My mom actually loved ironing and get paid to do ironing for my grandmother when I was a child. At the time both of my grandparents were working as doctors and needed lots of clothes ironed and my grandmother "hated" ironing and didn't have much extra time. My mom was a SAHM on a tight budget and this was also a sneaky way my sweet grandmother got some extra cash to my mom. I am sure she paid exceptionally well. ❤️
I don't know why this was so inspiring to me, but it was! I had already gotten dressed for the day (simple, but feminine fitted tshirt and so comfy but stylish jeans. It's vacuuming day at my house and I am going for a deep dive cleaning of the baseboards as well, so I wanted to be pulled together but have a lot of mobility) but I soon as I finished reading this post, I stopped pulled out my iron, whipped off my tshirt, which was admittedly very wrinkly, ironed it quickly, and got back to cleaning. I look so much better! Thank you for the sweet, kick in the pants.
Once, I felt compelled to iron my bedding. Sleep felt luxurious that night on crisp sheets. Though I haven't taken the time to make it part of the normal routine, yet.
I love ironing. I used to iron my dad’s shirts for him occasionally as a teenager, and it was he that taught me to carefully iron a dress shirt. This included, he insisted, carefully sprinkling the entire shirt with water and then folding it under a dish towel for a few minutes to allow the water to incorporate into the whole shirt. Once that step is completed, he taught me to iron the cuffs, then the collar, then the sleeves, and finally the body of the shirt. I suspect his mother taught him to do that (although I don’t know). He ironed his work shirts until he was essentially at death’s door. Thanks for bringing back those nice memories for me.
I don't have either, but I have always thought that part of the fun of having a husband and boys is ironing their dress shirts. I have a feeling it's harder than I know (having had no brothers and a father who doesn't wear dress shirts a lot), but it feels like a wonderful gesture of love. And boys look so nice when they dress smartly. I think I'd be happy just knowing they would look good!
Auntie, I've never ironed a garment in my life.... I have wondered for some time why I so often feel frumpy. I've got to get an ironing board! Another hot tip is to spend the extra money for wrinkle-resistant fabrics if you can!
This one hit hard! I don’t own an ironing board or starch. I do have a pretty crappy iron my husband ironically brought into the marriage! We joked even before we got married that ironing was the one housework I’d never do! 😝 My aversion to it definitely stemmed from total frustration while ironing because I had NO IDEA how to iron properly. Well, I still don’t. My mom ironed things regularly and then told me to iron my own stuff in high school but never showed me how! Just cautioned against dropping the iron and making sure to read care labels. But no direct teaching the skill, so I would just flail around watching the part of the shirt I’d already ironed get wrinkled again while I ironed another section. And my school uniform skirt had a huge iron print on it for my last two years of school from the time I tried to iron it on my own. So classy.
I guess I should reconsider my animosity towards the chore and get a better iron. And a board. Does anyone use garment steamers? Are they any more user friendly? Also I’m really sad to hear that the nice wrinkle free dress shirts are coated in plastic! 😭
But what would the process look like? Do we hang and fold all the laundry and simply take out from dressers or closets to iron each evening for the next day? Or if done once a week does that mean we must all plan what we’re to wear a week ahead of time? Or are we simply just ironing our Sunday clothes? This is always what gets me and prevents me from making progress. I know the devil is in the details, but where to begin?
Thank you for this, post, Auntie Leila; it was so timely! My husband's work shirts and pants came out of the laundry quite a bit more wrinkled than usual and this gave me the confidence to finally set up shop and get them ironed. It unlocked a core memory for me of my dad ironing his military uniforms - the sound of the iron, the smell, the motions. A beautiful chore for contemplation, indeed.
I appreciate the comment above outlining how her father taught her to Iron, and look forward to continued guidance from you and the rest of this community in the future!
I don't always make the time, but I love to iron my husband's work shirts even if he doesn't care as much. It's like hugging him all over again.
That's the sweetest thought about ironing I've ever heard!
My mom actually loved ironing and get paid to do ironing for my grandmother when I was a child. At the time both of my grandparents were working as doctors and needed lots of clothes ironed and my grandmother "hated" ironing and didn't have much extra time. My mom was a SAHM on a tight budget and this was also a sneaky way my sweet grandmother got some extra cash to my mom. I am sure she paid exceptionally well. ❤️
I get that AI is going to rule the world, but where are the self ironing clothes? 😝
If there were such (and they try, with polyester), we housewives would be missing out on contemplation time 😉
Am still trying to lock in the planned rest with three under three; ironing feels like a higher order good 😅
You'll get there eventually... patience and no worries! 😘
I don't know why this was so inspiring to me, but it was! I had already gotten dressed for the day (simple, but feminine fitted tshirt and so comfy but stylish jeans. It's vacuuming day at my house and I am going for a deep dive cleaning of the baseboards as well, so I wanted to be pulled together but have a lot of mobility) but I soon as I finished reading this post, I stopped pulled out my iron, whipped off my tshirt, which was admittedly very wrinkly, ironed it quickly, and got back to cleaning. I look so much better! Thank you for the sweet, kick in the pants.
