Ironing

[swirlyarts]

I need advice! I don't have time to do ironing so it all stays in a huge pile in the kitchen that is slowly getting bigger and bigger. Some of the clothes I put into the pile don't really need ironing but some of them do. How can I cut down on the amount of ironing? Do any of you use fabric conditioner - does that make the clothes significantly softer and easier to iron? Do you hang clothes up on hangers to dry? Just want to cut my ironing pile really!!
Thanks

[MrSwirl]

I need advice! I don't have time to do ironing so it all stays in a huge pile in the kitchen that is slowly getting bigger and bigger. Some of the clothes I put into the pile don't really need ironing but some of them do. How can I cut down on the amount of ironing? Do any of you use fabric conditioner - does that make the clothes significantly softer and easier to iron? Do you hang clothes up on hangers to dry? Just want to cut my ironing pile really!!
Thanks

Don't just moan about it - take it to your mothers!

[beadsbydesign]

fabric conditioner works well if it is a good brand. I think the best tip about reducing ironing is to put the stuff away quickly so you can't see it!!
Shirts hung out on hangers need a lot less ironing.

[heavenlygirl]

Who needs an iron!!! I just take it straight out the tumble dryer and fold it or hang it, problem solved!!!

Anything that needs ironing, said owner of that item irons it themselves, i trained the kids young. When the boys were in the army cadets they had to iron their own uniforms, and daughter learned at guides.

[swirlyarts]

Don't just moan about it - take it to your mothers!

Bit excessive to drive the 100 mile round trip - but good thinking! Or I could just get my lovely hubby to do it!!

[heavenlygirl]

Bit excessive to drive the 100 mile round trip - but good thinking! Or I could just get my lovely hubby to do it!!
sounds like a good plan i get my hubby to do his own and if hes feeling generous the kids uniform!

[mjbelkin]

Get a big fat belly like mine - then your clothes are stretched so tight no one notices that they're not ironed :p

[Peter]

Put it all in a black bag, take it to the charity shop, and tell eveyone you've found god and have put aside material things. :D

[michelleC]

I know what you mean.
Loads of good quality fabric conditioner. try to iron them straight off the line makes them a snitch to iron.
Failing that addvertise for someone to do it for you. I know a lady round us does a bin linner full for £5.00. Keep saying im going to check her out. She picks it up and drops it back off too!.

[nattynetty]

Use fabric conditioner, hang on the line and then bung in the tumble-dryer for 5 mins when they are virtually dry. Fold or hang as soon as the dryer finishes and you won't need to iron.

We don't have an ironing-board and only have a travel iron as the only ironing I do is on the very odd occasion that hubby needs to wear a shirt.

[MrSwirl]

No pleasing some people - I got told off last weekend for taking a pair of jeans out of the ironing pile and wearing them, since I didn't think they needed ironing!!

http://forums.contractoruk.com/images/smilies/extras/15.gif

[swirlyarts]

I'm just trying to ensure that you aren't faced with a huge ironing pile when you get home darling!! Looks like we need to buy some fabric conditioner this weekend :)

[Heidijw]

I hate ironing - I stand over the tumble drier waiting for it to finish and then shake it and fold it while its still warm! Have had the ironing board out once in the 3 monthes we've been in this house!

If I can't tumble dry it, its placed very flat over a radaitor! Although I discourage the purchase of anything that says Do Not Tumble!!!!

[Sommerwood]

Ironing? Is this a new thing????

Mine just sits in a big pile on the dining table and either myself or my hubby will iron somehting as and when we need it, I refuse to spend any longer than a couople of minutes stood at an ironing board ... life is FAR too short!!!:)

[Tip Top]

Sorry, can't help
Don't know what ironing is:mf:
I've had the same ironing board since moving in together in '93 and its only on its second cover - the first one sort of got a hole in it :D

[EMEvans]

I'm that bored ATM that ironing looks like fun! what an exciting life i lead.:mad:

[JBJB]

If I had an ironing pile it would be sat for so long it would need dusting .... something else I don't do that often!

