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Original poster

Things you can’t get your head round, e.g Non ironers

230 replies

Supersares · 26/08/2023 05:33

Is it just me or does anyone else not understand how people who don’t iron manage ? Whenever someone tells me they don’t iron my brain can’t compute how they manage to have clothes looking crinkle free- without consciously buying clothes that don’t need ironing! I hang clothes on coat hangers, fold consciously to avoid creasing but still have to iron things like blouses, dh shirts and my dd school skirts, for example. Do I need to buy better quality clothing, is that the key? Can any non ironers out there share their secrets please 😀🤓

OP posts:
FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 26/08/2023 08:05

I like the look of ironed clothes I’m just not very good at it. I’ve got a steam generator iron and a nice ironing board, watched YouTube tutorials & bought spray starch.

It just doesn’t work out for me Sad

Perfectlystill · 26/08/2023 08:07

I iron twice a week. Husband's shirts, my shirts, children's t shirts, jeans, jumpers, dresses.

I iron our tea towels. If I am feeling magnanimous I even iron my husband's boxer shorts.

I don't enjoy ironing but half the time I don't mind it - I put a podcast on and do it in the kitchen so I can see and chat to everyone.

It is very satisfying to see a pile of stuff I've ironed. I then put it in the airing cupboard for a couple of days.

FYI I am not some sad 1959s housewife. I have a good full-time job in media and like running and going out drinking with friends.

But I think non ironed clothes look awful. And it makes me sad to imagine getting into non ironed sheets.

Purplecatshopaholic · 26/08/2023 08:08

I don’t iron.
So I… buy clothes that don’t require ironing.
Reshape pieces while damp.

Use a steamer.
Job done.

Ohyeahwaitaminute · 26/08/2023 08:08

I iron stuff. Most of my stuff… as I can’t wear synthetic clothes.

My ironing pile consists of tops, bottoms, pillowcases and tea towels. Don’t bother with much else. I listen to podcasts.

InvincibleInvisibility · 26/08/2023 08:08

PP said "there's a reason men don't iron". Totally disagree. My dad did and does all the ironing. My DB irons. My DH irons.

UnaOfStormhold · 26/08/2023 08:10

Choosing clothes well is important for a no or low iron lifestyle - I wear lots of tops with a bit of stretch which seems to deal with creases. I also do a crumple test when buying clothes; I grab a handful of sleeve or similar, squeeze and let go. If it has visible marks just from that I don't buy it as I know it will be a pain to look after. Getting things out of the washing machine and giving them a quick shake before hanging carefully helps.

Can I join team no-air-fresheners please. I hate fabric softener smells too. Recently I've been buying a lot of second hand clothes and I hate it when they turn up stinking of artificial flowers!

Threenow · 26/08/2023 08:10

smartiesneberhadtheanswer · 26/08/2023 07:35

I don't understand ironers.

Creases drop out of clothes. Ironing is just another tool of the patriarchy to make sure women are exhausted. There's a reason men don't iron.

What a load of absolute rubbish! As for men don't iron, there are several posts on this thread where posters have said that their DH irons, they don't.

Why must people come onto every thread to moan about "the patriarchy", and how everything is the fault of men - it is beyond boring.

NooNakedJacuzziness · 26/08/2023 08:11

My DH is an ironer too - it's one of the jobs he seems to enjoy. Wish he enjoyed hoovering and cleaning bathrooms too.

icanbewhatiwant · 26/08/2023 08:12

I don't get how people don't iron. Even ds's M&S non iron school trousers are screwed up when they come in from the line. No way could I send him in without ironing them first.

gogomoto · 26/08/2023 08:13

I barely iron. I choose clothes that don't need it mostly. Dp does iron work shirts or rather he pays the lady down the road toGrin

Quisquam · 26/08/2023 08:16

DH does his own ironing, ever since 35 years ago, I ironed a shirt for him and he said it wasn’t good enough!

In the winter, I don’t wear blouses, I just wear polo necked jumpers instead. So, no ironing in the winter.

The only time I iron, is my t shirts in the summer - and the ones I bought in M & S this summer don’t even need that, after careful line drying!

Tiddlywinks63 · 26/08/2023 08:16

Supersares · 26/08/2023 06:48

I totally agree fizzyfood. I don’t get that one, unless they’re indoor smokers or to mask pet smells?

Show quote history

I agree! Why don’t they just open the windows more!

muchalover · 26/08/2023 08:17

I'm ex military and loved ironing and my shirt pleats were a thing of wonder.

Then I had kids and once they were old enough to throw clean, ironed clothes on the floor I stopped.

Life is too short. Although there is a lovely quality to ironed clothing I put my effort into drying clothes without creases so I don't have to iron.

