entitled to think it's lazy not to do it just as you think it's a waste of time

Of course you are entitled to think what you like or judge people as you like. However, I am entitled to think that by saying you would “judge a parent” who sent their child to school in non-ironed clothes and consider them to be lazy, you feel superior because you iron. I am also entitled to think that is a bit pathetic.

prettybird · 15/04/2016 11:44

I remember being taught how to iron shirts "properly" by a friend in my residence at Uni - a male

But I did also have to teach other guys how to use the washing machine and incredibly hot dryer

Marynary · 15/04/2016 11:45

Sorry, but the truth remains that some people really can tell if you haven't ironed. Really, really they can. And they don't say anything because they don't care.

It is not a "truth". It is just your opinion. Regardless, I couldn't really care less if people notice or not.

espressotogo · 15/04/2016 11:46

'you feel superior because you iron'

Mary, FFS I have not said that I feel superior because of it !!!

You need to chill out a bit - I find ironing relaxing - you should give it a go.........

Kidnapped · 15/04/2016 11:49

Schwab, I was merely responding to a couple of people's assertions that people can't tell the difference between ironed and unironed clothes. Erm, yes, lots of people can tell the difference.

Honestly don't care if people iron or not.

If that makes me a pearl clutcher, then so be it.

Marynary · 15/04/2016 11:52

In our house it has always piled up for several weeks while we all avoid the task, resulting in a mountain of clean washing that requires 3 hours of attention (while we all scrabbled around for unworn clothes in our wardrobe that hadn't seen the light of day since the 80s!)

That's my experience of many people who iron. They have mountains of washing lying around looking untidy. I also wouldn't want to wear something that had been in the wardrobe for years without washing it first (because of dust).

espressotogo · 15/04/2016 11:53

I'm with you Kidnapped - if you don't care about a few creases good for you !

I think it's the non ironers who are getting their crumpled knickers in a twist about it all :)

Marynary · 15/04/2016 11:55

Mary, FFS I have not said that I feel superior because of it !!!

You have said you think those who don't iron are lazy which implies those that do are more "hard working" and superior (in your opinion).

espressotogo · 15/04/2016 11:55

Who's judging now ?????? BTW not in my house

espressotogo · 15/04/2016 11:58

You have said you think those who don't iron are lazy which implies those that do are more "hard working" and superior (in your opinion).

Errrr OK if that's how you want to interpret it - it doesn't keep me awake at night though :)

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