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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not own an iron?

261 replies

FawnFrenchieMum · 12/09/2021 20:27

Just read a thread on whether to iron school shirts or not. I never iron school shirts or anything else for that matter.

We used to have an iron but very very rarely got used, DH decided to take it on holiday (no idea why, I don’t iron at home so not sure why he thought I would on holiday) and left it in a cupboard. I’ve never replaced it.

I hang stuff straight from washing & drying. Never looks creased. If something looks bad, stick it on and blast the hair dryer at it.

DH doesn’t wear shirt & tie to work, I may need to reconsider if he did.

Anyone else not iron?!
YABU - of course I iron!
YANBU - no need to iron, wash, hang & wear

OP posts:
cardibach · 13/09/2021 12:47

Absolutely @thecognoscenti
I don’t care if my clothes have a few creases. I don’t care if anyone notices. If you also don’t care if you notice, we’re all golden.

DillyDilly · 13/09/2021 12:50

Iron or don’t iron, whatever your want but it’s an indisputable fact that most clothes look smarter/chic/neater/more polished than un-ironed clothes.

Put an un-ironed pair of jeans and cotton t-shirt or shirt beside an ironed version and you can quickly spot the difference.

PalmarisLongus · 13/09/2021 12:58

@DillyDilly

Iron or don’t iron, whatever your want but it’s an indisputable fact that most clothes look smarter/chic/neater/more polished than un-ironed clothes.

Put an un-ironed pair of jeans and cotton t-shirt or shirt beside an ironed version and you can quickly spot the difference.

Ok. But then put a pair of ironed jeans and a t-shirt and in ironed set that have been worn for an hour.

Or an ironed shirt Vs an unironed shirt after a 45 minute commute on the tube.

Or an ironed blouse Vs an unironed one after 4 hours at a desk.

Life has creases... You can't run, you can't hide.. may as well embrace them. 😜

cardibach · 13/09/2021 13:02

I’m not sure I could spot the difference always @DillyDilly. I can’t tell the difference between my clothes and anyone else’s, so unless I exclusively know and meet non-ironers it suggests I mostly can’t.
In the case of jeans I could I think, but I don’t think ironed jeans look nice. They look better ‘natural’ in my view.
I also don’t think smartness etc is involved because everyone has creases - drive your car, walk, sit down…you’ll make creases. I am in any case not interested in looking ‘polished’. Not a priority. I’m nice, I am nice to people, I’m a competent professional…none of that is affected by having a few fewer creases in my shirt. Anyone who judges me as lesser because of it isn’t someone I’m interested in spending time with.

RampantIvy · 13/09/2021 13:05

@thecognoscenti

People who don't iron always say no one can tell. Trust me, we can, we just generally don't care. Most clothes look ten times better when ironed but if it's not a priority for you then that's absolutely fine, it's not compulsory and in the grand scheme of things it really doesn't matter.
I agree.

I am wrinkled enough. I don't want to wear wrinkled clothes as well Grin

TiddyTidTwo · 13/09/2021 13:27

Lockdown cured my ironing

felulageller · 13/09/2021 13:39

I've not ironed for over 20 years

There's really no need

The only place an iron belongs is in a museum

CookPassBabtridge · 13/09/2021 13:41

Have one but only use for sewing Grin Ironing is a waste of life.

MrsMcCluskeysCat · 13/09/2021 13:51

I have an iron but since moving out of a furnished house share and into my own flat I don't have an ironing board! I will probably buy one at some point but only when I have something that really needs ironing (which happens about once a year).

Fizbosshoes · 13/09/2021 13:58

People who don't iron always say no one can tell. Trust me, we can, we just generally don't care.

I used to work with someone who insisted hardly anyone could tell she smoked. I sat next to her and it was very obvious she did. No idea if she ironed her clothes though.🤣

Otherpeoplesteens · 13/09/2021 14:31

We have one which is used for my (men's) shirts and chinos only. I do it all.

I know a guy who doesn't have a tumble dryer, so uses his iron to dry his jeans when necessary.

Themadcatparade · 13/09/2021 15:03

Has anyone ever had a guest come by and compliment them on their ironed bedding? Or even notice for that matter?

The notion is bonkers to me. Yes I bet it feels lovely, but to be quite honest I’m either too tired or too busy rolling around on them with my partner at the end of the day to notice that my own sheets are not ironed.

Fair enough if you own a guest house.

