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Original poster

How to give up ironing (without crunchy towels etc)

78 replies

SquidgersMummy · 31/08/2013 09:24

I have decided to give up ironing...suppose the odd work shirt or dress is going to have to be done. Just about to return to work after mat leave and am also depressed by the constant ironing pile. There is no time for it. It seems a waste of my life. DD has eczema so I haven't been using fabric conditioner of late - the perfume is the worst - but Surcare do a perfume free, skin friendly one. I just wanted to know what I can do to prevent crunchy towels and general crappy looking stuff. Thanks for your tips xx

OP posts:
SubliminalMassaging · 31/08/2013 12:29

I find there is no ideal solution unless you separate your clothes to a ridiculous degree and do a zillion tiny loads of washing to take account of what each item needs most.

You either spend more money on tumble drying and cut down your massively or you save on electricity by using a line, and you do more ironing. I've been doing my own and other people's laundry for 30 years and this is the conclusion I've come to!

Also I learnt far too late that the best thing you can do to help yourself is to never leave stuff sitting crumbled in the bottom of the washing machine or the tumble dryer for too long. The sooner it's out and folded our hung, the better.

SubliminalMassaging · 31/08/2013 12:29

or hung

OneLittleToddleTerror · 31/08/2013 12:35

I don't iron. DD isn't at school yet. DH wears tshirts to work. My work is also casual. Life is too short to iron towels and tees. You just get use to non ironed towels I supposed. Never found it to be a problem.

AmberLeaf · 31/08/2013 12:36

I decided that time spend ironing is a waste of life some years back.

I have a tumble dryer which makes it much easier, some things I just hang on hangers as soon as they come out of the washing machine.

My Mum told me when she was first married back in the 60s that she used to iron tea towels and underwear! she also worked full time...she soon stopped all that nonsense and I think I got my hatred of ironing from her.

AmberLeaf · 31/08/2013 12:36

spend = spent

LumpySpacePrincessOhMyGlob · 31/08/2013 12:43

I gave up ironing when I got my new hotpoint washing machine, it has an enormous drum which helps. There is a shirts programme which is amazing. Most of my own clothes just need a quick wash with a low spin, I then hang them up. Dd and dhs clothes need a more robust wash. I hang everything immediately and give it a good shake to get creases out. I do use softener but you can use white vinegar instead and I don`t own a tumbler.

I am also slightly bonkers and passionate about washing and hanging washing out.

CiderwithBuda · 31/08/2013 13:38

Loving the tip about folding clothes straight out of the washing machine. Just done that with a pile of t-shirts which are now hanging up on hangers drying and look fine.

I end up with far too much ironing although draw the line at towels and tea towels!

Part of the reason I iron some things is that they are then easier to fold nicely and put away. I even iron DS's pjs. Madness.

Am desperate to cut down on ironing but have been in a habit of washing, hanging to dry and then just putting in laundry baskets waiting for ironing. Years of being an expat and having someone to do the ironing led to that. Now am not an expat and do it myself I need to be less fussy I think. I currently have three big baskets of ironing but will be following the tips on here in future to cut back.

Hercy · 31/08/2013 13:55

I get clothes out of the machine as soon as its finished, give it a good shake then whatever would go on hangers to be put away gets put straight on a hanger then hooked to an airer/washing line to dry in good weather, or on a curtain rail in bad weather, with everything else on the airer. I do still iron, but I think I could get away with not doing it on this method.

I'm a bit of an obsessive with housework though. I even iron tea towels and bedding. Never ironed a bath towel though. And never had a problem with crispyness (on our towels). I have noticed that the dog towels go a bit crispy, even with fabric softener, but they're old and fairly poor quality. Ours are Egyptian cotton and have always remained plush, so quality may also be a factor in crispyness!

Fraxinus · 31/08/2013 14:05

I have just put 2 loads of washing away and come the the following conclusion.

If you don't want to iron, choose your fabrics carefully.
You can have 100% cotton, but not woven... Knitted.

Woven cottons and linens, viscose etc look so much better for ironing, but knitted cotton t shirt, tshirt dresses etc are fine if you shake them out before drying.

Jeans and the like have a much denser weave.. I think it's over woven, so need less ironing too.

