Ironing

rachylou

So, um, I realize a major obstacle to looking sharp is my inability to iron. Oh, I know HOW to iron; I just don't know how to make myself do it.

Is there a fast way to iron?

13 years ago

General

24 replies

Latest reply was from MsMary

Diana

Veteran

Get your SO to do it for you?

Seriously, I never iron, but my fiance wears a button down every day to work and always irons them. He says he enjoys ironing. I haven't asked him to do my ironing for me yet, but this is probably because we do not live in the same state at the moment. =P

13 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

That's funny - and I'm sorry, I have no idea.

I also know how to do it, but I absolutely hate doing it. I try to iron my few things that really need it when I'm taking down the laundry, because I never plan ahead what I want to wear and I have to hurry in the morning most days and then there's no time to do it. But that doesn't always work.

I'm looking forward to see what the others will say.

ETA: Diana, that's a great solution.

13 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

I got a steamer and although it doesn't seem to take much less time, I hate it way less than I hate ironing. If something really needs to be actually ironed, I send it out.

13 years ago

krishnidoux

Veteran

Do it in front of the TV.
Get yourself a decent iron.
Get a small board for sleeves.

13 years ago

Anonymous

Make sure that you have a TV in the room and can at least listen to a favorite show. I also like this time to listen to books on tape or talk to a friend on the phone.
Another thing is to just do 2 or 3 things at a time. Trying to do a whole pile is never fun.
Hint: If you sing while you iron, no one will bother you. Practice your Karaoke.

13 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I hate to have to admit it, but if you are after a crisp, pulled together, sharp and minimal style - ironed clothes are a must.

I DO NOT LIKE IRONING. But I do iron some of my things because I love the result. That outweighs the ironing hatred. Also, I send all our shirts, jackets and trousers to the cleaners - in which case *they* iron.

Rachy, I iron a couple of things at a time. It's a pile of ironing that puts me off. As long as there isn't a pile, I am at peace with ironing.

13 years ago

harmonica

Veteran

no ironing here either. I'm good at it, but can't find time to do it.

13 years ago

Scarlet

Veteran

I just do a few pieces at a time that I think I want to wear soon. If I make a pile I have to get through then I really don't like it. I like to listen to funny or informative radio shows while I iron.

13 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Seems like maybe the key is a few items at a time... in front of the t.v. Let's see if I can iron a few items at a time. LOL. I'm not sure I can plan in advance what I'll wear - the ironing may go to waste. I don't even grocery shop in advance.

...Perhaps I should get a free standing ironing board, even tho I don't have anywhere to store it... Just leave it out, haha!

13 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

1) Steam instead
2) Buy clothes that don't need ironing (e.g., Brooks Brothers shirts)

I don't know how to make myself iron, either, so I just avoid it.

13 years ago

HelenInCanada

Veteran

Rae beat me to it! I don't own an iron, and have never been called out for looking wrinkly! What I do is just hang the clothes I want to wear that day (cotton, wrinkled items) on my door hook in the bathroom with me while I shower, leaving the door closed for steam, obviously! Afterwards, I just smooth the wrinkles out with my hands, and voila! Good to go!

13 years ago

Inge

(website)

Moderator

I use the same strategy as Angie: only iron a few things at a time, that's the only way I can deal with it. Also: I can't watch tele and iron simultaneously, I burn my fingers, but I do like listening to audiobooks or podcasts, takes my mind off things:-)

13 years ago

qfbrenda

Veteran

I do it in the evening while hubby and I watch something. I mostly listen rather than watch.

13 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Oh, haha! Helen, I may try shower-steaming my clothes first... LOL, no, really, that's definite and not a maybe at all.

Also, no-iron shirts are brilliant. I haven't darkened Brooks Brothers' premises in a long time. Didn't Marks & Spencer buy them? I think that's around the time I stopped checking in. M&S was having problems... OK, yes, that was like decades ago.

13 years ago

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

Hubby does mine. Or take your stuff to the dry cleaner.

13 years ago

Jjsloane

Veteran

I leave mine out for the "valet". My DH loves to iron. I DO NOT. I wore a lot of knits while single. And now I have a dryer with a little hanging bar and steamfresh setting. Hmmm. I might never iron AGAIN>..

13 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

I'm pretty low tech. I try not to stuff the washer (otherwise too many wrinkles), try not to stuff the dryer (again, too many wrinkles), take stuff out of the dryer while still damp and then hang them up, mist them with a spray bottle if needed, then stretch the fabric every which way to REALLY get out the wrinkles. I spend extra time on areas that take extra time with an iron like collars, the front placket, etc. I think the weight of the water also helps a bit. This works for almost everything except that pants don't get sharp creases this way. Somehow, going directly from the washer to the hanger to dry results in more wrinkles than a little bit of time in the dryer. I also mist and stretch after hanging if I plan to wear wear something again. I would never wear linen if I felt I had to pull out the iron and ironing board!

13 years ago

Kari

Veteran

Someday I'll get a steamer.

For the most part I lightly spray a garment with water from a spray bottle and hang it in the bathroom while I'm showering - it's a cheap-o way of steaming out wrinkles!

13 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

I LOVE ironing. I am not kidding. I find it almost like meditation. Looking crisp takes expert ironing and starch. I NEVER aim for that. and I like things a bit disheveled - though not crumpled looking. With that said, I always go for the things that will really make a difference. Collars, sleeves, plackets and shoulder seams. Pant legs ( without creases...creases take time and must be exact ). I pull my clothes right from the dryer and hand them up immediately. Then after they settle a bit, I will iron a collar and shirt cuffs and right around the shoulder seaming. T I "spot" iron or steam. Nothing too heavy handed because then you cross over into crisp and you have to do the entire piece.

Are there any Youtube videos that can teach you ? Hmmmm........

13 years ago

Anonymous

I really enjoy ironing. I listen to an audiobook or watch television. I only iron the same kind of items at a time, so 6 shirts at a time, then 5 pairs of pants or whatever. I have a whole system for each item that is very smooth and methodical, so it almost feels like I am meditating or doing tai-chi or something. I know that sounds silly but that is what it feels like when you get into the groove.

13 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

My husband is like Diana's fiancé and Isabel and Celt. He loves to iron. He does it while he is watching football, which now that I think of it is kind of funny if you are into sex-role stereotyping!

I do NOT enjoy ironing. In fact, I swear it's one reason I used to buy so many knits! But like others here, I find if I do just a few things at once it's not too bad. So that is what I aim to do. Or I do it while listening to a radio program or book.

13 years ago

Makrame

Veteran

Those Brooks Brothers no iron shirts are amazing - they look freshly ironed after coming out of the dryer or off the hanger. I do iron a few items every weekend since I now own a few silk shirts - it's a bit of a pain and if I did not have time, I would probably just invest in BB shirts for every day of the week.

13 years ago

Aida

Veteran

Rachy I'm running into a similar issue! As I move away from knits and into wovens, even though I have a lot of slouch to my style sometimes you just need a good, crisp piece. Except that I don't have an iron (hubby tells me that we do, I have yet to see it) nor a steamer. Need to get on that....

A few things at a time in front of the TV seems like a good way to go about it.

13 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

Turns out there are indeed a lot of "how to iron" videos on YouTube. This one is pretty funny as well as educational: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkdKZHdMQGU

13 years ago

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