Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
CounsellorTroi · 13/09/2021 08:12

I iron the odd going out shirt for DH. (He does more than his share of cooking and washing up). My late MIL ironed everything including socks and underpants.

violetbunny · 13/09/2021 08:12

People without irons - what do you do if you need to dress smartly? Like if you're going to a formal event of some kind?

Rosebel · 13/09/2021 08:13

I used to iron everything and then my husband broke the ironing board (don't ask).
He replaced it just before Christmas and I first used it yesterday to iron my daughter's school shirt so I'll probably always own an iron but doubt it'll get much use (my husband and I just wear t shirts to work so tha probably helps).

grey12 · 13/09/2021 08:15

@TheSpiral

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.
DD1 in Y1 wears shirts (Envy) so I got some noniron ones from sainsburys Wink good so far. I've just been careful when taking it out of the washing machine and giving them a good shake
OhRene · 13/09/2021 08:17

I never iron except when we are going to a wedding or funeral really. If my iron broke I would replace it but only because i don't want to be running round in a rush to find one if needed.

User4378645 · 13/09/2021 08:18

@violetbunny

People without irons - what do you do if you need to dress smartly? Like if you're going to a formal event of some kind?
We don't really go to many formal occasions but I did use the steamer on some creased curtains so I would likely use that, it's one of those 9 in 1 jobbies that you can take the handle off
LuckyAmy1986 · 13/09/2021 08:20

People without irons - what do you do if you need to dress smartly? Like if you're going to a formal event of some kind

Steamer.

billy1966 · 13/09/2021 08:21

I put shirts in the dryer and pull them out hot after 10 minutes and give them a good shake and bingo they are fine.

I give the rest 20 minutes and shake and fold.

The thing is you have to fold as soon as it has finished so I would never turn it on if I don't have time to fold.

The other trick a flat mate of mine used to do was hang something that need creases removed in the shower room and the steam would do the job.

Cbtb · 13/09/2021 08:21

The amount of people tumble drying everything on here makes me sad for the environment. We do tumble if it’s too raining to dry outside but it’s not the default.

DH does most of the ironing as he wears formal shirts daily - we iron collared shirts for DH and DD when she’s in winter uniform, the odd shirt for me, Suit trousers and winter school pinafores, linen dresses and hankies - (hankies are ironed to remove any germs as I don’t seem to manage to save them for a hot wash).

I used to iron cotton bedding because it’s just so amazing to get into freshly ironed sheets but have swapped to linen which is supposed to be crumpled looking on the bed so I don’t have to!

Mainly use the iron for sewing and crochet blocking tho (my sewing teacher said the most important tool for sewing is an iron but emphasised you are pressing not ironing)

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 13/09/2021 08:28

I'm sure it's easier to iron stuff than go through the faff of avoidance measures?
Folding, precision tumble drying times, hairdryers ..does that not take more time?

billy1966 · 13/09/2021 08:29

I hang clothes out every chance I get and tumble dry for twenty minutes and they are put away.

My children have been reared to not throw everything, everyday in the wash.

I have friends who used to be doing 2 and 3 washes a day.😳
I would go bonkers with that level of laundry.
We re wear clothes here!

I have a very sunny garden even in the depths of winter and clothes dry very quickly.

The tumble drier airs them perfectly and requires no ironing for 95% of clothes.

Stircraazy · 13/09/2021 08:30

I don't tumble dry my clothes except for socks, knickers.

I wear t shirts most days - some are probably 10-15 years old and still look fine (especially after a light iron Grin ).

Stircraazy · 13/09/2021 08:32

In California local residents laws forbid line drying of clothes - in fact you weren't even allowed to hang them in the huge garage - that soooooo green California - of course the weather was perfect for it.

SirenSays · 13/09/2021 08:34

@violetbunny

People without irons - what do you do if you need to dress smartly? Like if you're going to a formal event of some kind?
I do this often, I just buy clothes that don't crease terribly. I've found my clothes that are the worst offenders for creasing are dry clean only anyway so I just drop them off and when I pick them up, they're perfect.
BIoodyStupidJohnson · 13/09/2021 08:38

I don't own one. I send ironable clothing out -- there's a lovely man locally who takes in ironing (and mending) so any shirts or trousers get sent to him. He gets a better crease down a shirt sleeve or trouser-leg than I ever could.

Purplecatshopaholic · 13/09/2021 08:39

I have an iron somewhere.. not seen it in ages. I buy and wear things that don’t need it, and I have a clothes steamer (awesome thing) for the occasional thing that is a bit creased.

Maireas · 13/09/2021 08:46

I think it's the fabric. If you wear polyester and other man made fibres, you don't need to iron.
Cotton and linen look better ironed.
Personal preference/convenience.

BatshitCrazyWoman · 13/09/2021 08:49

@RampantIvy

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.

I think it's the other way round, the ironers are sneery about the non-ironers , implying they look scruffy or crumpled. I don't. I iron the linen that definitely needs it, but I don't wear shirts so there's nothing to iron!
Kendodd · 13/09/2021 08:52

I iron a lot even though I hate it
Just stop then.
Buy non iron shirts, job done.
My drill gets more action than the iron and I haven't seen that in years. Come to think about it, how come the iron gets to live in the house and the drill in the garage? They should be the other way around.

We never iron. And as for all the 'look smart for work' my husband is a lawyer and goes to court, he still doesn't iron anything. I hang shirts up in the airing cupboard straight from the washing machine.

RampantIvy · 13/09/2021 08:54

It's far more faff and time consuming for me to do a 12 mile round trip to a dry cleaners x 2 to get half a dozen items ironed than to get the iron out and do it myself.

Kendodd · 13/09/2021 08:57

And it's no faff at all to not do either of those things.

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 13/09/2021 09:04

There will be some non ironers who do look scruffy though and that's fine if it's not something they're bothered about.

Billandben444 · 13/09/2021 09:04

I use my iron about twice a day and also spend about 4 hours out of my weekend ironing all my clothes and bedding. I find those who don't bother to be very lazy - and common.
Ha ha - a Hyacinth Bucket on here!
I iron about twice a year - yesterday I did 5 linen tops and 4 cotton shirts that had been washed weeks ago. Years ago I binned 2 really annoying thick cotton shirts with pockets and twiddley bits - my DH never missed them.

mydogisthebest · 13/09/2021 09:28

@marioduck yes clothes do get creased wearing them - when you sit down or the seat belt in a car but no way near how creased clothes are when you don't iron them.

Tumble drying does not make them smooth, in fact it usually make clothes more creased plus using more electric is not good.

I line dry my clothes but they come out of my machine creased because I have them on a high spin speed so they dry quicker. All the shaking and careful pegging in the world is not going to get the creases out.

A lower spin speed would mean slightly less creasing but longer drying.

I don't care if people don't iron their clothes but to believe that others can't tell is delusional

scarpa · 13/09/2021 09:39

Nope I don't have one either! The only time I've ironed anything since leaving home was for funerals, and I either borrow one from a neighbour or I've been in a hotel so they had one.

Swipe left for the next trending thread