How to give up ironing (without crunchy towels etc)

[SquidgersMummy]

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

I set the spin dryer on low speed 700 or under so the clothes are not squashed to much against the drum and do not come out very creased. They come out a bit wet but dry in the room temperature.

I'm a non ironer, but have accepted of late that some thing do look better ironed.

Our ironing board is set up permanently in the spare room and I choose what to put the DC/me in on the day and if I feel it needs ironing I spend 5 mins tops ironing our t shirts/tops.

I don't see the point in ironing piles and pile of stuff all at the same time so it becomes a massive chore.

I wouldn't iron DH's shirts if he paid me - he's a grown adult and can sort out his own affairs. I'm quite happy to wash his things if they're in the washing basket with everything else but I'd be as likely to iron his shirt for him as to wipe his arse for him.

Learn to love crunchy towels! Towels that have been used a few times are soft and floppy, right?

When you pick up a towel that is actually brisk and a bit rough, then you know it is newly washed and to me that is the great appeal of a crunchy towel .

I iron a few things a week, probably spend about half an hour ironing. I am getting on a bit and so do now concede that ironed pillow cases are nice. I have never ironed dh's shirts, he does them. When the children are visiting mil I iron their clothes, and I might iron the occasional thing for them at other times if it is looking badly creased.

I sold my iron and ironing board 5 years ago. As soon as washer finishes, fold everything, leave for at least half an hour to remove all creases. Then hang on radiators/outside on line/ on airer.

Do you hang them folded? Otherwise the fold-hang-f

No iron here either. Shop carefully. M&S do non iron shirts for DH. I tumble dry and hang or just hang. None has ever noticed.

Damn.

Otherwise the fold-hang-fold again process seems a bit of a ball ache.

I do iron and have just spent 2 hrs on a weeks worth for 4 of us. I'll be cutting down now I'm going back to work. My washing machine has been too clogged to take in softener and the dryer door is knackered, but once fixed I'm determined to be more lackadaisical about it.

No one

I wash and spin at highest speed (1600rpm) - yes, this crumples things, but the trick is in removing clothes immediately. Then 5 min in the tumble dryer to get the worst creases out.

Then - hang up carefully after giving everything a good shake. It has to 'snap' like a whip if you do it right . I take care to shape collars and seams and to hang things v straight.
Take down when dry, then fold.

My pulley is my laundry lifesaver though, admittedly.

Never used softener. Towels are not crunchy but v absorbent. And smell great if dried in the garden.

I own and iron and board, but only use it for high holidays or weddings etc.

I used to spend all sunday afternoon ironing when I had a 'fuck it' moment. I just put all the clothes away and have hardly done any since.
The odd dress for work every few weeks maybe. Iron name tags on achool uniform once a year. DH irons 5 shirts for himself every Sunday night and that's it.

Put all the clothes away without ironing this week and see how you get on. You'll be surprised that most of your stuff looks fine without it.

I've never ironed towels ever. 5 mins in the dryer and they're fine.

Oh I lie ironing my work stuff. Just not kids t shirts

1600?!

Lady. Embrace 800

Fuck don't use a pulley unless you want to look like a student

You slatterns who don't iron anything can't possibly wear formal work clothes.

Or you just o

Or you just look shit

My partner used to do the ironing when we both had to wear smart suits five days a week. Now he doesn't bother at all and I iron my own on the odd days I need to. Kids wear those polo shirts for school which just get a shake before drying.

Never considered ironing towels - doesn't it make them all flat?

Am loving the summer weather and line full of clean laundry, already thinking of winter when I have to put laundry all over the house.

Lady my work is casual dress now, but I used to wear suits. I would get them dry cleaned and wear a vest top under them, so still didn't iron anything.
I am an out and out slattern though! Put a wash on last night, couldn't be bothered to deal with it so left it in the machine all night. Have just given it another rinse and spin and will hang it on the line. Still won't iron anything!

My work is "business attire" so I wear smart, tailored dresses. If I changed to trousers and shirts I would iron. Hence the dresses!

I love and adore my pulley - and my student days are well over.
Laundry pulled up and out of sight, drying v quickly in the warmer air at the ceiling, surely must be better than clothes horses all over the place or stuff draped across radiators everywhere?

I too buy clothes that lend themselves to a no-ironing approach ie jersey tops etc. The occasional shirt DH needs, he irons himself. School shirts are M+S No Iron ones.

I know someone who irons nylon bras .

I iron as little as possible. I iron trousers, skirts, shirts, nothing else. I don't tumble dry, so the clothing is machine washed and hung up. Towels seem OK, neither supersoft nor hard.

lady I'm sure I'm a slatten as I don't iron t-shirts. My work is causal wear and same as my DH. If you turn up in a t-shirt and jeans, you won't look out of place at all. You would look like an alien if you turn up in a suit.

Well over today and yesterday I have done two loads of washing and thanks to this thread nothing has made into the ironing pile!

I have a pulley too and love it but its hidden away in the boiler room so I don't have washing hanging around the house. It's always warm in there so great for drying washing.

I will still iron but will hopefully have less.

If you have an airing cupboard hanging damp clothes up in there seems to mean creases drop out. I have even hung some dry clothes alongside the wet and the creases have dropped.

I react to all fabric conditioner and my hands start to crack and bleed if I handle wet washing after fab cond has been used.

There is one exception, I can use Ecover with the yellow lid (under the sun)

Not saying everyone reacts to the same things, but it might be worth a try.

Thermo lobster... You gave it an extra rinse? Take the slattern badge off immediately! You are too conscientious!