IRONING. Super tips and gadgets please.

[Nuttybear]

I REALLY HATE IRONING AND LOVE IRONED CLOTHES. It took me all morning just to iron a basket of clothes this morning and we have tons of the stuff. I need tips to speed things up but still get the clothes looking great. Also how do you avoid a steam iron from limescale making clothes dirty. I have had a varitey of irons and they all have this problem within a year. I've tried the cleaning fluid and it makes it worse! Help
Should I get one of those small arm ironing broad for the little details?
Things I think I know.
ironing t-shirts with transfers inside out.
get a linen cloth over the top of trousers to avoid that shine.
Shirts do 1st sleeves 2nd collar 3rd shoulders fronts4th back then hang on a hanger.
Anymore for anymore

Hang out washing the second it stops in the machine and you will only have to minimally iron anything.

I use ironing water, makes the clothes smell lovely, DH swears it helps him iron (yes, he does the ironing), and you don't get limescale problems

Are you ironing the necessities only?
I only iron shirts for DH, T shirts if I must and obviously anything linen in the summer, and duvet cover and pillow slips. Not sheets, just smooth and fold, but duvets are 100% cotton. If pushed, and they are line dried they can do with a smooth and put back on beds.

I do not iron towels, undies, T towels,or anything like that.

MaryBs I might have to fork out for that stuff. Who has the cheapest but still nice?
purplepeony Oh, I do even less I don't even do the duvet covers but I need work blouses for myself too.
scurryfunge if only I could washing goes in then I go to work. It comes out when I find the time

steam generating irons really are the best, and because they have a separate tank, so long as you dont steam when its low it's fine. and so quick.

I second steam generators too. I'd never go back to a 'normal' steam iron.

Nuttybear, Tesco do one for 77p and when I went last week, it was on 3 for 2 special offer.

Steam generator the only way to go. But you cant use scented water in them, I got a new iron from argos reduced to 130 from 200 its tefal and has a removeable magnet thing that collects the limescale.

That you soremummy I have nectar vouchers that can cut the cost of that.
MaryBS Don't have a Tescos nearby but when I do go into one I'll have a look cheers

www.thanedirect.co.uk/products/housewares/tobi/tobi.php

I love my TOBI, it takes a bit of getting used too, but the ease of use and quickness, my ironing time is cut by half.

OOOOO! I think my DH's eyes will roll if I bought that home (another mad geagets she's brought into the house! He would never iron again as he wouldn't get used to it (as it wasn't his idea) or read the instructions! So thanks maybe if I was single

I make my own ironing water because I am very tight

small spray bottle, 25 drops of lavender essential oil, jigger of vodka (unscented, unlike gin, and acts as disperser/preservative), fill up with water, you're good to go

I don't mind ironing as long as I have lots of time and there's good stuff on the radio. Otherwise I hate it

sorry, I think I mean ironing spray

I don't put it in the iron

Use cooled boiled water in the steam iron- a lot of the limescale ends up in the kettle, where it's easier to deal with.

I always fill my generator with filtered water.

Good advice re limescale I will give them all a go.

Steam generator iron, I bought one a few months ago and it has made ironing really quick. You only have to go over stuff once, the steam just cuts through the creases.

I love mine, I never use any ironing water just water from my tap!

Thane Direct are sold out of the Tobi you are talking about but I hear they are launching the new one, Tobi Platinum, later this year, 15% off for Mumsnet fans when you quote offer code mumsnet.

Vaporesse. Smells nice and is about 70p a bottle on offer. Going to try carmelita's recipe now tho, as I have loads of vodka miniatures gathering dust in a cupboard.

I've fallen for the ironing water (con) too!
It makes a difference to me.
My mum always used kettle water to fill her iron to cut down the limescale deposits.

I think you supposed to expect a decent cleaner to do 7-8 shirts an hour.
Tis very depressing to see basket loads of ironing and be able to calculate how long it will take in advance.
I'm currently doing an hour a morning to make inroads into my piles

Pay someone to do the ironing for you. I did when i had early pregnancy exhaustion and it was fab!

Another vote for steam generator iron - you get a facial and do the ironing at the same time.

Oh, and someone else to do the ironing.

We have soft water so limescale not so much of a problem but my friend down south swears by using filtered water and has a brittax water filter.

As for ironing water we do use it occationally if we are going somewhere nice and want nice smelling clothes but im sure making your own would be cheaper.

Pay someone to do your ironing, i would if our budget would allow lol

How do you clean the metal plate of the iron? Ours is going all black.

There are these candle like things you smear on the iron you can get them from Robert Dyas or places like that. I'll look for it later and get you the name.
Must dash school pick-up Ironing pile still growing