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Housekeeping

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Original poster

I'm ready to give up ironing.

41 replies

CommanderBurnham · 22/09/2021 14:01

It's happened. I can't cope. Please you lovely bunch tell me how to wash and dry my clothes so they don't need ironing. I will still iron shirts and linen but with 2 sporty young boys I've decided my life is too short to constantly iron.

New washing machine and dryer arrives today. Also just had a foxy dryer installed.

Teach me!

OP posts:
lanbro · 22/09/2021 14:04

I barely iron anything, a few times a year probably, and don't even own an ironing board. I just fold as soon as dry, whether tumble dryer or line, and that's it!

wendywoopywoo222 · 22/09/2021 14:11

I don't iron anything. My tips would be Don't fill the washing machine up too much and hang carefully to dry as soon as the wash has finished.

I do wear linen trousers sometimes. I give them to a neighbour who's husband irons them for me. He is ex military and a fabulous ironer.

Imcatmum · 22/09/2021 14:12

Haven't ironed a thing in 20 yrs.

Hortibunda · 22/09/2021 14:12

I think the key is not overloading the drum, washing like with like eg cotton shirts, and lots of wms have non-iron programmes nowadays.

Hang what is suitable on a hanger.

Tumble dry towels, tea towels, pants and some sports wear.

The rest all dry on a clothes horse and do one or two smallish loads every day so you are not overwhelmed with piles of folding.

Original poster
CommanderBurnham · 22/09/2021 14:34

Aaah. I am definitely an overloader. Will keep small and often (which will mean 2 x daily)

OP posts:
Original poster
CommanderBurnham · 22/09/2021 14:34

Also, clothes used to come out of the dryer creased but looking back I think I used to overload that too.

OP posts:
Topseyt · 22/09/2021 14:39

I haven’t ironed anything in years. I’m not even sure I know where my iron is!

Just hang it out to dry immediately after the washing machine has finished. When dry just fold it and put it away.

ChickenFeed30 · 22/09/2021 14:47

I really iron anything. When I buy clothes I scrunch them up on my hands to see if they wrinkle badly, and if they do I don’t buy them.

No-one needs to iron linen.

Sport clothes do not need ironed.

Kids clothes do not need ironed.

Line-drying seems to work well for me.

I only use tumbler dryer if I really have to, then remove the clothes and fold/hang whilst warm.

Join the non-ironing club. Life’s too short Smile

ChickenFeed30 · 22/09/2021 14:48

I rarely….

cravingmilkshake · 22/09/2021 14:50

I've never ironed in my life. My husband couldn't believe it. When I'm watching vigil on a Sunday night, he is standing there ironing.... he told me I will need to help him out when the twins arrive next week and I tell him we absolutely do not need to iron.

Bythemillpond · 22/09/2021 14:53

Tumble dryer and you don’t need to iron anything.
Just smooth the clothes out and hang them up.

I do have an iron somewhere just in case something does need pressing but I don’t have an ironing board so it would have to be a work surface or the floor to do the ironing

Can’t remember the last time I ironed anything

ItWasntMyFault · 22/09/2021 14:56

I don't iron anything just hang on hangers to dry then put away.

I find that body heat gets rid of creases anyway do even if there's a few creases when you first put things on, they've gone by the time you leave the house.

Comedycook · 22/09/2021 14:59

Do what I do...get fat and your chub will smooth out all the creases in your clothes Wink

Purplecatshopaholic · 22/09/2021 15:05

I don’t iron. I hang things up and reshape while damp if required. If really necessary I have a clothes steamer which is awesome

steppemum · 22/09/2021 15:07

look carefully at your clothes etc.
make a decision eg sheets, towels, undies socks, jumpers jeans etc do not need ironing ever.
(although my mum would still iron her pillow cases)

folding well is your friend.
If you fold and smooth things and then they sit in the cupboard, the weight of the clothes does smooth them out more.

either - shake them and then hang on hangers, do up top buttons, give cuffs a tug etc so that they are hanging uncreased.
or tumble dry and remove and fold as soon as dry. If they are folded warm, they don't crease.

School white polos don't need ironing, they need good folding, smae with all school trousers, and pe kits.

School shirts vary, poly cotton never needs it if hung or folded. But 100% cotton shirts - hmm, you can get away with it, but it does show a bit.

OldTinHat · 22/09/2021 15:15

I'm sorry but what is an iron?! 😂

Naimee87 · 22/09/2021 15:38

Admittedly I don't work in a professional environment where suits/blouses are required but WHY do people IRON? What is the point? I know friends who iron their childrens clothes? My god, you could spend that time doing something you enjoy! Who really cares about wrinkly clothes? Mental-ness! Do give up!

katieg03 · 22/09/2021 15:51

I work in an office so some of my stuff does need ironed... It goes in a basket to a wonderful ironing lady. Other than that I don't iron 😂

Franklin12 · 22/09/2021 15:56

Why do people iron? Well in a business environment it makes you look polished. I iron for approx 1-2 hours per week.

If I was interviewing someone for a professional role and they turned up in unironed clothes it would indicate to me that they couldn’t really be bothered. You don’t have to iron kids clothes or towels but come on. Where is the pride in your appearance?

mathanxiety · 22/09/2021 16:07

Use your dryer for everything that can go in a dryer.

Take everything out of the dryer as soon as the cycle ends.

Fold everything crisply while still warm. Give yourself time to do this, and work steadily.

I'm in the US where most people use a dryer and a lot of people don't even own an iron.

mathanxiety · 22/09/2021 16:09

Buy clothes that can go in the dryer.

Gradually discard clothes that require ironing.

If you have blouses, suits, skirts or other work clothes that look better pressed, consider a dry cleaner.

Original poster
CommanderBurnham · 22/09/2021 16:49

@Franklin12 I am if that thinking so I don't think I'll part with my iron forever but if I can get it down to manageable levels then I'd be happy. Around 50 percent if possible. I'm not a iron martyr - I don't iron sheets or football kits but the sheer volume is overwhelming me.

When I was on the US, the tumble dryers were amazing. I'm going to start off with small loads and be around for when the tumble dryer finishes and see how I go. I'm also going to hang things up as soon as they come out of the dryer and see how that goes. Most of our clothes go on hangers

OP posts:
cheeseychovolate · 22/09/2021 16:54

I don't iron much. School shirts and polo's I take straight out of the washing machine when done and either put in tumble dryer or hang on line. When they're dry I hang up straight away.

Rebeccasmoonnecklace · 22/09/2021 16:56

We have a Lakeland heated dryer. Got rid of the ironing board and iron a couple of years ago when we got it Smile

ChildrenGrowingUpTooFast · 22/09/2021 16:57

I only iron iron-on labels or when sewing. I just hang the clothes on the line or clothes horse, or put in the dryer. I think you just get used to the non iron look. Both DH and I work in jobs that have casual clothing so there's no work clothes to iron either.