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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think people that routinely iron have far too much time on their hands?

227 replies

Wrinkyclothes · 19/02/2023 19:02

Do people really still routinely iron their clothing?

The keyword being routinely. I am known to iron for events, or if I have a fussy top requiring attention or the kids need to look smart. But do people actually iron everything? Why??

OP posts:
CaptainMerica · 19/02/2023 19:23

I don't iron (or tumble dry) but I do wonder if ironing is the secret of people who always look smart regardless of what they are wearing. Still, don't care enough to test the theory.

Alwayswonderedwhy · 19/02/2023 19:24

Yanbu. Complete waste of time.

declutteringmymind · 19/02/2023 19:24

@Calistan

I iron sitting down sometimes.

Allschoolsareartschools · 19/02/2023 19:25

Iron or don't iron but don't kid yourself that nobody notices when you look creased & crumpled!
It's not a good look.

Brefugee · 19/02/2023 19:26

i iron, not everything but the things that i want to either look smart or fold nicely in drawers

I need less than an hour a week (including folding things that don't get ironed) and listen to a podcast or two. It's fine.

LadyAstor · 19/02/2023 19:26

I steam, does that count?

whatthebejesus · 19/02/2023 19:27

Everything is ironed here. Your clothes look better and last significantly longer than when they're rumpled up. Bedding is much nicer to get into when it's ironed than when it's not

Oldraver · 19/02/2023 19:27

To think that people who routinely put on make up have too much time on their hands

To think that people who style their hair have too much time in their hands

To think that people who paint their nails have too much time on their hands

To think that people who mow their lawn have too much time on their hands

To think that people who wash their car have too much time on their hands

Etc etc etc. Horses for courses, we all do things others will turn their noses up at

I rarely iron, but do iron my cotton pillow cases, but who gives a shit

TellySavalashairbrush · 19/02/2023 19:27

I don’t mind ironing at all. I have a busy life but can’t think of anything worse than getting into a bed with creased sheets or wearing a top that looks crumpled . I listen to a podcast or catch up on tv while ironing. If people have time to browse on here, they have time to iron a couple of items .

LindorDoubleChoc · 19/02/2023 19:27

I think people make time for ironing in the same way that some people make time for baking, running, reading, playing an instrument, anything really. It depends on your priorities - and for some people, ironing is important.

marbledegg · 19/02/2023 19:28

I iron, don’t enjoy it particularly but I wear proper shirts with cuffs for work, have high cotton thread count sheets, lots of linen and cotton and like to look ‘ironed’.

I’ve tried farming it out but since my old cleaner retired I’ve never been happy with it so I just do it.

FirstFallopians · 19/02/2023 19:28

I saw a friend complaining on her Instagram stories about a pile of ironing. She moved the camera to show that it was a pile of clothes for her 10 month old, as if anyone was going to raise any eyebrows over a baby wearing a non-ironed sleepsuit.

99% of ironing is busy work.

Partyandbullshit · 19/02/2023 19:29

I don’t mind ironing once I get going, especially if I’ve a good podcast on the go. I just have to gee myself up to it A LOT.

It was a moment of acceptance for me when I caught myself ironing a tea towel. I had turned into my mum, no question.

itsjustnotok · 19/02/2023 19:29

I iron. Both DH and I work in hospitals and our uniform is terrible and needs it. No way would I turn up in a crumpled up uniform. I iron my daughters school shirt too. Personally I think it looks shit but I guess that’s also the ex military in me. We were expected to wear our uniform with pride and it makes me feel good to look good and for me depending on the outfit it might be ironed. It doesn’t t make me weird or have too much time on my hands anymore than it makes someone who doesn’t lazy. Each to our own.

LindorDoubleChoc · 19/02/2023 19:29

DH irons his work shirts and I'll iron maybe a couple of items a month if they are particularly crumpled. Absolutely no time for ironing bedding or anything else that no one will ever see!

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 19/02/2023 19:30

My DGM used to iron EVERYTHING. Socks, handkerchiefs, even pants ironed into little squares. The most bonkers thing was towels, and then put them in the tumble drier to fluff back up.

I wasn't even sure I owned an iron until DD started school. I do iron her uniform, and take it as an opportunity to watch graphically violent horror that no one else likes. It matches my mood Grin

Ludo19 · 19/02/2023 19:30

whatthebejesus · 19/02/2023 19:27

Everything is ironed here. Your clothes look better and last significantly longer than when they're rumpled up. Bedding is much nicer to get into when it's ironed than when it's not

I'm definitely in this camp. I iron my clothes and bedding.....preferably fresh off the washing line if time permits obviously.

Judgyjudgy · 19/02/2023 19:30

greenacrylicpaint · 19/02/2023 19:04

yanbu
for day to day I chose clothes specifically that don't need ironing.

Me too! 😁 my aunty irons flannels and underwear 🤨

AuntieMarys · 19/02/2023 19:31

I iron about 30 things every 10 days. Takes an hour.

Calistan · 19/02/2023 19:31

Oldraver · 19/02/2023 19:27

To think that people who routinely put on make up have too much time on their hands

To think that people who style their hair have too much time in their hands

To think that people who paint their nails have too much time on their hands

To think that people who mow their lawn have too much time on their hands

To think that people who wash their car have too much time on their hands

Etc etc etc. Horses for courses, we all do things others will turn their noses up at

I rarely iron, but do iron my cotton pillow cases, but who gives a shit

It's female socialisation writ large. We think women are emancipated free people, but we forget that the deep judgement has not gone away. Humans have a long way to go.

RedCarsGoFaster · 19/02/2023 19:31

My mother was horrified by her friend who irons everything including knickers and boxer shorts.

My mother is also horrified that I don't iron anything routinely - not even bedding.

Sorry mum. Life is too short.

When I worked in a uniformed job, I ironed the collar, the yoke and the arms. Everything else was under body armour from the moment I got to work, so why bother ironing it? If I was in No 1 uniform, I'd iron it all of course, but a total waste of time for the day job :-D

mbosnz · 19/02/2023 19:31

I iron. I most probably do have too much time on my hands, but I've always ironed, even when I was working full time with two young kids and volunteering at at least two different organisations. I like things being ironed, including tea towels. I don't question other peoples' ironing habits, and I don't expect them to question mine. . .

Allschoolsareartschools · 19/02/2023 19:31

Calistan · 19/02/2023 19:09

I think they are probably those kind of people who think sitting down or relaxing is a sin. Skinny, nervy types who can't complete a thought.

WTAF? Imagine this from the opposite perspective.
'People that don't iron are overweight types who are too lazy to get off their arses & actually do something.'
How bloody rude & stupid.

Cardamoney · 19/02/2023 19:31

When I was ironing for 5 of us and the kids were young it was a chore. My DM did a lot of it.
Now it’s just 2 of us I like chilling to a tv programme while ironing. Including sheets and duvets covers because clean ironed sheets are amazing! And I’m not nervy/skinny/ neurotic.
Also agree that a lot of people who don’t iron don’t realise how crumpled they can look. But each to her own, bugger off judging me for ironing.😄

CandyLeBonBon · 19/02/2023 19:32

I occasionally iron. I'm more interested in those who iron for their partners? Is there a reason they can't iron their own shirts?