Hmmthatsgoodchicken · 26/08/2023 08:18

I don't iron.
I don't overfill the washing machine and then I shake every item as I put it on the line.
i do have a dress that I don't know what to do with - it's creased like seriously creased. It got forgotten about in a suitcase pocket (I don't even know) I've washed it and shaken it. (It helped slightly)
its that weird non ironable fabric that shrivels if you go near it with the iron. I don't know whether to hang it in the bathroom for a few days when everyone has a shower and hope it drops it's creases. Or to invest in a steamer 😬 or put it in the wardrobe and never look at it again.

WhatapityWapiti · 26/08/2023 08:20

Hmmthatsgoodchicken · 26/08/2023 08:18

I don't iron.
I don't overfill the washing machine and then I shake every item as I put it on the line.
i do have a dress that I don't know what to do with - it's creased like seriously creased. It got forgotten about in a suitcase pocket (I don't even know) I've washed it and shaken it. (It helped slightly)
its that weird non ironable fabric that shrivels if you go near it with the iron. I don't know whether to hang it in the bathroom for a few days when everyone has a shower and hope it drops it's creases. Or to invest in a steamer 😬 or put it in the wardrobe and never look at it again.

Can you tell us the actual fabric name from the label?

SapphosRock · 26/08/2023 08:22

I don't iron.

Clothes may have a few creases for a few minutes when I first put them on then as soon as I move around they are fine.

Every now and again I'll accidentally buy a cotton shirt or jumpsuit that needs ironing and I'll put it in my ironing pile that I do once a year on New Year's Day.

hylian · 26/08/2023 08:23

I don't iron much but I don't really wear shirts/ blouses. If I was wearing something that needed ironing I would iron it, it's just rare that I see the need to.

Treaclewell · 26/08/2023 08:23

Really Treaclemine but account dead because Waitrose stopped their email, and Mumsnet can't change to my new email without the old one working.
I am a non-ironer, but I do like to get the creases out when I get my stored summer things out. I hang them on a hanger, and spray the creased bits with water from a bottle with a fine spray, and the creases just drop out. That's with cotton or linen trousers, and cotton tops.

smartiesneberhadtheanswer · 26/08/2023 08:26

@Threenow

Not as boring as the constant repression of women though.

CharlotteBog · 26/08/2023 08:29

icanbewhatiwant · 26/08/2023 08:12

I don't get how people don't iron. Even ds's M&S non iron school trousers are screwed up when they come in from the line. No way could I send him in without ironing them first.

Try it!

ValerieDoonican · 26/08/2023 08:30

Mysteriousgirl2 · 26/08/2023 07:10

Surely this is more about how you dry your clothes?

Everything is hung out out to dry straight after coming out of the washing machine. If you tumble dry, then you need to iron.

I think this is probably why people used to iron so much more. When houses weren't so warm ironing was presumably a good way to ensure everything was bone dry (and mould/bugs/moths all killed) before putting things away

Beangrove · 26/08/2023 08:33

I don't even know where my iron is! Neither of us have to wear shirts for work, I hang things straight up off the line which seems to fo the trick for most things, and for I never buy anything that creases badly - I scrunch a handful of the fabric in the shop and if the creases stay in I don't buy it! DH is free to iron his stuff if he likes but he doesn't so <shrug>

Highlighta · 26/08/2023 08:34

plehpleh · 26/08/2023 07:42

You can get non iron school shirts! I had them at school and they were great (my parents made me iron everything so I bought non iron uniform to get around it). I think they were from m and s.

My dad also made me polish and shine my shoes every night for school. I will NOT be doing that with Dd.

Show quote history

Isn't it normal to polish shoes regularly?

I admit that daily is pushing it a bit though. My DC polished their school shoes every Sunday for the week ahead. They have since left school but Ds started a new job this month (was studying before so more trainers etc), but automatically on Sundays he cleans his shoes.

I think it's just taking pride in how you look tbh.

People spend a lot of money making sure their hair, nails, brows etc are all perfect. Then walk into a meeting with a scrunched up blouse or shirt on. I don't understand it.

C0NNIE · 26/08/2023 08:35

Escapingtherealityoflife · 26/08/2023 06:40

We don’t use bleach because we have a septic tank.

Same here.

And I steam linen clothes as needed.

I suspect those who iron everything use the tumble drier a lot and then pile everything into a basket.

I hang up washing to dry naturally. It’s better for the clothes, the environment and my electricity bill.

HedgehogOBrien · 26/08/2023 08:36

As soon as you wear something that’s been ironed it just gets creased again so what’s the point. Yes I tend to buy items that don’t need ironing. I might iron something for a special occasion, but rarely need to do this.

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