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Original poster

i want to talk about ironing please

58 replies

nailpolish · 26/10/2005 10:27

right

i need to get going with this

how much would/do you pay for ironing (taken away and brought back to your house)

and i need a good name!

(yes i know i can search archives but its down at the moment)

ta v much

OP posts:
teeavee · 26/10/2005 11:12

i like hot off the press

3PRINCESSES · 26/10/2005 11:13

Jump on Nigella's bandwagon and call yourself the Domestic Goddess. Return all ironing with a little square of blotting paper sprayed with Eau de cologne/rosewater/lavender water tucked inside.

Original poster
nailpolish · 26/10/2005 11:14

thank you pecka, i was hoping you would come along

i really like your rates, seem reasonable

where did you get your hangers? does it take up a lot of space in the house? do you enjoy it (even a wee bit?!) have you plenty interest?

i like your name Well Impressed - i dont think im near you so could i pinch it?

sorry for barrage of questions

OP posts:
Original poster
nailpolish · 26/10/2005 11:15

crease monkey is good too

OP posts:
AuntyQuated · 26/10/2005 11:15

i send mine away and it come sback on metal hangers covered in plastic. for 4 of us it variers between £12 and £20 a week and that is a large basket. i only send clothes not bedding etc.
i reckon it would take a couple of hours. i would say charge no less than than £6.50 an hour

you could try ringing a couple of local ironing companies and seeing hoe much they charge

the one i use is called The Professional Ironing Service

Bewitched · 26/10/2005 11:16

NP, as someone who uses an ironing service, I have to say that I don't like paying 'per item'. It always sounds such a lot to say that I will have to pay £1 to have DH's manky old t-shirts ironed, so I would then only be inclined to give you really hard items to do!

I pay per hour at the moment - think it's about £8.25 an hour - which although quite a lot (in home counties) saves me worrying about vetting each item - it just all goes into a bag and voila!

Perhaps you could try counting the number of items that you are ironing for yourself at the moment, and seeing how long that takes, to get a comparison.

I think it's AuntyMandy who's also just started doing this, so worth a chat to her too.

Don't suppose you're in my area are you?

Original poster
nailpolish · 26/10/2005 11:19

im in angus, if anyone is interested

OP posts:
peckarollover · 26/10/2005 11:19

NP - yes! of course feel free to use it - to be honest Im phasing my business out now as Im childminding but still doing my long term customers.

I dont mind it really, enjoy is maybe a bit far.

One way that I get through mine which may sound daft is break down a load into batches of 5 and all day long I think "Ill do this five then go to shops/put washing in/do jigsaw" etc as it then gets done across the day instead of getting to the evening when your tired and thinking RIGHT 40 items to go and Im ready for bed lol

I got the hangers to start cheap from tesco, poundland and matalan etc

ssd · 26/10/2005 11:20

It is hard NP and I totally sympathise with you. It's really hard when you've got kids, you just want to see them happy and if that means you being at home then so be it. I've ended up giving up a job I loved and made good money and now I'm childminding for £2.75 an hour and feeling like s**t! Wouldn't have ever seen me working for that money but I'm always here for the kids (I mean mine!) and that's more important. Keep telling myself it's only for a few years, you'll be the same. You'll always have your training to fall back on when and if needed. Can't imaging ironing would be much fun, but hey it's a bit of cash and you'll fit it aroung your kids, also it won't be for ever. Looking after other folks kids can be bloody hard too and for £2.75 I often ask myself why am I doing this? But I earn abot £50 per week as I only do part time and that keeps us in the odd takeaway and night out so I'll keep doing it! Good luck in your decision and I hope you get some business. Have a look aroung and see what others charge or consider if you had the cash what you'd be willing to pay yourself.

All the best ssd x x x x

Original poster
nailpolish · 26/10/2005 11:20

pecka, do you have lots of room in your house?

am imagining hangers galore all over the place

and did you advertise?

OP posts:
Original poster
nailpolish · 26/10/2005 11:22

thanks for the lovely post ssd xxx

and good for you childminding - something i dont think i could do myself

OP posts:
Normsnockers · 26/10/2005 11:23

Message withdrawn

Original poster
nailpolish · 26/10/2005 11:25

looks like ill have to stock up on some hangers and baskets etc

OP posts:
peckarollover · 26/10/2005 11:27

I put myself on yell.com for free get alot of calls from that

When I first started I designed a poster on the pc and went round all local newsagents/noticeboards etc - I have only ever done that once though and still get calls. Have to turn people away.

I dont have masses of room but I do keep the clothes to be done in a bag out of the way until I need it so I only have one batch out at any one time. The folded stuff just gets folded back into the bag it came in and I have a little hanging tree thing to hang the shirts etc on

At any one time I have the ironing board up a bag of stuff folded, my hanging thing and a pile to do. Doesnt take up that much space really.

I do get it out of here asap once its done though - to keep it pristine and stop it from messing the place up

peckarollover · 26/10/2005 11:28

i wouldnt buy any basket - you could toss clothes loosely into a basket or cram them in. Per item is better as your definitely not losing out then.

ssd · 26/10/2005 11:28

nailpolish, just a thought. Don't know if you have a partner who's home at night, if you have what about a babysitting service? Or you could join www.sitters.co.uk and earn £5 per hour. I'm with them and it's quite regular work, depends on your area of course. But it might be worth a try and the ironing wouldn't need to bring in all the money you need.

peckarollover · 26/10/2005 11:30

I have got a huge load sitting here waiting to be done. One of my ladies has just had a baby and puts EVERYTHING of all three of them in - tea towels, hankies, baby hats, baby vests etc

She is lovely and most weeks pops in little presents for the kids and when I tell her how much she owes when I get to the bank she has nearly always stuck an extra fiver or whatever on.

Original poster
nailpolish · 26/10/2005 11:32

so do you get paid into a bank account? do you pay tax?

thanks pecka and every one, you are all being really helpful

OP posts:
peckarollover · 26/10/2005 11:38

Most of them give me cash but the odd one gives me a cheque - the amounts are so little its well under the tax threshold

gscrym · 26/10/2005 11:42

How about pressed to impress.

Sorry if that's rubbish or has been suggested.

I can understand you hating nursing, I know a few people who said they never go back, even if it was the last job in the world.

As for prices, I know Johnsons the cleaners charge £1 to launder and iron a shirt (I refuse to do dh's) and they don't collect or deliver. Where will you be based, I may be a potential customer.

Original poster
nailpolish · 26/10/2005 14:02

gscrym, im in angus

OP posts:
Original poster
nailpolish · 26/10/2005 14:02

where are you?

OP posts:
goldenoldie · 27/10/2005 09:31

I get my cleaner to do my ironing for £6ph.................

TrulyScrumptious · 27/10/2005 13:01

I'm in Hertfordshire and I used to pay £24.00 for a big black bag filled to the brim. Didn't think that was too bad at the time but looking at the posts here, I may have been paying a bit too much! It was nice while I could afford it though!

Goodluck NP!

gscrym · 27/10/2005 13:15

I'm near Falkirk, it's a bit of a trek for pick-up and delivery