Ironing

[theblackwatch]

I tend to do mine while watching something on TV that doesn't need a lot of concentration. Had an annoying situation late last night just as I was going to bed when I discovered the shirt I needed for today needed ironing. I try and avoid wearing shirts where possible!

 

[Bevan Price]

I don't bother ironing anyway - haven't done for years.

And another +1.
Shirts are hung up to dry on coathangers, and never need ironing - and anyway they get creased as soon as I wear them.

Could never understand why my late mother ironed underwear - and socks, etc.

 

[fowler9]

I iron for weddings and funerals. Anything else goes in the dryer right after being washed and then hung up right after. My employer doesn't pay me enough to turn up looking like I am greeting a foreign leader for a state visit. They love the younger lads turning up for work like they are on a first date though. If only they put as much effort in to the job as they do in to looking the part.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I iron my work shirts. I know some people iron sheets and pillow cases, my cousin used to that as does her daughter. I think my cousin did it because her mother was in service, and that was one of the duties of the maids etc, think upstairs downstairs or downton abbey. I also work some times in a charity shop and we steam the clothes too.

 

[PeterC]

Some of my shirts are in a heavy cotton twill which has to be ironed. Occasionally I will smarten up the crease in my smart trousers.

Lightweight cotton shirts are just hung up to dry. T shirts are shaken out and normally dry without creases. Jeans and chinos get 30 minutes in the tumble dryer and then hung by the waistband. I find it best if they are still warm when hung out to dry

 

[Ianno87]

I iron for important stuff (weddings, funerals, job interviews), otherwise don't bother.

It's my quality of work that's important, not if my shirt has a couple of creases in it...

 

[bspahh]

I get shirts and trousers from www.rohan.co.uk They aren't particularly cheap (sales and eBay help on that), but they design them so they dry quickly, don't pick up creases and have enough pockets.

They do some clothes that look like you have just wandered off a mountain, but enough others that look unremarkable, but work really well.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I iron for important stuff (weddings, funerals, job interviews), otherwise don't bother.

It's my quality of work that's important, not if my shirt has a couple of creases in it...

For once I completely agree with you.

 

[Mag_seven]

I used to iron socks and underwear but one day it suddenly dawned on me what was the point!

Today I will only iron a shirt if its for a special occasion.

 

[CarltonA]

when you take stuff out of the washing machine, hang shirts on hangers rather than pegging them out. Pull any creases out.
trousers/jeans, hang over a hanger with a bar.
Pull sheets and pillowcases straight before hanging up to dry. Mrs K never irons sheets and pillowcases.
Dont over dry before ironing. Its easier and quicker to iron when still a little damp, then hang out again to get rid of the rest of the moisture.
Then rather than trying to iron a heavily creased item, its a quick run over

I tend to agree with the above. I will add that a new shirt should be washed and dried at least once before being ironed or worn, as this will make it easier to remove the heavy creases and take out some stiffness from the fabric. As Sir John Moore said, "do everything that is necessary and nothing that is not."

 

[gordonthemoron]

With the right selection of clothes there is no need to look like you've slept in a bush without even going near an iron.

What I don't get is people ironing socks and underwear. Utterly, utterly pointless. Socks don't look creased when you put them on, and underwear, well, unless you're a teenager who wears his jeans round his knees who's going to see it who cares?

If you're a regular business traveller take care on your packing and hang the shirts in the shower room while showering, that usually gets most of it out.

My mother used to iron everything, shirts, Tshirts, hankies, jeans, underpants, vests, socks, tea towels, bath towels, sheets, pillow cases

 

[PeterC]

It's my quality of work that's important, not if my shirt has a couple of creases in it...

Up to a point Lord Copper!

It depends on the job role but sometimes appearances do count. For work my shirts were always crease free, either from ironing or buying decent quality non-iron shirts.

 

[ALAN BYRNE]

Never let your Mother, Girlfriend or Wife do your ironing, either; best results are D.I.Y !!

