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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To send my 7 year old to school in unironed uniform?

289 replies

Floosey · 22/04/2019 22:51

I really struggle with laundry. I struggle so, so much and I don't know why. I end up just not having the time or being organised enough to put away or iron so my son often goes to primary school in a creased t-shirt. We're not talking slept in creases, just dried crinkled and needs a quick going over creases.

Apart from the creases, my son always goes to school in the correct and washed uniform (I once got up at 5 to hair drier his trousers because I'd forgotton to put a wash on until the night before and that was the only way they'd be dry in time) but ironing always gets the better of me.

We have very few things that need ironing but his school t-shirts do. I bought more expensive iron-free ones but they had the school logo on and got nicked. Strangely his supermarket own brand stuff always finds it's way home.

He's clean, looked after and engaged. We always go to parents evening etc.

Do you look down on parents like me?

OP posts:
LikeDolphinsCanSwin · 23/04/2019 02:17

Don’t iron but do get on top of the washing. Sort out some sort of system and stick to it religiously. In the long run it will be less stressful.

PregnantSea · 23/04/2019 03:09

I iron for job interviews, weddings, and funerals. Never for anything else. So definitely no judgement from me!

Elloduckie · 23/04/2019 03:30

Don't let people here make you think otherwise. That's symbolic of bad hygiene/dirty home/disorganised parents. Playground mums will/do judge you.

What you need is a system to get things in order and perhaps Kondo your way out of this one. Or maybe pay for someone to come in and do the ironing?

LaurieMarlow · 23/04/2019 03:38

I’m a bit judgemental of people who iron everything if I’m totally honest. Don’t they have better things to do?

MinervaVause · 23/04/2019 03:40

We don’t iron anything. So no, I wouldn’t judge at all. We don’t own a tumble dryer either.

Everything comes out of the washing machine, quick shake then straight onto colour coded clothes hangers. Hangers go on a portable rail to dry then everyone takes their own (now dry, uncreased) clothes and puts them straight into their wardrobes.

This has been the best thing we ever started doing to keep on top of the laundry with minimal effort.

whiskeysourpuss · 23/04/2019 03:48

I'm an avid ironer & I don't care what the tumble dryer brigade says it is not a substitute for ironing. I iron while catching up on my trashy tv so it's not so much of a chore. But then I'm aware that I'm in the minority on MN & that my laundry sorting system 10 loads would make some on here weep.

In your situation OP I'd stop worrying about the ironing & try to get on top of the laundry. Spend a day at home getting rid of the bulk - wash, dry, fold, put away what can be - I know it sounds shit but it's only one day then have a schedule to try & keep on top of it. Try to do a load every other day, sort into basic loads of white, coloureds, darks, bedding, towels, pop one on in the morning then hang up/tumble when you get home & it'll be dry ready for folding & putting away the next day.

Also tell lazy arse of a husband he gets on board & helps out or you'll only be doing yours & DC's laundry & he can do his own!

ThriftyMcThrifty · 23/04/2019 04:41

I only judge people who iron everything - have they no life? I have no iron. Anything that really needs ironing has no place in my house. I do throw things in the tumble dryer to get the creases out if we have to look smart, but that is very rare.

Charles11 · 23/04/2019 04:55

I don’t iron much either but get organised with the laundry. It will clear up so much head space for you.
Find a routine that works for you. A lot of people do one load a day (maybe just a few times a week if there’s not much) and are able to stay on top of it.
I try to do school uniforms on a Friday evening so I don’t need to think about it over the weekend.

MillyMollyMandie · 23/04/2019 04:56

I think the point is that people who don’t iron generally give the clothes a bit of care after they come out of the machine/dryer in order to minimise creases. It sounds as if the OP doesn’t do this and creased is creased.

Op, could you make it a habit to do all of your sons laundry on a Friday evening and iron it over the weekend. Make it a job that has to be done. Or if you don’t want to iron give yourself tome to smooth things out when they’re wet or come out of the dryer.

You don’t sound that great right now and I hope you feel better soon. Flowers

MillyMollyMandie · 23/04/2019 04:59

I only judge people who iron everything - have they no life?

There’s that old chestnut once again.

whiskeysourpuss · 23/04/2019 05:21

I only judge people who iron everything - have they no life?

