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Over 65s should do more ironing to be healthy!!!

(107 Posts)
shysal Thu 25-Nov-21 12:56:10

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10240079/Should-65s-ironing-health.html

What are your thoughts on the advice? Are they printable? I can think of better ways to be active! I don't do ironing and don't intend to start now!

kjmpde Fri 26-Nov-21 12:45:40

i always think that those people that LOVE ironing are odd. who in their right mind would want to iron ?

Petalpop Fri 26-Nov-21 12:47:28

I don't consider standing and pushing an iron backwards and forwards as exercise. I iron when I have to, do housework when I need to (not every day or even every other day) or when a visitor is due. I just find it so condescending how some people can be about 'old people'. I power walk at 6.00 am three times a week and the rest of the time when I am free 'from ironing' I go for long country walks with a friend. I may be in their minds be an old codger but I can stand on one leg for ages and look after my 2 years old GS all day without have a fit of the vapours. Sorry for the rant but I do get cross when people try to tell us 'oldies' what we should be doing for exercise.

katy1950 Fri 26-Nov-21 12:47:36

I don't mind ironing I set up my ironing board looking out onto the canal put on my favourite playlist and lose myself in the music

Supergran1946 Fri 26-Nov-21 12:54:44

Agree with you Riverwalk. Ironing is an evil necessity ?

Growing0ldDisgracefully Fri 26-Nov-21 13:02:43

I haven't read the article and don't intend to (out of respect for my blood pressure). Ironing was a strange ritual I came across in my youth, and made it my life's mission never to be sucked into strange cults and their rituals, and I don't intend to go back on that now!

Omalinda Fri 26-Nov-21 13:12:40

Hang clothes out to dry very carefully to avoid ironing.

Camelotclub Fri 26-Nov-21 13:13:33

I'm with Jane Gordon on this one.

Sheilasue Fri 26-Nov-21 14:24:49

I love ironing since I found out it’s good exercise.

Gabrielle56 Fri 26-Nov-21 15:12:49

Why ironing? I would have thought that standing in one position for a protracted length of time would not be good for the circulation? I like the yoga pose suggestions very good? I think that forgetting to take stuff upstairs several times a day is much better , all that running up and down stairs!!! Oh and failing to grab something from the floor several times (my favourite) drives me bonkers but helps my stretches too !?

Shropshirelass Fri 26-Nov-21 15:17:09

I do less ironing now than I have ever done, and don’t intend to start doing more now!

Calistemon Fri 26-Nov-21 15:18:35

Why ironing? I would have thought that standing in one position for a protracted length of time would not be good for the circulation?

Perhaps we're supposed to stand on alternate legs whilst ironing to improve our balance.

I did hear a teenage DGD say she must stand up for a while as it would increase something or other on the thingummybob she had on her wrist.
A Fitbit?

Daisend1 Fri 26-Nov-21 15:30:06

Living in N Cornwall I wait for a windy day, get plenty of those, hang my washing out and let the wind take out the creases.

Milest0ne Fri 26-Nov-21 16:01:31

Having solar panels I do most of my washing. dish washing, tumble drying, when the sun is shining giving free electricity. On the other hand-- sunny days are too precious to waste ironing or vacuuming, even if the electricity is free

jandrayson2 Fri 26-Nov-21 16:05:06

Unfortunately I cannot walk for more than 5 mins, then I have to use me stick, BUT I find ironing therapeutic, I can sit for a minute of two every so often, & I can support myself on the ironing board, so IF you can walk, garden, walk the dog for more than 5 mins at a time, then enjoy it while you can.

Summerfly Fri 26-Nov-21 16:31:23

Due to a problem with my shoulder, I’m unable to iron! I have a wonderful lady who does my ironing for me.
It doesn’t mean I’m not fit though. I do plenty of walking and can cook, and I can do some of the housework.
My lovely mum used to say “life’s too short to dust”. She was certainly right!

Susieq62 Fri 26-Nov-21 17:02:30

Aged 71, do all my ironing, cleaning, gardening, shopping, cooking, walking netball, singing, town councillor, bookworm, help other half with allotment, go walking, swimming, lunching, travelling( when possible) . Long May it continue !,
By the way , him indoors does the hoovering and cooks on Wednesday ?

Candelle Fri 26-Nov-21 17:13:12

I enjoy ironing! Radio on to a station from the 60's and away I go!

I love to see just-ironed shirts crisply hanging in a row or a stack of nighties or tops growing taller.

Ironing is one job that gives tangible results compared to, for example, dusting, whereby the rooms look the same to me before and after. Perhaps I am a terrible duster!

JuBut Fri 26-Nov-21 17:29:03

I enjoy ironing and always have. I find it relaxing ? but I'm not 65 yet. Is that a problem?

DillytheGardener Fri 26-Nov-21 17:36:24

Omalinda I do the same, I hang clothes out to dry very carefully, I also buy bedlinen that has a texture so it doesn’t need ironing. The only thing I really iron now are my husbands shirts.

grannybuy Fri 26-Nov-21 20:56:21

I’m not heavily into cleaning - as and when - but I do get satisfaction from ironing. It may not be cheap, but it might be cheaper than putting things into the tumble dryer, which I know some people do to finish them off. I could be wrong. I’ll definitely try the standing on one leg.

sazz1 Sat 27-Nov-21 00:02:05

I actually enjoy ironing but can't do it for more than half an hour as I get back pain. I always iron pure cotton pillow cases and duvet covers, but polycotton comes out virtually crease free from the dryer. In winter I iron very little, but in summer tops, skirts, cropped trousers etc I enjoy ironing.
My daughter doesn't possess an iron and has never ironed anything.

Mistyfluff8 Sat 27-Nov-21 05:40:12

I iron if there are a couple of things done in 5mins Never let it build up hang clothes to dry so they don’t need it My sister in law even irons socks and T towels what a waste of time

Jannicans Sat 27-Nov-21 23:30:27

My mother ironed, she still died from a fall. Proof it isn't any benefit.

JackyB Sun 28-Nov-21 09:36:48

I'll put this here but I doubt anyone will read it so far down the thread.

I haven't read the article but I did hear the Programme that lemongrove mentions. It's not about ironing. As one or two of you have touched on, it's just that housework shouldn't be dismissed as not beneficial to our health. Any movement is better than no movement.

Here is the programme.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct1nw7

Fast forward to nearly the end at 23:20 mins. The conclusion however, as always with the BBC, is indecisive in that doing housework may not make you fitter, it may just be that people who are fitter manage to do more housework.

I am sorry that it has deteriorated into yet another silly argument about the pros and cons of ironing, which is irrelevant.

shysal Sun 28-Nov-21 12:20:15

This was intended to be a light-hearted thread, and I see no evidence of an argument!