WinkyWinkola · 31/08/2013 14:09

However, I iron a lot and listen to my German language CDs at the same time so that it's not a waste of time. I reckon I will try Spanish next. Grin

Mutley77 · 31/08/2013 14:18

I barely iron a thing. Sheets and towels I wouldn't iron anyway but if if is not warm and or breezy i tumble them and remove quickly, they then go straight back on bed or into bathroom on rail and don't look creased at all. Towels never crunchy and I don't use fabric conditioner with them as it makes them less absorbent (although I do use it with all other washing). Currently living in Australia and there are a lot of 'good drying days' even in winter.

Kids wear polos shirts for school and they are fine with a good shake then hung out, although funnily enough I did used to iron the ones I bought in England as the collars didn't sit right otherwise.
Dh irons a work shirt every morning. Some of his are non iron (m&s autograph) and they look no different to the others, but he still runs the iron over them.
If things look creased I do iron them eg ds little shirts but I don't find that applies to many things!

MonstersDontCry · 31/08/2013 14:18

Ironing towels? What madness is this? Why do you iron towels? Genuine question I've never heard if this before.

I don't own an iron. Although I do own an ironing board that is still in the cellophane. When do people get the time to iron? Also a genuine question.

I don't use fabric conditioner or own a tumble dryer. Until a year ago, we didn't have a washing line either!

ThermoLobster · 31/08/2013 14:19

Lumpy my last few machines have had big drums so maybe that is why I am not recognising the crumpled cardboard thing.

MonstersDontCry · 31/08/2013 14:21

I don't fold any clothes either Blush

Capitola · 31/08/2013 14:22

My mum irons everything and even she has never ironed a towel!

BrownSauceSandwich · 31/08/2013 15:26

I didn't even know you could iron a towel.

No ironing happens here, except husband will iron his own shirt for a wedding or funeral. Otherwise, shirts get dried on a hanger and, well, We don't really give a shit if our clothes look a bit crumply. And I like the crunchy towels... Definitely more absorbent.

wickedfairy · 31/08/2013 16:47

I don't iron but always shake well and put out on the line.

Fabric softener - a few people have mentioned not using it. Is it better not to use it or to use it, if you don't iron? I currently do use it and also my default programmes spin at 1400rpm which is high... My machine goes have a big 8kg drum though

LadyMilfordHaven · 31/08/2013 16:50

SPIN SPEEDS

vary them
I onluy use 1200 for towels or jeans

800 and fabric conditioner is your pal

orangeandemons · 31/08/2013 17:00

Well I have a background in Textile Science. I iron very very little.

Knitted garments, that is t shirts, polo shirts, jumpers etc all shred creases very easily especially when worn, therefore don't need ironing.

It is possible to get away without ironing woven cotton if hung very carefully, especially trousers. I have a couple of things that I iron evey 3 rd or 4th wash, and they look fine, but I never iron trousers or jeans.

Woven viscose and linen usually need an iron, but I have a very heavy linen top I don't iron.

When these garments are washed, the molecular chains break temporarily, and the need heat and moisture to restore them. However, all natural fibres retain moisture, and when you wear them you make them worn.

My advice is to iron woven tops sometimes, especially linen. The rest should survive fine Smile

orangeandemons · 31/08/2013 17:02

Make themwarm

orangeandemons · 31/08/2013 17:02

And never iron polyester

orangeandemons · 31/08/2013 17:03

And you shouldn't iron a towel. It crushes the pile and makes them less absorbent

DontmindifIdo · 31/08/2013 17:07

The only things that get ironed in our house are DHs work shirts, which he does himself.

CMOTDibbler · 31/08/2013 17:56

DH irons his own shirts. DS always wears a school jumper over his shirt, therefore no ironing (apart from in short period of 'shirt sleeves order' when dh does them).
By drying things on hangers hung from the airer, very little needs an iron - never t shirts, jeans, rugby shirts etc.

MariscallRoad · 31/08/2013 20:41

SquidgersMummy I gave up ironing years ago - no time unfortunately - and threw the board.

When I get into the train I realise how many people do not iron their clothes any more. They look fine.

bonzo thanks I do the same as you do.
I do not use my tumble dryer because the dust affects us all. I hang the clothes in the bathroom or on the corridor, on radiators and they dry well, It takes one to 4 hours depends on the weight. Some shirts do dry and look straight. The linen shirts look very wood without ironing and even posher. Jumpers socks and T shirts do not need ironing. Even towels dont. Depends what fabric the clothes are. Stretchy fabrics dont need any ironing. Bedlinen do not need pressing either. I have washed an overcoat even in the machine - which I was supposed not to - and then I pressed with hands in shape and it dried well, it got the lovely natural rugged look.