to wonder if anyone has ever ACTUALLY "taking in some ironing"?

[InPraiseOfBacchus]

I was sitting eating my Massive Salad when I started to wonder. The "take in some ironing" line has become a bit of a MN meme now, but at one point people must have been suggesting it for real.

I've never had the inclination to have my laundry or ironing done in someone else's home by a random member of the local community (rather than, say, a laundry business), and I've also never seen this service advertised in any of the various places I've lived.

Is this a thing that actually happens, or is it something that only existed in the imaginations of Mumsnetters of yesteryear? Have you ever Taken In Some Ironing and, if so, did it immediately solve all of your money worries AND pay for pony lessons?

One of my old neighbours (old as in I don't live there anymore, although she was in her 70's) used to take in ironing, used to see cars regularly pulling up with baskets of washing for her. Presumably it was a side income as I was assume at that point she was retired.
I guess it's additional income that you can earn flexibly around other commitments.

Someone was taking in ironing on local gumtree. Collected, returned ironed but stunk of cigarettes So I had to re wash; never again.

Dh uses an ‘ironing lady’ as he is fussy re having his stuff ironed and otherwise gets all stressed when he doesn’t have time to do it. I couldn’t care less if my clothes are wrinkly and I hate ironing so I’m not doing it for him!

I did it briefly when our eldest DD was excluded from school. I did about 5 baskets before losing the plot and saying No to anymore. Mind you, some of it came from a friend who had obviously dried it all on radiators/airers and it was so wrinkled it took ages

I am thoroughly impressed by anyone who can do it for a living. My boredom threshold is about 15 seconds when it comes to ironing. I put everything through our machine on a low spin and dry it on our dry soon airer or on hangers .... rarely iron anything and DH sorts his shirts out.

Currently finishing my massive salad and wistfully remembering my childhood. My neighbour took in ironing.

My washing machine has a steam function so I chuck stuff in there. I hate ironing.

We did once, nearly 20 years ago, when our eldest was a newborn. The woman collected the shirts from our house and dropped them off. Until one day she didn't, and didn't answer her phone anymore. We had no other contact details for her apart from the phone number. We never heard from her again and never got the shirts back!

I know someone who has a lady come to her house and spends a whole morning once a week ironing but I don't know anyone else that outsources ironing (or at least it hasn't come up in conversation)

'Massive salad.'

Lots of people used to do this 10 years ago when I lived just outside London. I used someone who did it.

not aware of anyone doing or offering this where I live now (Midlands).

A ex of mine used to get his shirts ironed. He dropped them in washed and dried to a lady on his way to work and collect them on his way home. I think he got the lady's number from a noticeboard in a Supermarket

My mum used to take in ironing when I was little. She hasn't done it for a long time now but she had quite a few takers. I would pay someone to do my ironing, I hate doing it.

Of course it's a thing. What is a bit more complex than the casual, "take in some ironing" comments is that it's still like setting up a business. You can keep it minor and low key, but you still have to advertise. You still have to figure out a way to ensure you have space to do it and to keep your clients separate etc. You have to work out the best way for collection/delivery etc. And then, once you've done all that, it's probably not worth it if you're just getting £20 a day of work.

My ironing lady is hugely busy. She does an amazing job and stuff turns up in plastic and on hangers. She also drops off and collects.

Someone near me (the usual one who is also always advertising Scentsy/Avon/wax melts) has just put up an FB post of offering ironing and got several positive responses. I assume the furniture up cycling isn’t generating the income she hoped for. I was mildly annoyed I didn’t think of it, as I don’t mind ironing. Although I’d have to buy an ironing board. I lack the optimism, brass neck and false chirpiness to try and sell shit I don’t want to my friends, but quietly working my way through an ironing pile in front of Netflix for £15 an hour appeals. From experience, she’s a bit flakey, so I’ll wait a bit and dust off my iron if I’m still looking for something in the spring.

I used to do it in my teens for a bit of extra cash, mainly for family friends. They had DH's in "important office jobs" and hated ironing the shirts- I didn't mind ironing back then. I think it worked out about £1 a shirt, about 15yrs ago. I don't even own an iron now it sort of fizzled when m&s etc brought out the no-iron type range of shirts/school uniforms.

Someone I work with did it for a couple of years when her eldest went to university to help cover the extra costs.
She said it was bloody hard work for the money

Excellent use of subcontracting. Just trying to imagine my teens face if I suggested this.

I haven't seen an ad for a service like this for a few years now, but I know there must be people still doing it in our area as my SIL gets hers done. I'd definitely pay to get shirts ironed but anything else I'd rather do myself.

DP has a lady who does his ironing, so there's certainly people who still offer this as a service.

I see ads for it local to me, and our neighbour uses a service. We both hate ironing, so our cleaner does it.

It's things like these (and the story about the cigarette/food smell!) that would make me feel very wary about sending my belongings to someone else's private home!

I did. When I was a single parent I worked as a cleaner in a pub. The Landlord asked me if I wanted some extra money so I ironed 7 silk shirts a week for him. Scared me to death the first time, never having owned a silk shirt I was convinced I'd put a hole in it!

So yes. People do 'take in ironing' 🙄

*I’m never quite sure if these posters are bots designed to keep MN discussions lively and raise revenue, or genuinely thick.
*

Of course it's a thing.

I've three ironing ladies over the years. Pick up and deliver back a couple of days later. Shirts on hangers and everything else in an ikea bag.

They're out there if you look and ask around.

@SirChenjins

Our cleaner offers ironing services. Never used it as i buy clothes thwt don't require ironing. But ai believe it's quite popular.

This thread reminds me of a book I had as a child: Ameliaranne and the Green Umbrella, her mother took in washing; I can still remember the illustrations.

I would not want my ironing done in someone else's home. I do have a lady who comes in and irons for me (in my home) for 2-3 hours a week - that is perfect!