Alternative to an iron??

[silkypillows]

I swear I spend every moment that my DS are sleeping catching up on ironing. I hate it more than any other chore and it's never ending!

Of course not ironing would be an easy alternative but DS1 is 2.5 and is going through a 'I only wear long tops because I can be convinced that they're pyjamas' stage and they look awful without being ironed.

Am I missing something? Is there some device I could use that'll change my ironing life forever?! Open to the idea of a steamer or similar but I don't know where to start.

(PS... I used to be cool! 🤦🏻‍♀️)

I'm afraid it boils down to 2 choices:

Be the person who worries about wrinkled tops and keep the status quo.

Be the person who has loads more free time

Just stop ironing and learn to peg things out so they dry flat.

One of my ways to cut the electricity bill is to now only iron essential items, the occasional work shirt etc

I only iron schoolwear and dhs shirts
I've never really ironed anything else

What sort of tops is he wearing? I have 3 dc 6 and under and never need to iron their tops unless they're shirts, even the long-sleeved ones Surely only shirts or like, linen ones would need ironing? Especially for a 2.5 year old.

I find that if I gently pull stuff out when hanging it on the airer so the creases are pulled out then they dry fine. Work blouses I dry on a hanger. I don’t iron anything unless it’s got really screwed up. Ironing clothes for a toddler seems pointless as surely he crumples them immediately playing?

If you give things a really good shake out before you hang them on the line or airer they shouldn't need ironing? I iron about 5 times a year, usually before going to some sort of 'smart' event.

@Riapia

The MN posters who never iron are the same ones that can feed a family of four off of one chicken for a month. It’s an MN fable.

I honestly haven't ironed anything since May 2019 (travelled abroad for a wedding, outfit got creased).

I don't have a tumbledrier, shake clothes and hang carefully (wooden airer or on hangers, smalls on a socktopus). Nothing bunched up. Fold it off the airer whenever possible, and into drawers / wardrobe.
I use the KonMari folding techniques on tshirts and jeans which I find actually helps keep them from getting wrinkled in the drawer.

Yes 'bundling' them into a mess means they dry creased. Just fold them, job done

Ooh never bundle.
This is the sort of escapade my DH gets upto then starts huffing over the ironing board..

At every stage give the preferred items a shake!

Then keep them flat, hang them up or fold properly.

I never iron. DH irons the occasional shirt.and presses formal trousers.

Just don't iron. Wash things and hang them (well spread) out to dry, either on a clothes horse or outside. Tumble dryer good too if you take them out and fold them immediately it has finished.

I haven't ironed for years, and looking back I have no idea why I ever did in the first place.

No MN magic chicken here. Most of us are vegetarians anyway.

I haven't anything in about a decade and have NEVER ironed a child's item of clothing. I know some people so obsessed with ironing they iron tea towels. But honestly they look no more tidy than me.
Just stop ironing!

Never iron. (Unless formal do or interview Sometimes shirts- so less than once a month. I didn't iron for any of 2020/21 Covid period I don't think. Couldn't find the iron when schools went back!). I only do DC clothes when it's a special school event I definitely didn't iron their clothes when they were preschoolers.
Honestly I don't know anyone who irons as a regular thing.
But I'm well aware there are people who do this. But must be a dying breed. Stand in front of TV with big basket full... But why? Who notices? What circles do you move in?
Just don't buy stuff that needs ironing. Even school shirts are crease-free material now. Problem solved.

I mostly stopped ironing when I bought a tumble dryer. As long as you don't overload it and fold/hang as soon as it finishes, you'll be crease free.

The only things I iron are DDs school shirts.

My dd has found Lenor Crease Releaser @ £3/4 from Waitrose, The Range …… You hang the clothes on a hanger and spray. It works really well.

I have an ironing press. I understand that sometimes you just feel better if things are ironed. If the clothes are still quite small, you can lay a few similar items (ie polo shirts) on top of each other , and just press all together. It's also brilliant for bedding.

I’ve always thought, people who iron everything, do you not find that as soon as you’ve been wearing the item for a bit/sat down/put car seat-belt on, then you’re no longer crease-free anyway? As long as you smooth things out wet and until they are dry as PPs have said, everything stays pretty smooth, not fresh from the iron smooth if it’s say, a cotton t’shirt, but certainly passable.

@Dontjudgeme101

My dd has found Lenor Crease Releaser @ £3/4 from Waitrose, The Range …… You hang the clothes on a hanger and spray. It works really well.

Your DD is paying far too much! I mentioned Lenor Crease Release earlier in the thread. (Great minds think alike!) It's only £2.49 at Home Bargains and Aldi! 👍