I'm VERY luck in as much as my DH will quite happily put a load of washing on (without being asked) or if he sees some washing in the machine he will pop it in the tumble dryer, take it out, fold it, put away the whole kaboodle!

Mind you I have got about 3 weeks worth of clothes in my wardrobe so I think he does it more out of necessity than anything! That and he can't stand piles of washing everywhere!!

[beadsbydesign]

My mum and dad came round to take Eden out for a barbeque tonight.
I got really told off by my mum for sticking eden's denim jacket on her with out it having been ironed first..... yes i admit that it did look pretty screwed up, and yes, perhaps I should have ironed it (after all they bought it for her a couple of weeks ago) but i'm 38. I thought I grew out of being told off several years ago.... seems not though.

My tumble drier is broken at the moment and makes the most amazing noise if i use it so i am only washing the essentials at the moment and the rest is piling up. DH is researching which sort we should buy next..... he's been researching for a week now and the rain hasn't stopped falling in all that time.

[craftdancer]

but i'm 38. I thought I grew out of being told off several years ago.... seems not though.

You are never too old to be told off by your parents. Believe me. ;)

[Apple Tree Crafts]

....I think I know what it is, but the only things I iron are my sewn crafts, like aprons etc.

Ironing clothes is a no-no.....and this coming from someone who's mother irons bras & socks. Obviously,I didn't get that chromosome...

When we took my mother on holiday, the first thing she found on our very first day, was the Wengen wasch-salon (launderette) and I swear she was main-lining Bold from that day on.....everytime you turned your back she ran off to the wasch salon...

When they stay here, I leave the ironing board & iron in the spare room with them....

Jules

[Tip Top]

I'm sad to say that I know people who iron tea towels.......
I iron what I need and when I need it, which generally )if I get my act together and don't leave stuff on the line or in the dryer too long they don't need any ironing) means not very often.

Although I have good intentions, I am terrible about putting clothes away and they sit in piles ready to be hung in the wardrobes.:D

[swirlyarts]

Although I have good intentions, I am terrible about putting clothes away and they sit in piles ready to be hung in the wardrobes.:D

Thats my trouble too!!!

[MrSwirl]

Thats my trouble too!!!

And what happened to the huge pile of ironing that was at home?

Somehow, it magically disappeared on Sunday afternoon - now how could that have happened??

[swirlyarts]

A lovely man called Mr Swirl did it all!! See posting on here does have it's advantages!
Thanks to those who suggested fabric conditioner, popping in the dryer for 5 mins and folding as soon as they come off the line - it's amazing what a difference it makes! 2 loads of washing and none of it ironed!!!!

[beadsbydesign]

This thread has changed my life!!!!

Really!

My tumble drier died the day That this thread was posted (obviously cursed!) and I have had to learn:
to dry washing outside
To be far more organised
And to keep on top of things.

now i stick a load of washing in overnight and first thing in the mrning hang it out.
I hang all shirts, te****s, and sweatshirts on hangers on the line so that i can zip them back inside really quickly if it rains. I am ironing in the evening after tea whilst the children do their homework then it all gets sent straight up stairs to be put away.
My house is getting tidier and although i have another drier on order i am going to keep this system up as long as the weather lets me.
So there you are i am reviving old homemaking skills. And hopefully the lecky bill will be a lot less!

[swirlyarts]

now i stick a load of washing in overnight and first thing in the mrning hang it out.
I hang all shirts, te****s, and sweatshirts on hangers on the line so that i can zip them back inside really quickly if it rains.

Good idea!! Daft question - do you peg the hangers to the line so that they don't all group together?

[beadsbydesign]

I've got a whirly whirly washing line. i hang the hangers on the arms.

[swirlyarts]

Ah - I suppose if I peg the hangers to the washing line it is still going to be easier to bring them in than if they are hung properly and they won't get peg marks!