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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:
SylvanasWindrunner · 13/09/2021 07:18

@HeadNorth

I've never seen the point of ironing. Why do you want flat clothes - your body isn't flat?

We have one DH used to use occasionally but neither of us has touched it in years.

That's why you should only ever iron while wearing your clothes. That way you can contour them to fit your body.
LakieLady · 13/09/2021 07:22

I only ever iron in the summer, and not much then. I have some linen stuff that really does need ironing. I think I've ironed 2 shirts, one dress and a couple of pairs of trousers this year.

I don't have a drier, either. I take stuff out of the machine as soon as it finishes and give it a really good shake, then put it straight on the line. The breeze blows the creases out, and I peg tops at the armpits so the only crease is a tiny one that doesn't show.

If weather doesn't permit outdoor drying, I hang laundry on hangers from the curtain rails, where the warm air from the radiators beneath seems to blow creases out.

This even works on cotton bedlinen if I give it a good shake.

If I gave wearing linen (which I love), I wouldn't iron at all,

RampantIvy · 13/09/2021 07:25

My clothes always come out very creased. I line dry whenever the weather allows.

What brand are these magical washing machines that don't crease clothes?

TheSunnySide · 13/09/2021 07:27

You use a hairdryer to iron your clothes. Whatever floats your boat. YANBU to choose the way you prefer.

Personally I think it is a massive faff not to have an iron.

JustSayingItHowItIs · 13/09/2021 07:29

I do have an iron but I don't use it.

Tbh, my clothes don't come out the washing machine creased. All my clothes are air dried and they don't crease.

JustSayingItHowItIs · 13/09/2021 07:30

@RampantIvy

My clothes always come out very creased. I line dry whenever the weather allows.

What brand are these magical washing machines that don't crease clothes?

Has your washing machine got a iron symbol on it?
Heartsinflowers · 13/09/2021 07:35

Never! Even clothes that can’t go in the dryer I blast them for 10 mins then hang them up on hangers then on an airer to dry. It only damages them if they are dried the whole time in the dryer. Just enough to get the creases out from washing them hang them up. People who stand there doing piles of ironing baffles me

AuntieMarys · 13/09/2021 07:36

I enjoy ironing. I do it every 10 days, listening to Johnnie Walker. However I loathe cleaning the house. Dh cleans all the bathrooms, and hoovers. I occasionally flick a duster.

TheSpiral · 13/09/2021 07:38

Our iron only gets used on DH’s shirts, which he only wears occasionally when he has a meeting or we are going out for a meal or something - and he irons those.
I did think when the kids started sec school and moved from polo shirts to proper shirts I might need to start ironing but they seem to be OK drying hanging up.

RampantIvy · 13/09/2021 07:40

Has your washing machine got a iron symbol on

No. The washing machine is at least 18 years old. It was left by the previous owner, and still works perfectly.

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 13/09/2021 07:40

Blimey, ironing threads are contentious. The non ironers on this thread have been far more snippy than the ironing brigade though Confused There are some very strange comments (why do you want flat clothes when your body isn't flat?)
I don't know anyone in real life who doesn't own an iron.

TheSpiral · 13/09/2021 07:40

@RampantIvy

My clothes always come out very creased. I line dry whenever the weather allows.

What brand are these magical washing machines that don't crease clothes?

It’s how you hang them on the line I think. We just wash clothes as normal, but hang them up carefully, giving them a snap to shake out the creases and pulling them into shape a bit. If DS has done the hanging up the clothes probably do need ironing afterwards. I still don’t though.
SylvanasWindrunner · 13/09/2021 07:47

We just have a bog standard Bosch with a big drum. Don't overload it as if the washing can't move around properly then it gets squished into a ball. We tumble dry too (again, big drum). And I guess we just don't wear fabrics or outfits that are prone to creasing. I wouldn't buy anything that required ironing before wearing, outside of occasion wear I would use once in a blue moon, as it would just end up languishing at the bottom of the laundry basket.

Kerberos · 13/09/2021 07:47

I have a theory that if fabric was ever ironed, it damages it so it always needs it.

It's not something I prioritise doing, we do have an iron but I've not used it in years. With the tumble drier, good folding habits and hanging delicate items to dry I've not needed it.

RampantIvy · 13/09/2021 07:54

That is how I hang my clothes out as well @TheSpiral.

To be fair, I wear a lot of natural fibres, and don't hate ironing, so I don't choose clothes based on whether they need ironing or not.

I agree with you @Ihopeyourcakeisshit. Some posters think they are morally superior by not ironing - or certainly that is the impression they give.

Mindyourbusiness22 · 13/09/2021 08:00

We have one, couldn’t tell you where it is, life is too short to stand ironing.

DappledThings · 13/09/2021 08:02

I iron everything. Less to do with how it looks (I couldn't tell you if anyone else irons by looking at them) and all to do with putting clothes away. Much more satisfying to have them nice and flat and folded. I think I'd find it far more tedious trying to fold things directly from the line or the dryer. Yes that includes bedding.

icedcoffees · 13/09/2021 08:02

I'm 32 and I've never owned or used an iron in my entire life.

No plans to start anytime soon either Grin

Mindyourbusiness22 · 13/09/2021 08:03

@tellittomyhead is this sarcasm?! I really hope it is 🤣

Lockheart · 13/09/2021 08:04

I would actually quite like an iron and a proper ironing board. Unfortunately I live in a houseshare with no room.

I have a few nice shirts that I can't wear because they're creased after washing (I've tried hanging them up in the bathroom when I shower etc etc) so at the moment they just sit in the back of the wardrobe, awaiting the day when I get my own place!

User4378645 · 13/09/2021 08:05

If you bring washing in and just leave it in a washing basket dry and crumpled of course it will be creased if it's cotton, you have to hang things immediately to avoid creases. My DM used to do this and by ironing day the creases were well set in

Mercurial123 · 13/09/2021 08:06

In those circumstances ironing is unnecessary martyrdom, a total waste of time and electricity, and another way to keep women chained to the house.

OK... so using the dryer is fine but ironing is a waste of electricity? It costs about 10p worth of electricity to use an iron for 1hour. How much to use a dryer?

User4378645 · 13/09/2021 08:07

If I was to buy something and after hanging it was still a crumpled mess, it would go to a charity shop so someone else could enjoy ironing it.

Runrigdan · 13/09/2021 08:07

I have one, but rarely use it. Dh and I both wear uniforms that don't need ironing and so do our children, so that is quite lucky I suppose.

I think the last time I used it was to iron my husband's shirt for a wedding, and that was pre-covid!

StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 13/09/2021 08:10

I have a lovely large tank steam iron. I only iron clothes if they look creased and i am going to be seen in public in them rather than at home but i do like ironed bedding. DS irons tops if he is going out but doesn't care when wfh. Sometimes i just hang things up and hold the iron up to them for a blast of steam to take out the worst creases but generally stuff put straight onto hangers off the line means hardly any ironing. I remember my mum and grandma ironing handkerchiefs, pants, socks and tea towels ! In fact grandma showed me how to use an iron by getting me started on the hankies 😃

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