Love it! Gotta look smart! Feels smart 😘
Do you have an iron recommendation? My iron doesn't steam or spray water any longer, so I've been using a spray bottle.
I really like our Rowenta. It has lasted us a long time.
I've somehow managed to go through two Rowentas.
Once, I felt compelled to iron my bedding. Sleep felt luxurious that night on crisp sheets. Though I haven't taken the time to make it part of the normal routine, yet.
Drying them outside is huge for this. However, difficult for those of us who live where it's winter!
I advise never using fabric softener for sure!
I love ironing. I used to iron my dad’s shirts for him occasionally as a teenager, and it was he that taught me to carefully iron a dress shirt. This included, he insisted, carefully sprinkling the entire shirt with water and then folding it under a dish towel for a few minutes to allow the water to incorporate into the whole shirt. Once that step is completed, he taught me to iron the cuffs, then the collar, then the sleeves, and finally the body of the shirt. I suspect his mother taught him to do that (although I don’t know). He ironed his work shirts until he was essentially at death’s door. Thanks for bringing back those nice memories for me.
I don't have either, but I have always thought that part of the fun of having a husband and boys is ironing their dress shirts. I have a feeling it's harder than I know (having had no brothers and a father who doesn't wear dress shirts a lot), but it feels like a wonderful gesture of love. And boys look so nice when they dress smartly. I think I'd be happy just knowing they would look good!
Auntie, I've never ironed a garment in my life.... I have wondered for some time why I so often feel frumpy. I've got to get an ironing board! Another hot tip is to spend the extra money for wrinkle-resistant fabrics if you can!
I encourage you to get a nice ironing board, a cover for it, and an iron. You can often find ironing boards at thrift stores!
I would also say to beware of wrinkle-resistant fabrics. Often it means the fibers are coated in plastic!
And that doesn't feel as nice as you might expect.
Natural fibers are a joy and do take some care. We can actually approach it as "slow fashion" and revel in the process.
This one hit hard! I don’t own an ironing board or starch. I do have a pretty crappy iron my husband ironically brought into the marriage! We joked even before we got married that ironing was the one housework I’d never do! 😝 My aversion to it definitely stemmed from total frustration while ironing because I had NO IDEA how to iron properly. Well, I still don’t. My mom ironed things regularly and then told me to iron my own stuff in high school but never showed me how! Just cautioned against dropping the iron and making sure to read care labels. But no direct teaching the skill, so I would just flail around watching the part of the shirt I’d already ironed get wrinkled again while I ironed another section. And my school uniform skirt had a huge iron print on it for my last two years of school from the time I tried to iron it on my own. So classy.
I guess I should reconsider my animosity towards the chore and get a better iron. And a board. Does anyone use garment steamers? Are they any more user friendly? Also I’m really sad to hear that the nice wrinkle free dress shirts are coated in plastic! 😭
But what would the process look like? Do we hang and fold all the laundry and simply take out from dressers or closets to iron each evening for the next day? Or if done once a week does that mean we must all plan what we’re to wear a week ahead of time? Or are we simply just ironing our Sunday clothes? This is always what gets me and prevents me from making progress. I know the devil is in the details, but where to begin?
Stick with me, we'll cover all this (and there's much more on my blog, click those links).
Start with doing the Sunday clothes by sometime on Friday if possible.
Also try having a separate hamper (get one at the thrift) for ironing. When you see it's getting full, plan in the next day or two to get to it.
Hang those clothes up. You'll thank yourself, because they will just be there to wear when you need them!
I find this more of the case in the summer; winter clothes (other than men's dress shirts for the most part) don't need as much of this attention.
Thank you!
Thank you for this, post, Auntie Leila; it was so timely! My husband's work shirts and pants came out of the laundry quite a bit more wrinkled than usual and this gave me the confidence to finally set up shop and get them ironed. It unlocked a core memory for me of my dad ironing his military uniforms - the sound of the iron, the smell, the motions. A beautiful chore for contemplation, indeed.
I appreciate the comment above outlining how her father taught her to Iron, and look forward to continued guidance from you and the rest of this community in the future!
I love ironing! I find it very satisfying. I enjoy the warm iron and the steam. My kids love to iron cloth napkins.