 

[krus_aragon]

Never let your Mother, Girlfriend or Wife do your ironing, either; best results are D.I.Y !!

My wife still tells me that she was pleasantly surprised that she didn't need to teach me how to iron (ironed my own scout uniform as a teenager). I still iron shirts and trousers for work, but that's it. In fact I do more ironing than she does (and that's counting the kids' clothes on her side most of the time).

 

[greyman42]

People who join the Armed Forces are still required to iron their own uniforms and to a high standard.

 

[Calthrop]

I once worked with a delightful Irish lady. The bane of her life in our job, was an annoying and fiddly arithmetical procedure which we had to do from time to time, and whose purpose was never made fully clear to us. Also, she lived on her own; and fussed as little with domestic stuff, as she could get away with. She was given to saying that when she died and found herself in Hell or Purgatory, she expected to have to spend many thousands of years performing this arithmetical manuoevre; and ironing. As regards the ironing, I thoroughly agree with her.

 

[DarloRich]

Why are we talking about ironing. Surely it is women's work?

 

[Strat-tastic]

Why are we talking about ironing. Surely it is women's work?

Women have just as much right to frequent this forum as you, y'know

 

[DarloRich]

Women have just as much right to frequent this forum as you, y'know

they do. However i bet they are few in number Afterall those dishes wont wash themselves....................................

 

[d9009alycidon]

Why are we talking about ironing. Surely it is women's work?

Agree - the steam iron is a machine designed by a man for use by a woman, my wife does all my ironing, I cannot use the thing for love nor money. When we first married she insisted that I try so I would have a go and make such a mess of things she would grab the iron from me and tell me to get out of the way, not that I was trying hard mind you!!

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Work shirts and trousers only. But I don't have that problem any more.
Weddings, funerals and similar very special occasions only now.

Seems to me the rest is done simply to fill people's time and for them then to complain about how their life is filled by chores and they don't have time to lead their own fulfilling life!

Dust, I'm not allergic, so just roll it up into a blanket once per year.

We did have a young bloke at work who bought the best quality 100% cotton shirts, never ironed them, and never tucked them into his trousers. Looked at absolute mess but should I really judge him by his appearance? Contrarily, does a slovenly attitude to dress equate to a slovenly attitude to life in general i.e. quality of work? Discuss!

 

[DarloRich]

Agree - the steam iron is a machine designed by a man for use by a woman, my wife does all my ironing, I cannot use the thing for love nor money. When we first married she insisted that I try so I would have a go and make such a mess of things she would grab the iron from me and tell me to get out of the way, not that I was trying hard mind you!!

the Jack Duckworth approach - clever

 

[Intermodal]

I regret posting this thread.

 

[Busaholic]

At least I know, in theory, how to use an iron: my wife never has.

 

[DarloRich]

FOR CLARITY - I was JOKING about ironing being women's work.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Why are we talking about ironing. Surely it is women's work?

Certainly not. I wouldn't let my wife anywhere near an iron! We're talking about someone who has been known to clean fridge doors and washing machine control panels with a scouring pad, put colours in bleach to remove stains and clean a kettle with neat bleach and then use an ordinary scouring pad as a scale catcher in it...

 

[ComUtoR]

Why are we talking about ironing. Surely it is women's work?

Is that why its never done ?

 

[krus_aragon]

Certainly not. I wouldn't let my wife anywhere near an iron! We're talking about someone who has been known to clean fridge doors and washing machine control panels with a scouring pad, put colours in bleach to remove stains and clean a kettle with neat bleach and then use an ordinary scouring pad as a scale catcher in it...

Remind me not to accept a cup of tea from her if ever I visit.

 

[Ken H]

FOR CLARITY - I was JOKING about ironing being women's work.

which is why they do black and chrome irons - to appeal to men!

 

[PeterY]

What's an iron ????

Joking aside, I used to iron my daughter school clothes. I can iron and I ironed to a high standard but nowadays I can't be arsed. Life is too short.