If an item of my clothing is too creased to even consider stepping out of the house in then yeah, I might whip out the iron, but I’ll probably be heading straight for the hairdryer or the straighteners first for the convenience.

If I had anyone who ever came up to me and told me they thought I was scruffy/lazy/common/whatever over my unironed clothes, I’d be internally smirking inside at how much time they must waste vs how much fun I was probably having whilst they were ironing their washing at the weekend.

Nobody should care who irons or who does not. I certainly don’t, and never will. If you want to waste multiple hours in the week doing so in a life where many of us don’t even have the time to spare a nice relaxing hour to ourselves each day then you crack on. I know what I’d rather be doing.

puts feet back up whilst waiting for the kettle to boil

daisyjgrey · 13/09/2021 15:04

I own one, for sewing.

I'm debating getting one of those handheld garment steamers for the couple of linen dresses I've got.

I will not iron.

Maireas · 13/09/2021 15:15

Goodness! Such strong antipathy to ironing! Who knew. I must be in a minority.

Mercurial123 · 13/09/2021 15:17

@daisyjgrey

I own one, for sewing.

I'm debating getting one of those handheld garment steamers for the couple of linen dresses I've got.

I will not iron.

I have a steamer it's fine for silk but cotton and linen definitely need an iron. Maybe it's just mine that is crappy despite the amazing online reviews.
BrightYellowDaffodil · 13/09/2021 15:36

We, the creased, the wrinkled, the curly-collared, give no fucks. Please avoid us at all costs. If we are finding life too short to besmooth our crumpled fabrics then trust us, we have even less time to deal with arseholes like you. Go flatten a pair of socks.

Absolutely. However, I wear all sorts of clothes, including linen and cotton, and they always look perfectly alright to me once they’ve been hung up while damp. They’ll be creased soon enough once I’ve sat down in them or been squashed onto the Central Line. If someone chooses to judge me because my clothes could perceivably be flatter that is, of course, their choice. If they choose to make comments about ironing somehow equalling “respect” then I can live with their disappointment. I presume they’ll be busy ironing those judgy pants while I’m lying on the sofa with a book.

And no, I’ve never owned an iron.

Onlypostnowandagain · 13/09/2021 15:38

Wow this is do eye opening for me, I'd be lost without my iron!!

mymobileisonsilent · 13/09/2021 15:42

I don't iron, it does look nicer if you do but I barley have time to wash our clothes let alone iron it would cut into my MN time too much

cardibach · 13/09/2021 16:12

@Onlypostnowandagain

Wow this is do eye opening for me, I'd be lost without my iron!!
Really? Lost? You wouldn’t be able to fathom out how to proceed at all? Try it. You might like it.
RampantIvy · 13/09/2021 16:24

@Maireas

Goodness! Such strong antipathy to ironing! Who knew. I must be in a minority.
You and me both Grin

To be fair I don't do a lot of ironing, but I do have some clothes where it is very noticeable to me if they haven't been ironed.

I love the fresh smell when I iron something that has been hung out on the line to dry. It also helps to dry slightly damp clothes.

I will reiterate that I don't care if other people don't iron, but all my friends iron as well.

mymobileisonsilent · 13/09/2021 16:29

I used to iron everything and my DPs stuff and he's moan it didn't need ironing. Now he asks me to iron his things and I say no. You can change. Once I had the kids and I just have other things to do at weekends or in the evening like battle all the crumbs and toys .

Maireas · 13/09/2021 16:41

My thoughts too, @RampantIvy, but each to their own.

gofg · 13/09/2021 23:34

We had a uniform at my last job. You really could tell those who didn't iron their shirts, but as @thecognoscenti said, no-one actually cares. But those who think wearing ironed clothing for an hour or two makes it look the same as un-ironed clothing are kidding themselves.

MouseholeCat · 13/09/2021 23:43

I don't own one, although I do own a portable garment steamer. We've lasted 4 years without an iron, and the garment steamer only needs to come out for a select few outfits that only get worn occasionally.

Weirdly, it's not the iron part that puts me off ironing, it's the bloody ironing board. They are such a pain in the arse to use and store.

BlotBangRub · 13/09/2021 23:46

I don't iron.
I don't overload the washer or dryer with laundry and I fold it as I'm taking it off the line or out of the dryer, it's pretty much crease free when dried then.
Life's too short.
If anyone is bothered about my unironed clothing, they're welcome to iron it themselves.

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