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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you iron all your kids clothes?

249 replies

Coatz · 20/05/2021 17:08

Had a 'heated' discussion with DM because she doesn't like the fact that I dont iron my DC2's clothes.

I used to iron DC1's as I had plenty of time on my hands but now with another child, a dog and a partner I just don't see it as an important job anymore.

Their clothes look fine, most things are tumbled and then hung straight up so they don't even look like they need an iron, never have I looked at my kids and thought oh god you can't tell I haven't ironed that and never has anybody beside DM ever mentioned it to me either.

AIBU?

OP posts:
TheValeyard · 20/05/2021 20:12

actually, I have come over the years to enjoy ironing alot. Pop on a movie, pour a glass of wine and away I go. very meditational. I ironed (with wine) through two Royal weddings (Cambridge and Sussex) grin

I look forward to it! Get a few episodes of Frasier lined up on the tablet and off I go - it's very restful.

Original poster
Coatz · 20/05/2021 20:14

@needcoffeetosurvive she would gladly do it for me if I asked I reckon. I completely understand everyone has a different opinion on the matter but I'd rather she just accept I do it my way and not look at me so disapproving 😂

I would of course make effort for a wedding/big event but that would require having to dig out the iron from wherever it may be......

OP posts:
Lostmyway86 · 20/05/2021 20:14

The last thing I ironed was my hair in 2002 Grin. Seriously your DM needs to butt out!

CoalCraft · 20/05/2021 20:16

I'm 26 and have never ironed a thing in my life. Neither has 27 yo DH. We just hang or fold things once they're out the drier and that's it. It would be even more absurd to iron baby DD's things Hmm

DenisetheMenace · 20/05/2021 20:17

Oh FGS I wasted months of our first born’s early years ironing things because I thought I ought to!

Then a dear friend with 3 well turned out under 5s taught me hanging and folding , never looked back. Life is, definitely, too short.
Special occasion outfits: dry cleaners.

Nimo12 · 20/05/2021 20:18

I don't remember the last time I ironed anything at all! Actually I don't even know where my iron is. You are absolutely not being unreasonable but now I think about it my mum irons everything. Even her pants! Maybe it's a generational thing.

BlueLobelia · 20/05/2021 20:18

@TheValeyard

actually, I have come over the years to enjoy ironing alot. Pop on a movie, pour a glass of wine and away I go. very meditational. I ironed (with wine) through two Royal weddings (Cambridge and Sussex) grin

I look forward to it! Get a few episodes of Frasier lined up on the tablet and off I go - it's very restful.

I so so agree. :)
dementedpixie · 20/05/2021 20:23

@lulujuju

I iron all DD's clothes but we don't have a tumble drier, it's tedious!
I don't have a tumble dryer either. I still dont iron their clothes except for school stuff
hiredandsqueak · 20/05/2021 20:26

I iron everything, but I like ironing. I get up early monday morning and do it then with an audiobook playing.

Boscoforever · 20/05/2021 20:26

DH and I are ironers. Clothes look perfectly fine when folded etc from the dryer. But in my opinion, they look better when ironed.
I do still iron the youngest child's clothes, they are 8yo. The teens tend to wear sports-style clothing 95% of the time, I don't know what you call it, like football top material.Grin That type doesn't take kindly to an iron. They can iron their own shirts for school.
I wouldn't mind if they didn't iron their own stuff when older, but i do think for office/wedding/occasion ironed is sharper and smarter. And you can tell if it hasnt been done.

Terrazzo · 20/05/2021 20:27

We don’t even own an iron Confused we have a steamer which gets to see the light of day on the rare occasion we have a wedding to go to etc. YANBU.

Amandasummers · 20/05/2021 20:29

I don’t own an iron.

kowari · 20/05/2021 20:31

No, rarely, DS is 15.

I occasionally iron my own cotton tshirts when I feel like it but mostly wear them unironed as the creases drop out when I wear them. If I was ironing mine, then I used to iron a few of his tshirts but his favourite ones now don't crease. I iron school shirts if I've soaked them at the end of term, usually just washed at 30 and put straight on hangers.

impostersong · 20/05/2021 20:34

What is this 'iron' thing you speak of?!!

PoddingtonPea21 · 20/05/2021 20:34

I hang the school shirts on a hanger to dry and smooth out whilst damp, use the dryer for more creased items or use lenor crease spray as it works like magic.

partyatthepalace · 20/05/2021 20:35

What!? No. Who irons kids clothes?

Close the conversation down and tell her it’s closed. Then pour wine Grin

sqirrelfriends · 20/05/2021 20:38

No, who has time to iron everything?

DappledThings · 20/05/2021 20:41

I also enjoy it. Its the creating order out of chaos. One huge pile of crumpled mess turned into a smaller pile of neat layers. A thing of beauty!

Yes I probably do do about 3 hours a week but that's one evening in front of the TV when I'd otherwise just be in front of the TV anyway but just double screening.

CommanderBurnham · 20/05/2021 20:42

I iron most clothing. But I don't give a fig if other people do or don't.
I do like natural fibres such as linen and cotton, and like a sharp crease on trousers and sleeves.

I however will not buy anything in the kitchen that can't be put in the dishwasher.

Thebookswereherfriends · 20/05/2021 20:43

Yes, but only because I don’t use the tumble except for towels and bedding in the winter. Before I had a child I didn’t really iron anything, but it suddenly noticed all the creases and it bothered me, so now I iron. I don’t mind as I watch tv while doing it and it doesn’t take long.

MrsJBaptiste · 20/05/2021 20:47

Yep, I hate creases clothes.

Underwear and towels go in the tumble dryer, nothing else

BikeRunSki · 20/05/2021 20:51

I don’t iron any clothes for either child.
DH used to iron school shirts (no primary school polo shirts though) when he did his work shirts, but he’s only need to iron about 5 work shirts in the last year.

The dc iron their own Cub/Scout neckers. Dd can usually be persuaded to do mine.

Eileen101 · 20/05/2021 21:35

Definitely not. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn't have the time without foregoing sleep.
The kids look fine without their clothes being ironed. I hang everything to dry (no tumble dryer) and it doesn't crease.

They're in nursery at the moment, but I guess I'll have to iron school shirts in a year and a bits time. I wouldn't want them to look noticeably creased.

Fortunately DH's work clothes are company polo shirts instead of shirts, so nothing very little gets ironed in this house. Pretty much just neckers for remembrance Sunday parade. Oh and I ironed my sons shirt for my dad's wedding two years ago.
My husband got the iron and ironing board out a few weeks ago to iron a shirt for seeing his mum for her birthday and 3 y o son looked fascinated by this new development he's not seen before.

emmylousings · 20/05/2021 21:36

The only time I ever get the iron out is for weddings and not been to one of those in a while!

jeannie46 · 20/05/2021 21:59

No tumble dryer - may have ironed something 10 or 20 years ago. Can't remember ....just dry clothes outside / on radiator, then hang up or fold.

If ironing's your hobby , fine. It's not mine.