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Ironing & ironing boards

(87 Posts)
Grannypanties Mon 15-Dec-25 17:39:08

I am forever met with dazed confusion and wonder whenever I mention to other homemakers, the fact that I still iron.

As for myself, I am equally dazed and confused as to why such an old-timey practice seems so out-of-date for some.

Nonetheless, anyone else here besides myself still iron?

BlueBelle Tue 16-Dec-25 17:08:57

I haven’t ironed for years I don’t possess an iron or ironing board I do have a steamer but rarely use it as most things I own don’t need ironing at all
I ve never ever ironed sheets or towels

Bluesmum Tue 16-Dec-25 16:59:12

I actually like ironing but I don’t seem to have much these days! my dear sil is a wonderful housewife, but she does not possess an iron or an ironing board and I really hate to see my brother in some of his shirts that really do need it, all creased and crumpled!

Curlywhirly Tue 16-Dec-25 16:43:46

I really enjoy ironing and find it therapeutic (I have a steam-generated iron and wouldn't go back to a standard iron). I iron most things and do my son's and his family's ironing too. I also iron all the shirts in a charity shop that I volunteer in - the shop has an industrial steamer and it's a joy to use, creases melt away with no effort.

NotSpaghetti Tue 16-Dec-25 16:27:41

Visgir1

My DD tells me you give your age away if you Iron.

My youngest daughter coveted my ironing board so now we both have one 😍

I don't understand the age comment. She is still in her 30s.
How old is your daughter Visgirl?

Wong Tue 16-Dec-25 16:22:36

I think it is a generation thing! Less younger people iron and more of us old crumblies do. However, my daughter and her husband has said that it is always lovely, when she stays the night with us, to sleep to sleep in a bed with ironed sheets, duvet and pillow cases but do they have time these days to iron non-essentials? Different life, different World. I prefer mine!!!

Scrappydo Tue 16-Dec-25 16:09:47

I hate ironing. Luckily I only do my sons work shirts now.

Mojack26 Tue 16-Dec-25 16:01:52

Nope,never have or had to,only when strictly necessary.

Stansgran Tue 16-Dec-25 15:52:00

I iron hankies ,tea towels , pillow cases and my ongoing quilting. DH’s shirts, duvet covers all sent out to a useful place at the bottom of my hill called Steam Ahead.

Etoile2701 Tue 16-Dec-25 15:39:09

I own an iron. I don't know how people cope without them for certain things. Having said that, it is mainly my husband's shirts and handkerchiefs that I iron.

Bazza Tue 16-Dec-25 15:28:16

I iron anything that looks like it needs it, but after a quick tumble and a hand smooth I get away with things that I used to iron. I do iron bedding though because it just doesn’t seem as clean if I don’t!

Wong Tue 16-Dec-25 15:27:02

Add comment | Report | Private message | QuoteWong Tue 16-Dec-25 13:49:48
I still iron - tee shirts, blouses etc. anything creased and always, always sheets, duvet covers etc. I hate to sleep on creased sheets. Yeas ago, for a wedding present, I was given a 'sit-at' ironing board. It folded away just like a normal ironing board and the seat was exactly at the right height. It finally disintegrated and I have tried to find another but no luck. So if anyone knows where I can get on, please let me know!!!

AuntieE Tue 16-Dec-25 15:21:07

I LIKE ironing and am prepared to admit it, even although I know that it is considered at best unnecessary and at worst a vice these days.

Not only do I iron my cotton and silk clothes, I iron tea towels too, because they look nicer hanging up at the sink when ironed, and table cloths, tray cloths, table napkins etc. etc. So you are not alone.

But I dislike the fact that the manufacturers of irons still have not bothered to find out how long the average ironing board is!

Unless you have a socket very near where ever you put the ironing board up, you cannot reach the tip of the board properly with the iron, because its flex is TOO SHORT!

And as WE WHO IRON know, the most finicky ironing takes place at the extreme end of the ironing board, not just beside the stand for the iron.

Ali61 Tue 16-Dec-25 14:59:44

I ironed the school uniforms and my husbands work shirts and trousers religiously every Sunday for decades! Now that there are no uniforms or work clothes I don't iron at all. I took my ironing board up the tip five years ago and it felt wonderful chucking it in the skip 😅

knspol Tue 16-Dec-25 14:56:50

I iron most things and can't imagine not doing so. I did stop ironing cotton sheets a few years ago but still iron and use spray starch on pillow cases and duvet covers. I still do iron sheets for visitors though. One of the few household tasks I don't mind doing.

WelshPoppy Tue 16-Dec-25 14:49:21

I iron and find it quite therapeutic. I pop the tv on or add a record to the record player and iron away. Everything apart from towels, teatowels and underwear gets ironed.

Ktsmum Tue 16-Dec-25 14:42:37

I'm 65, just finished a basket of ironing this morning. My sister never irons quilt covers, I don't know how she gets away with it, I couldn't sleep 😬

Casdon Tue 16-Dec-25 14:31:36

I have a steamer, but I don’t like it, the results aren’t good enough for clothes, although it’s just about okay for bedding. It’s stuck in the cupboard, on its way out. I iron, not because I like it, it’s the most boring of jobs, but I don’t like the look or feel of un ironed clothes on myself or my family.

madeleine45 Tue 16-Dec-25 14:19:02

I have sensitive skin and choose to wear silk, cotton, and cashmere. Now there is only me, I still iron any clothes worn next to my skin, and quite a lot of other things too. Tend to listen to either a play or music on radio 3, whilst I iron away, and enjoy wearing clothes that have been hung out and smell lovely and feel comfortable. Worth the effort to me

Mollygo Tue 16-Dec-25 14:09:15

I iron in an emergency.
Usually I send it out once a fortnight to keep someone in a job and save me the hassle

Littlebea02 Tue 16-Dec-25 14:05:36

One of my goals in life has been to have women get rid of their ironing board and iron. I also do not like creases but I have learned there are so many tricks to the trade with all fabrics to get the creases out. One thing I do own is a steamer because not only does it clean but it gets creases out where my tricks haven’t worked LOL.

KathleenE Tue 16-Dec-25 13:53:09

My husband's Auntie is 105 and has just stopped doing her own ironing.
I iron. I like it.

Wong Tue 16-Dec-25 13:49:48

I still iron - tee shirts, blouses etc. anything creased and always, always sheets, duvet covers etc. I hate to sleep on creased sheets. Yeas ago, for a wedding present, I was given a 'sit-at' ironing board. It folded away just like a normal ironing board and the seat was exactly at the right height. It finally disintegrated and I have tried to find another but no luck. So if anyone knows where I can get on, please let me know!!!

Sarahr Tue 16-Dec-25 13:49:03

I iron when necessary. Mostly when sewing. We don't have many clothes now that need to be ironed. I do iron our posh clothes when we go out.
I originally cut down on ironing, amongst other money saving efforts for financial reasons. Now I can't see the point unless it dies actually need to be ironed.

HelterSkelter1 Tue 16-Dec-25 11:48:54

Anyine recommend a steamer?

fancyflowers Tue 16-Dec-25 11:48:34

I don't like ironing, but I do it. I iron DH's shirts, any blouses of mine that need it, tea towels, jeggings and DH's trousers.

Thankfully, our sheets go to the laundry and come back ironed and folded.