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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:
TimeForTeaAndG · 18/04/2021 22:12

Uniform gets washed, gets a good shake then line dried or hung on hangers and dried near the radiator on one of those tripod drying contraptions.

The only things that get ironed are DH's shirts and he does them himself. I will veeeery occasionally iron one of my fancy big dresses but that's so rare that he takes my picture for the family WhatsApp chat 😂

Life is too short to iron everything.

Lou98 · 18/04/2021 22:17

Personally I wouldn't iron and wouldn't worry about it!

Obviously doesn't help just now but for future this spray is amazing, I don't really know how it works but it gets the creases out brilliantly, you just spray it on! I get it in home bargains but I think you can also get it in supermarkets or online aswell!
It also smells amazing which is a bonus!

To not iron DD’s school uniform?
LaceyBetty · 18/04/2021 22:29

@MrBond

I don't think creased clothes in isolation would be a cause for suspecting neglect for any professional. However, if the clothes were very obviously creased, I would probably notice, with my teacher hat on.

I wouldn't automatically suspect neglect, but I would wonder if the wheels were coming off at home a little. In isolation, very creased clothing is not a problem, but (donning my hard hat) it would encourage me to look a little bit closer in case there was anything else that might indicate that parents are struggling and may benefit from support.

Ridiculous.
AccidentallyOnPurpose · 18/04/2021 22:33

@MrBond

I don't think creased clothes in isolation would be a cause for suspecting neglect for any professional. However, if the clothes were very obviously creased, I would probably notice, with my teacher hat on.

I wouldn't automatically suspect neglect, but I would wonder if the wheels were coming off at home a little. In isolation, very creased clothing is not a problem, but (donning my hard hat) it would encourage me to look a little bit closer in case there was anything else that might indicate that parents are struggling and may benefit from support.

Unless you're offering to do the ironing yourself...
Stellaris22 · 18/04/2021 22:35

There's a difference between 'creased' and 'obviously creased'?

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 18/04/2021 22:47

No I never ironed the primary school dresses. Or any other items of school uniform for either dc. Just can’t be doing with ironing at all.

sanityisamyth · 18/04/2021 22:51

All of my DS's clothes are ironed before he wears them. None of mine are ...

LadyDangerfield · 18/04/2021 22:54

I iron uniform as soon as it's washed as it's easier to iron out hardened wrinkles. Then I hang out to dry on a wire coat hanger on the washing line.

Wanderlust20 · 18/04/2021 23:00

I'm glad to read I'm not the only one who doesn't iron! Always just hang up our clothes to dry on a coat hanger after they come out the machine and they're fine. That and I mostly wear stretchy/non iron things! Would love a hand held steamer.

Sweettea1 · 18/04/2021 23:10

They are the easiest and quickest thing to iron I've done 5 today an took me about 3/4 minutes. I keep seeing people say they never iron anything I don't know how they do it I can always tell if my dc clothes haven't been ironed.

NotOnMute · 18/04/2021 23:23

I never iron them, and dd always preferred the bodice and full skirt sort, which do crumple. A good, hard flap as they come out of the washing machine and drying on a hanger are good enough to make them look only a bit more crumpled than they would be anyway once they’ve had breakfast and moved around a bit. Combined with the fourth hand, logoed cardigan and slightly once-white socks usually. No-one has ever said anything and my dd has never mentioned being teased or even the crumpled being noticed.

Basically, I think uniform and ‘looking smart’ is ridiculous for primary children, so I’m not prepared to prioritise it.

CommandoDog · 18/04/2021 23:37

Basically, I think uniform and ‘looking smart’ is ridiculous for primary children, so I’m not prepared to prioritise it. my year 13’s were told last week in assembly if they turned up at school not looking smart uniform they had no self respect - it was a bit of a stretch which the kids thought was very funny - school messaging seems to be getting more snd more unhinged over uniform.

MiddleParking · 19/04/2021 05:52

@CommandoDog

Basically, I think uniform and ‘looking smart’ is ridiculous for primary children, so I’m not prepared to prioritise it. my year 13’s were told last week in assembly if they turned up at school not looking smart uniform they had no self respect - it was a bit of a stretch which the kids thought was very funny - school messaging seems to be getting more snd more unhinged over uniform.
This was the type of shit they used to do endlessly at my school. And it was very definitely (head tilt) indicative of the fact that the wheels were coming off in every other aspect of how the school was being run and how shit the teaching was.
SimonJT · 19/04/2021 06:10

I hate ironing, but I do iron all of my sons school uniform.

