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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not iron DD’s school uniform?

185 replies

Rainallnight · 18/04/2021 20:05

DD is in Reception and this term they’re allowed wear those lovely gingham summer school dresses.

I don’t iron. I hate it. And I’ve had a weekend of drudgery.

But they really don’t look right at all, and I’m worried about sending her in looking like a scruff.

What do people do?

OP posts:
VainAbigail · 18/04/2021 20:38

I don’t iron any of my kids uniform. It gets tumble dried then folded and the gingham dresses go in hangers. Mine are from sainsburys though and I’ve never ironed any of their gingham dresses over the years as they’ve never needed it 🤷🏼‍♀️

SarahBellam · 18/04/2021 20:39

Good lord, I’ve never ironed kids uniform. A good shake while they’re damp is as much as I’ve ever done. Nobody in school gives a crap about that stuff as long as they’re clean, healthy, and generally well cared for.

DingDongThongs · 18/04/2021 20:40

Get a clothes steamer...they're 20 quid from most places and they look lovely in mins.

Xmasbaby11 · 18/04/2021 20:41

I've never ironed uniform and my dd are 7 and 9. They are either put in the dryer or hung up on the line, non crease fabric .. they look fine.

TheWaif · 18/04/2021 20:42

I ironed for about the first week of reception. Now I just tumble dry non iron stuff and it looks as good as ironed.

Silversun83 · 18/04/2021 20:44

We don't iron anything.. Except DD's school uniform, which DH does! He did actually iron his work shirts pre-Covid and I guess he will again (tbh pre-Covid is so fuzzy I can barely remember us wearing office-attire Grin).

So I guess what I'm saying is if you do bave a partner, get them to do it.. If not, I probably would iron it.. Though saying that there was a day DD made a sudden u-turn and wanted to wear a pinafore instead of a skirt and it hadn't been ironed.. It didn't look that bad and tbh after lunch the creases were probably hidden by all the food she spills Grin

Original poster
Rainallnight · 18/04/2021 20:46

Ok, I did it. And DP saw me doing it and offered to do it every week so that’s a win win

OP posts:
cloudjumper · 18/04/2021 20:46

I never iron any school uniform items. Life's too short.

Hankunamatata · 18/04/2021 20:46

I tumble dry kids uniforms

SirVixofVixHall · 18/04/2021 20:46

It takes under a minute !
I always ironed them as I bought pure cotton ones.

OliveToboogie · 18/04/2021 20:48

Iron your kids uniform OK you hate ironing I agree with you but not fair on your kid going to school looking scruffy because you can't be bothered.

Theglassmakerofmurano · 18/04/2021 20:49

It will take two seconds to iron, don’t let her go to school looking scruffy.

eatsleepread · 18/04/2021 20:50

I've just spent ages ironing the uniforms. I wouldn't feel right if they started a new term with crumpled clothes.

LuellaPilkington · 18/04/2021 20:50

I takes about 3 mins each to iron unless you want utter perfection.

If you absolutely do not want to iron, just give them a good shake when out of washer, straighten up collars, hems and sleeve and hang to dry on hanger.

TheGriffle · 18/04/2021 20:50

I second the fabric softener and water in a spray bottle. Spray all over until slightly damp, pull out the dress/stretch the fabric out then hang/leave to dry flat.

babbaloushka · 18/04/2021 20:54

I ironed mine's for her first two weeks in reception then promptly stopped after I realised she was just rolling around in the dirt all day and looked a scruff no matter what I did.

DingDongThongs · 18/04/2021 20:57

he's a keeper

AliceMcK · 18/04/2021 20:57

Never ironed one, I buy the crinkly ones and just pull the collar into shape when it comes out of the wash.

Stellaris22 · 18/04/2021 20:59

I've never ironed uniform in my life and DD is in Y3. Honestly, if any parent thinks my child looks 'scraggy' or 'scruffy' that's their issue.

Twistiesandshout · 18/04/2021 21:00

Oh God, I never iron. Could not give a toss. DD and DS uniforms go from washer to dryer to kids bedrooms. It is such a waste of time! Even when I was off on mat leave with DD2 and had a bit more time not working FT I didn't iron them.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 18/04/2021 21:04

I never iron anything!

Tumble drier leaves most things pretty flat unless you over stuff it, or if I'm hanging outside I give each item a good shake as I hang, childrens things rarely crease much.

If something has got very crumpled, I either put it on the 20 min steam setting in my washer then hang it up flat, or else take a hot shower in the bathroom with it hanging up and the window closed. The steam helps it drop and body heat does the rest.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 18/04/2021 21:06

I have a friend who seems to iron everything but I've also noticed she heavily overalls her washing machine. If you do that stuff does come out of a fast spin cycle very crumpled. Clothes need space to move in the machine.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 18/04/2021 21:07

*overstuffs not overalls!

greeneyedlulu · 18/04/2021 21:07

When you wash uniforms, hang them on hangers to dry and just smooth them out with a shake. I haven't ironed a uniform in over a year with this nifty trick! I know it doesn't help you for tomorrow but it will in the future.

Becca8675309 · 18/04/2021 21:10

I hate ironing, but I always iron my DD's uniform. All of it. I use a handheld steamer on items like blazers. I also shine her shoes, she always has clean hair with hair ribbons, and a clean schoolbag and lunch bag. It just looks so much smarter. And actually, the other kids do notice. They might not know exactly why, but they definitely notice if a kid is scruffy looking. PS I also have 4 stepchildren and I did the same for each of them too