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Monday, February 18, 2013

The Truth about Ironing

I have seen many a facebook comment or photo indicating that little Sammy just asked Mum what she was doing, so long has it been since the iron saw the light of day in the house.

There are women everywhere trying to fold things fast and properly to prevent having to iron them, we pick school uniforms that require as little (or no ironing) when possible.

I am guilty of all this. I hate ironing.

But the truth is, I love it when everything is ironed.

There is no way you can get little girls frilly dresses to look as fabulous without an iron touching them.

There is no chance I can wear a business shirt un-ironed.

Mr H would never turn up for work without ironing his clothes.

I really love my pillow cases ironed before they go on the bed.

Until recently my Mum used to pay for the sheets on her beds to be ironed. Ironed sheets are good I tell you. There is no off the line straight in to a fold position that can beat ironed fresh sheets.

There is also the messy drawer situation. Mine are hideous, I shove things in when in a hurry and pull them out and with it the remainder of the drawer falls out too. I know if everything in there was ironed it would fit better, sit in the drawer better and feel better when I put it on.

There is the packing a bag issue too - ironed clothes allow for more things to fit in the bag. It's a fact.

Yet I continue to have a basket of clothing that never gets ironed, eventually an item might get ironed before someone needs to wear it. I call this Emergency Ironing, it's done as a last resort and it is very poor time management on my behalf. I have even known a parent to consider ironing an outfit while the child was still in it (don't do this).

So the truth about ironing is, while many boast of how they live their lives ironing free, I wish I could find the time to do more....

Am I mad? Does anyone else prefer things flat, smooth and wrinkle free? 

16 comments:

  1. Like you I hate ironing but need everything ironed to be happy. I have two approaches - pay someone to do it and like yourself emergency ironing.....!

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    1. We often had an ironing lady when I grew up, usually women who had retired and would come and grab the basket, get paid cash and return it when they were done. I just don't have the connections where we are now to know people who do this - but when I do...

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  2. I kid you not, we do not own an iron!

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  3. Not mad at all- I could have written this myself! One day I shall get an ironing lady!

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    1. You see, there is whole business in being an ironing lady who picks up and drops off the baskets, heading home to watch movies all day and working in your pjs - it probably pays better than blogging too!

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  4. I have an Ironing Lady. I pop a basket of unruly and untamed wrinkly beasts on the front doorstep every second Monday and come home to a delightfully pressed and delicious clothes on my return. I even sometimes get my sheets pressed (the 'excuse' being they have this lace on them and it's not very nice if you don't iron it, and as I don't iron... someone has to do it for me). the oldest child starts high school in two years {gasp} and his uniform requires ironed shirts. Wonders whether it is more cost efficient to have ten shirts or get the ironing done every week...

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  5. I don't mind ironing. If I can make a deal with hubby that he has too cook for the night because I need to iron, I consider it a big, fat win! And things are SOOOOO much better when they've been ironed.

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  6. I fell in love with husband, and we joke its because we were the owners of the same beautiful Tefal Iron - little did he know though that my Cleaner would only iron if I had that iron, whereas my beautiful uniformed husband is quite meticulous about how he irons his uniforms! Thank goodness I have now handed that batton to him; Apparently he is a better ironer than me, and I am totally OK with that! Love my 5 girls in ironed clothes and I don't have to do any ironing....

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    1. You had a cleaner who irons???? That is hitting the jackpot!! And then scored a husband who irons...luck!

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  7. I still in the middle on this one. I LOVE the look of ironed clothes. But honestly who has the time??? I like the term 'emergency ironer' I think it fits me perfectly :)

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  8. Ironing is the ONE job I despise. My mum would iron EVERYTHING!!! Undies, sheets, towels...you name it! I saw the MANY hours it took her each week and it turned me off that chore for a lifetime! I can not remember the last time I ironed...seriously. We just live in creased clothes. Terrible I know!
    YET....it's school photo day tomorrow for Ella....I guess I better iron her uniform...for the first time! Eeeks!
    x

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  9. I am a loathed or ironing, I make my husband iron all his own clothes!!!! But as a teen my Mum would pay me $15 a basket and I was keen to earn all the money I could!!

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    1. Wow, phone typos loather of ironing!

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    2. An ironing woman you say...ooooo, how delicious.. I want I want..I need need...!! You're right about the drawers, my Grandmother irons EVERYTHING into her suitcases when she packs, it's astonishing what she fits in there.

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  10. I don't iron at all Claire. Daniel irons his own business shirts each morning and has done so ever since I met him so why change a good thing :-) The Kids wear polo shirts to school so I don't even need to get the iron out for their uniforms and nothing I wear needs to be ironed. However, if I had unlimited funds then yes I would love everything to be ironed and folded neatly before going into the cupboards - luxury. We had an ironing lady growing up too, she was older like you say and popped over to keep Mum company and I actually don't think she got paid much at all - can't imagine the price being the same these days.......Mel x

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