I was the child sent to school looking scruffy if clothes that weren’t ironed, it was shit.

BlueLobelia · 19/04/2021 06:15

@WerkWerkWerkWerkWerkWerkWerk

"21:14BlueLobelia WerkWerkWerkWerkWerkWerkWerk I saw some no crease spray in Asda today, might give it a go as I loathe ironing also. Spray on washed clothes and hang up to dry. Think it was Lenor Do these sprays affect the feel of the clothes in any way?"

Not a clue! Probably; I wasn't tempted enough to grab any but I'm thinking it may be worth a try at some point!

:). I might give it a go. Even if it does not work for the DC clothes (forementioned sensory issues) it might be good for my clothes!
Wannabegreenfingers · 19/04/2021 06:19

I don't understand non ironing people. Clothes look much better when ironed, it takes no time to iron a 5 years old dress.

Nsky · 19/04/2021 06:31

I’m amazed that nearly every one owns a dryer, I don’t, it’s the assumption.
A bit of ironing is no big deal, I always ironed my sons school shirts and my ex’s work shirts, prob 15 total a week, not a lot

MrBond · 19/04/2021 06:37

@Stellaris22

There's a difference between 'creased' and 'obviously creased'?
Yeah. It's the difference between, clothes are being hung up/folded without ironing and clothes are being bundled in a heap on the floor between wears. Basically, if it looks like a crumpled paper bag, it's obviously creased.
MrBond · 19/04/2021 07:02

Unless you're offering to do the ironing yourself...

Like I said, if it's just that parents don't care about how their kid looks to the world, that's not necessarily a concern (as long as they're clean). However, it might be part of a bigger picture in which parents are struggling to keep their heads above water for whatever reason and need help. I'd be casually asking that kid in particular what they had for breakfast that morning to check they'd had it, what did they have for dinner last night, did Mum/Dad eat with them etc. Some parents are working several jobs and so are exhausted and struggle with the day to day stuff and some parents will be financially struggling and only have enough money to feed their kids and not themselves. For the former we'd likely offer breakfast club and after school clubs to remove some of the time pressure, for the latter we'd signpost to forms of financial support they might be eligible for, help them fill out the forms if needs be (some are illiterate, some don't have access to a computer etc)...

It's not about punishing parents or suggesting they're not good enough, sometimes people need help and schools are on the front line. Lots of parents won't realise they're eligible for help, some might be reluctant to accept it for a variety of reasons. So yeah, slightly creased clothing wouldn't be an issue- you can get creases from sitting down. Obviously creased clothing- could be nothing, but might be indicative of something and there's no harm in checking.

ouchmyfeet · 19/04/2021 07:03

@Wannabegreenfingers

I don't understand non ironing people. Clothes look much better when ironed, it takes no time to iron a 5 years old dress.
I don't understand people who waste hours every week ironing Hmm
Confrontayshunme · 19/04/2021 07:05

I am a TA in Reception, abd I can guarantee you, not a single adult cares whether your child has creases uniform, and the children certainly don't. Also, ours sit on the floor, run around and get muddy and dry erase markers all ovee, so creases are the least of your laundering worries! Grin

Whatwouldscullydo · 19/04/2021 07:07

I just buy stuff that doesn't need ironing.

Dd2 goes from smart to "I slept in a rose bush" in about 2 seconds regardless of what I do. Ironing would just be a massive waste of time anyway.

Plus she has the summer play suits. No pleats Grin

SleepingStandingUp · 19/04/2021 07:09

Glad you ironed out op.

I'm usually team no but if it looks crumpled, she'll just be the kid who's parents couldn't spend 3 minutes on them

Dailywalk · 19/04/2021 07:09

Would take less time to iron it than it took to write the OP

SarahBellam · 19/04/2021 07:14

@Crystal90567

They looked nice on the hanger in the shop because they had been ironed. Itll take you 5 mins. I always iron school uniform. It's hard enough for them in school without you making them look scruffy. Also teachers are very keen on suspecting neglect. Unironed clothes, uncombed hair...not a look I'd go for.
Teachers seriously do not give a shiny shite about unironed clothes. They don’t even notice. They’d notice if a child continually smelled bad, or who had dirty or poorly washed clothes, or holes in their shoes, or were always exhausted, or if they were very thin or very fat. These are potentially signs of neglect. Jacosta’s unironed John Lewis pure cotton gingham dress is unlikely to set any alarm bells ringing. It’s going to look like she’s been sleeping in it for a week after first break anyway.