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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think ironing is NOT an essential business?

31 replies

Selfisolationquery · 27/03/2020 08:15

Next door neighbour has an ironing business. I see her going out at least once a day to pick up / deliver ironing to people's houses. AIBU to think she shouldn't be doing this? It's not "absolutely necessary" and is not "essential travel".

OP posts:
KindKylie · 27/03/2020 08:17

Maybe she does laundry for vulnerable or disabled people?

PaleBlueMoonlight · 27/03/2020 08:20

The Government wants to keep as much of the economy going as possible. Not just essential business and work. Ironing is fine. Can be done whilst also doing social distancing.

NailsNeedDoing · 27/03/2020 08:22

Hopefully she’s taking lots of precautions, but people are still allowed to work. She has to earn a living.

BruceAndNosh · 27/03/2020 08:23

There are different categories of work.

Essential or key workers can ask for childcare in a school setting.

People should work from home if possible, but they can work outside the home if this is not possible.
They can continue to work but will not be allocated school childcare.

Some non essential places of work have been closed, mainly leisure ones where countless people mingle unrestricted.

SarahInAccounts · 27/03/2020 08:24

There was a chap on the local community forum yesterday complaining that a window cleaner was working.

He was rightly handed his arse.

Original poster
Selfisolationquery · 27/03/2020 08:24

How do you take precautions when dealing with peoples clothes? Even if she doesn't see the person themselves it could still be on their clothes or she could have it and transfer it to their clothes?

OP posts:
user1493413286 · 27/03/2020 08:26

If she’s doing it in a way where she has no contact with her customers and is washing her hands after handling clothes then I don’t see the issue. Takeaways aren’t exactly essential and they’re still running, same with a lot of shops that are operating online. The economy still needs to be kept going and the governments help for the self employed won’t help everyone.

LeggyLinda · 27/03/2020 08:26

If she’s only going out once a day and taking precautions when delivering/picking up then I don’t see too much of a problem. Similar to shopping deliveries or post deliveries.

On the contrary, the limited social contact could be very beneficial for those vulnerable people struggling with isolation and the loneliness of lockdown.

Also, what else is she supposed to do? I imagine she has bills to pay and family to feed.

Softleftpowerstance · 27/03/2020 08:26

She’s working from home. It is not only people in essential jobs who are able to work. Trades people who actually work in other people’s homes are allowed to continue as long as they have no symptoms.

Put your energies elsewhere.

longwayoff · 27/03/2020 08:33

Obviously isolation is getting to you and you're very bored indeed. Go to another window and observe the other neighbours, with a bit of luck they will also be doing something for you to find fault with and you'll be able to needlessly concern yourself about them as well. Leave the poor woman alone she's no risk to you or to anyone else.

abigailsnan · 27/03/2020 08:41

I'd be frightened of the virus being passed on via the washing and just wouldn't take the chance at any cost.

cologne4711 · 27/03/2020 08:49

Not sure how it can be passed on via the washing. There may be a vanishingly unlikely risk of it, but I would say most people's biggest risk at the moment, if they don't work in a person-facing job, is being coughed on at the supermarket.

I think it's fine for people to carry on working if they take proper precautions. It's not for other people to decide what's essential - as I said on another thread, someone was saying you shouldn't going our for milk as you could drink black tea/coffee. Well I could, but I don't want to. Equally other people may not want to miss out on ironed clothes. If they are paying and helping someone to pay their bills, it's really none of anyone else's business.

Lots of tradespeople are still working. My plumber is only doing "essential" work so he eg would replace a radiator if it's leaking, but not if you just want a new one to look nicer. Equally I imagine an electrician will come in and sort out a problem, but not fit new sockets.

Mummyoflittledragon · 27/03/2020 08:54

This is far from essential work. No one needs ironed clothes. I thought she wasn’t allowed to do this anymore. Others think she is. This is very confusing.

clareOclareO · 27/03/2020 08:56

Ironing is not essential - not now, not ever. Washing clothes is essential. Pressing them flat is not. OK you need to look your best for a job interview or a court appearance, other than that it's a waste of the planet's resources.

BaronessBomburst · 27/03/2020 09:01

I'm pretty sure the heat from the iron will melt the oily coating protecting the virus, killing it. That's if the fabric didn't draw the moisture out, also killing it. Assuming that it'd survived the enzymes in the washing powder and the vigorous washing and rinsing cycles.
Unless someone is sneezing all over the bag of washing before it's handed to her, it's pretty low risk!

NewYearNewJob123 · 27/03/2020 09:02

People are allowed to work.

WombatStewForTea · 27/03/2020 09:11

FFS I'm sick to death of people not reading/listening properly. Not once has it said only essential businesses can run. IF you can work from home then that's what you need to be going. If you can't then it's fine to go to work observing appropriate social distancing.

Original poster
Selfisolationquery · 27/03/2020 14:05

@longwayoff no, not bored. Just scared. There's a difference. Perhaps if you had an immunocompromised family member you'd feel the same.

OP posts:
longwayoff · 27/03/2020 14:23

You are over reacting. Unless your neighbour is forcing her company upon you, you should mind your own business. I don't need a lecture from you about compromised immunity and I do not feel the same as you do.

Original poster
Selfisolationquery · 27/03/2020 14:31

@longwayoff I think people take things the wrong way on here. I'm not sure how it's overreacting to simply ask a question and it certainly wasn't intended as a lecture, sorry if that's how it came across. I was just trying to explain that it's not through boredom but through fear over my family members life and those like them. It is my business if she's potentially affecting somebody else's life. This isn't just some cold, it's killing people every day.

OP posts:
cologne4711 · 27/03/2020 14:31

no, not bored. Just scared. There's a difference. Perhaps if you had an immunocompromised family member you'd feel the same

but how does it affect you or your family member?

cologne4711 · 27/03/2020 14:32

How is she affecting your life? Her going out has zero impact on you. My next door neighbour goes out to work every day. I am not entirely sure what he does, but even if I were immune-suppressed or otherwise vulnerable, it wouldn't affect me.

Original poster
Selfisolationquery · 27/03/2020 14:33

Interesting article @Lizziesbusy. On a side note to my original question, it's unclear in the article as to whether it is actually worth using things like dettol laundry cleanser Confused

OP posts:
coconuttelegraph · 27/03/2020 14:33

There are way greater risks than clean washing in a neighbours house. Assuming that the virus can live on clothes and be transferred from them how is the ironing going to get within 2m of you?

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