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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Original poster

Ironing

19 replies

sophtate7 · 03/02/2010 20:29

Just wondering if anyone has any good tips for ironing, particularly business shirts, or any good products to use...im struggling
Thanks

OP posts:

Tortington · 03/02/2010 20:30

if you can afford it - get an ironing lady - i dont have one - but then i don't iron anything but my won stuff - at £10 per bag or something its well worth it

Original poster

sophtate7 · 03/02/2010 20:40

lol that isnt a bad idea, maybe i should suggest this to my boss haha... im a nanny and i do the ironing

OP posts:

NonVinaigretteRien · 03/02/2010 20:42

My top tip was make your husband do his own shirts.

What you struggling with?

schroeder · 03/02/2010 21:01

dh does own shirts,but I was taught-collars and cuffs first,then yoke, then sleeves, fronts and finally the back. This is supposed to stop the back an fronts getting creased when your'e fiddling about with the collar or whatever.

If they are mostly cotton you can try ironing them damp, then put on a hanger to finish drying.If they are 100% cotton or linen I always do them this way.

I'm no expert though and pretty slow, so like I say; he does his own then it's his problem.

liamsdaddy · 03/02/2010 21:09

Top Tip: Buy Non-Iron Shirts My shirts haven't seen an iron in years!

Otherwise, use a very good steam iron. Dry irons are useless and remember if you iron in a crease you can usually steam it out again.

I used to work shoulder to waist, side to centre, do sleeves and then collar last.

Oh, and for those really annoying shirts with pattern bits in the material - have a clean tea-towel on top (or burn holes in them if you don't want to see them again).

My DW has never ironed my shirts, when we met I'd been living away from home for a number of years so I was more practiced at ironing.

startingagain · 04/02/2010 10:01

When ironing shirts i find it easier to use a 'easy iron' spray, Dylon do one. Just makes a far better job of it.

cilitbang · 04/02/2010 11:06

A steam generator iron will cut your ironing time in half. I can get a work shirt done in less than 2 mins.

My method:

Back first
Yokes
Sleeves
Collar and cuffs, starched and pressed
Fronts

DONE

3 and 5 can be interchanged, as some people prefer to finish with the sleeves.

Spray starch can also be used on the fronts (or on anything really) to make ironing easier and quicker.

Tigerlily1 · 04/02/2010 11:49

what the hell is a yoke?? can you tell i'm an expert! i just paid £20 to have my ironing done and she has folded it all down the middle so it all looks creased when you get in out of the bag! sorry, no ironing tips but just lurking and wondered what a yoke is!! x

weegiemum · 04/02/2010 11:50

What is this "irrron-ing" of which you speak?

Slartybartfast · 04/02/2010 11:51

i have an ironing pile,
unfortunately that is as far as it goes, unless i am very bored.
never happens.

heQet · 04/02/2010 11:52

iron when clothes are still slightly damp.

use spray starch on the shirts.

I always have the steam on full blast, it really helps.

Itsjustafleshwound · 04/02/2010 11:56

A yolk is the bit of shirt that fits at the back of the shoulders and top of the back (usually attached to the back bit by a box pleat)

My ironing is being studiously ignored until it topples over every time I go in the kitchen.

The other thing that is good for ironing is if things aren't tumbledried to death or dried on the line - the creases aren't 'heated' in and not that much elbow grease is req'd when ironing ...

Itsjustafleshwound · 04/02/2010 11:57

Sorry - yoke not YOLK

liamsdaddy · 04/02/2010 12:03

starch?!!??! you cruel people.

I believe that substance as used in clothing is a cruel and unusual punishment .

Either that or some people do actually believe that to look your best you have to be uncomfortable.

nancy75 · 04/02/2010 12:07

starch, if you dont use too much makes it much easier to iron, but doesn't make the clothes stand up on their own!

cilitbang · 04/02/2010 12:15

Don't get me wrong, I'm no ironing lover....waste of time. I only do DHs shirts - thats it.

Tigerlily1 · 04/02/2010 13:05

thanks, that was doing my head in...but WHY is it called a yoke?? ;-)

cilitbang · 04/02/2010 13:30

F*ck knows...maybe because before the piece is sown onto the rest of the shirt here the shape is quite similar to an agricultural yoke here

in use

Probably wrong, just a guess really. Jeez, what the hell am i researching this for? I need to get a life.

nomorecake · 04/02/2010 14:37

i used to iron my shirts and Dh shirt every week. (now just DH's) took 30 mins, all 100% cotton.

when the shirt comes out of the wash, give it a firm shake, then hang it on a plastic hanger.
(metal hangers can leave rust marks)

iron them when they are still a bit damp.

collar
yoke
cuff and sleeve
back
front

re-hang.

(now, just need to teach it to DH!)

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