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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:
Furiosa · 13/04/2016 21:47

londonrach "You be a good mum teaching them" couldn't the father teach them?

Nothing is lost by the mum teaching them though. There is no shame in a mum teaching her kids house hold chores.

You really think someone has to be shown how to hoover or clean a toilet? Jesus wept.

Umm, yes? What to use, how often, how to do it efficiently and effectively. It's not instinct.

newmumwithquestions · 13/04/2016 21:48

When my parents started dating, in the 1950s, my grandmother made my mother iron a shirt in front of her the first time my father took her over to meet his parents. She passed the test.

Shock and people talk of the good old days?? Hmm

MrsKoala · 13/04/2016 21:52

Furiosa - products are pretty well labelled and how often is more opinion than fact really. Some people clean toilets every day some fortnightly.

Trills · 13/04/2016 21:53

If you are surprised at how many people don't iron, you clearly haven't been on MN that long.

It comes up every few weeks at minimum.

eastwest · 13/04/2016 21:55

Ironing is much more useful for men than for women, if he is going to go into a job that means wearing suits, shirts and ties. I think 12 is a good age, a bit late maybe. Even if you hardly ever do it it's a useful skill to have (e.g. if you have to look smart for a job interview).

TheNaze73 · 13/04/2016 22:03

I didn't realise that people still ironed?? I was taught when I was 10

Furiosa · 13/04/2016 22:05

MrsKoala I understand but why wouldn't you teach them how you use it?

What on earth is wrong with teaching kids basic home keeping?

Whether the person how cleans the house is a man or a woman, both boys and girls need to learn this stuff.

thebestfurchinchilla · 13/04/2016 22:05

How can people not iron? Do they wear creased clothes?

MrsKoala · 13/04/2016 22:09

I wouldn't expect it to be necessary Furiosa. I would expect to be able to say to my 12 year old 'can you clean the bathroom?' and them just do it. i can't imagine it takes much teaching. As i said just by watching adverts and having seen you wipe things and squirt a spray should really be enough without a grand lesson. I would have thought anyway - my children are babies but they already copy things i do without being specifically taught.

Puppymouse · 13/04/2016 22:17

Not even sure where our iron is kept. DH irons his own shirts.

MrsKoala · 13/04/2016 22:21

I don't wear creased clothes, i get them out of the tumble and fold them straight away. I'm a sahm, so my clothes are pretty stretchy and horrible practical. When i worked i ironed shirts and skirts. DH irons his own shirt each morning.

Kidnapped · 13/04/2016 22:24

My sister is a devotee of the 'take cotton shirts out of the washing machine, hang them up immediately and the creases just fall out' school of laundry management.

My eyesight is better than hers so I iron.

Lweji · 13/04/2016 22:26

You really think someone has to be shown how to hoover or clean a toilet?

Considering how much these things are debated on MN, yes, it is probably a good thing that some people are shown how to properly clean.

For example, many think that pouring bleach down the toilet is good enough for cleaning it.

MrsKoala · 13/04/2016 22:31

But for them it is isn't it? There are not rules and rights and wrongs of cleaning are there? It's just how each person likes to do it. You may think that is not clean enough and others think it is clean enough. All you are doing is passing on your own opinion and standards, not showing them how to do it properly, as there is no properly.

Primaryteach87 · 13/04/2016 22:31

Never. I'm morally opposed to ironing. The very idea of other people ironing offends me. Wink

HormonalHeap · 13/04/2016 22:35

I'm already sorry for my poor ds's future wife. It's been hard enough trying to get him to do his homework nevermind ironing/ domestic chores. I think he'd look at me with concern if I asked him! Lax parenting incolving au-pairs and cleaners.

HormonalHeap · 13/04/2016 22:36

That should read ds's poor future wife!

Vinorosso74 · 13/04/2016 22:37

My DD is 6 so bit young to learn but will teach her before she finished primary school. We don't have much to iron and no way would I iron almost everything like my mum. She complains about the amount of ironing but insists on ironing all bedding and tea towels.

pinkcan · 13/04/2016 22:37

Never. You should buy stuff that doesn't need ironing and hang it carefully after washing.

Silvercatowner · 13/04/2016 22:38

For example, many think that pouring bleach down the toilet is good enough for cleaning it.
30 years and counting, my house doesn't smell and my loos are clean.

gentlydownthestreamm · 13/04/2016 22:41

I think ironing is mostly unnecessary and something I am happy to almost never do. But I still think he should learn so that:

a. He knows how to do it in the future for shirts etc if decides he prefers the way they look ironed. Agree with comment upthread that ironing is more useful for men than women.

b. He understands how tedious it is so is less likely to automatically expect his mother / future partner to do it for him.

Sidge · 13/04/2016 22:44

I think it's only on MN that I find people who don't iron or who seem proud that they don't iron.

All my friends (male and female) spend some of the time ironing - admittedly some more than others. I don't know anyone who doesn't iron at all.

My DD 17 can iron, she just chooses not to. DD who's 9 is learning but reluctant. DD 12 doesn't as she has SN and would be a liability with an iron!

gentlydownthestreamm · 13/04/2016 22:45

30 years and counting, my house doesn't smell and my loos are clean

It doesn't smell to you because you are used to it, but probably other people who come to your house as visitors really notice the pong.

Nah, only joking ;-). Just had to pre-empt that before someone else said it. Down with competitive cleanliness!

pearlylum · 13/04/2016 22:47

"I think it's only on MN that I find people who don't iron or who seem proud that they don't iron. "

Depends on the company you keep. Most of the people I know in RL don't iron either.

Salfordlass · 13/04/2016 22:55

I'm with the ' buying clothes that don't need ironing / fold after tumble drying' brigade. Who the hell has time to iron?
When I became a SAHM, my dp wasted no time telling me he required 5 freshly ironed shirts each week. I wasted no time telling him to fuck off and here's the number for iron express. I absolutely refused to do it, I abhor ironing.
12 years later and the ironing company still comes once a month to get his shirts!