I spend an hour ironing on a Sunday evening while watching Seeking Sister Wife other trashy shows are available... hardly equates to having no life Hmm

Yura · 23/04/2019 05:28

Shirts and uniform trousers get ironed in out house. if its just t-shirts or poloshirts though i wouldn’t bother -they won’t look t whatever you do!

MonsterKidz · 23/04/2019 05:45

You are not being unreasonable.

Lots of people don’t iron anything, a lot don’t iron school uniform.

I iron a select amount of items each week. Uniform is always one of them as I just prefer the look if it’s had a quick once over. Sometimes I just do the collars and sleeves. In winter I sometimes just do the collars as they are under jumpers.

I don’t think anyone will be looking down at you - at most I think people would commend your non-ironing!

However, you do sound a little agitated at the state of your laundry and how you manage it on an everyday basis? It sounds like something you’d like to sort.

I actually love doing laundry. I know it’s sad! But my mum always has been obsessed with laundry being done and clothes all being kept neat and tidy and I’ve definitely got it from there! I love everything about laundry from the smell of fabric softener to a pile of freshly laundered clothes! It makes me feel cosy and at home!

Anyway, I hope you get your floorobe sorted this week and if you need any tips or
encouragement on the laundry front let me know!

WindsweptEgret · 23/04/2019 06:07

I never ironed a primary school uniform, and now DS is in polo shirts for the summer term I won't be ironing until the dreaded shirts return in September.

Don't get a tumble dryer though, they are terrible for the planet!

WatchingTheWheels85 · 23/04/2019 06:10

I've never used an iron.

DappledThings · 23/04/2019 06:57

I iron everything but it's as much about how much neater things are in the drawers as how they look. Ironing and folding is much less annoying for me than just folding and not having everything nice and flat. I don't care how crazy that sounds!

I do one wash every other day. Never been arsed with sorting anything, it just all goes in. Then iron about twice a week in front of telly.

adaline · 23/04/2019 07:14

I'm 30 and I've never used or owned an iron before!

I can't say I go through life watching people closely enough to decide whether they've ironed their clothes or not Hmm

shelikesemwithamoustache · 23/04/2019 07:19

Both mine have to wear shirts and not polos and they have never been ironed. I don’t have enough time to care that they may look creased. I also don’t own an iron.

AliTheMinx · 23/04/2019 07:19

I iron most things (except towels and underwear), but my son's uniform is the most important thing to do. Being well-turned out and smart is so important in my opinion. I spend about 1-2 hours per week ironing - it's quite relaxing!

Strugglingtodomybest · 23/04/2019 07:22

I don't iron anything, and I think people who say they can tell when polo shirts haven't been ironed are lying. And if they're not, then that's a weird useless super power to have, and if they judge people for not ironing then they're possibly the saddest people on earth.

ReadWriteDraw · 23/04/2019 07:24

I iron uniform but being a teacher I would only care about whether a child is clean. Noticing ironing wouldn’t even enter into things!

If it’s any consolation, I’ve have in the past found myself frantically hand washing school shirts at 7am and drying on radiator before ironing damp (gets them dry v quickly) so you’re not alone!!!

LaurieMarlow · 23/04/2019 07:26

I spend an hour ironing on a Sunday evening while watching Seeking Sister Wife other trashy shows are available... hardly equates to having no life

See I still think you could make better use of that hour. Even by watching your TV show in peace. But i guess it is your hour to spend as you choose.

melissasummerfield · 23/04/2019 07:27

Sorry to burst your bubble non-ironers but you can tell the difference and you / your dc do look scruffy!

I have 3 dc and it takes either me or my dh about an hour to iron all of the clothes worn in a week, including 10 sets of uniform.

Buy a decent iron and it will reduce your ironing time significantly.

BlitheringIdiots · 23/04/2019 07:27

No ironing here either. DH and DS have non iron shirts and I get them straight out of the machine and hang them up to dry after shaking them out. Life is too short to iron

DappledThings · 23/04/2019 07:28

See I still think you could make better use of that hour. Even by watching your TV show in peace

I'm too ill-disciplined not to be browsing my phone while watching TV. Even if it's something I really want to watch. Ironing makes me put my phone down and concentrate better!