To iron or not to iron? A friend of mine asked via a social network if anyone ironed their shower curtain? Thanks for inspiring this post Victoria. Just last week, I was thinking about how my grandmother and mother failed miserably in teaching me the finer points of ironing as I retrieved my one million thread count sheets from the dryer crinkled up like a dried up apple.
In my thought cloud, I imagined, ‘wonder if anyone takes their bed sheets to the dry cleaner? Would that be weird?‘
To be fair, they tried teaching me. I didn’t catch on. Garments I attempt to iron look worse for the wear once I’m finished. I think I try too hard. Take too long. Forget when to steam. I don’t know.
I love a crisp bed sheet. The look of a perfectly pressed, lightly starched Oxford on a man or a woman. I can honestly say I’m bothered enough by wrinkled clothing that I won’t buy linen, even though I love the look of it when pressed. I know I won’t drag the iron out to make it so. Over and over. Please.
So back to Victoria’s question about ironing a shower curtain. Replies started rolling in from friends. ‘What is this iron you speak of?’ Laughter and strong agreement by the majority. Someone shared she didn’t own an iron, another said she had no idea where hers was and yet another admitted she had never used starch. She wondered, ‘don’t we eat that?’
As irons go, I think I have the macdaddy. But it sits lonely in the cabinet.
“I’ve been known to hang clothes in the shower to steam them so I can avoid having to iron,” admitted Lolli of Better in Bulk. Right on, Lolli!
Dawn from Party Blueprints Blog said, “I needed to buy a new iron 2 weeks ago. I went to Macy’s, walked all over and couldn’t find one. The sales woman had to show me to the back where they were hidden behind waffle and cake pop makers, informing me ‘no one irons anymore!’” Um, clearly, Dawn does. She irons the non-wrinkle uniform pants and shirts for her catholic school children daily. Daily.
Tania from Pure Natural Diva shared, “My husband is lucky I arrange to have someone iron his shirts. I have recently become a fan of the steamer.”
I have done that too, but now I only purchase wrinkle resistant clothing.
“After our first-born child got so active, I didn’t have time to get out the iron so my solution was to buy my husband de-wrinkle spray and it saved our marriage,” shared Angela with Untrained Housewife.
Sandra of West Philly Mama said, “This makes me feel so much better about life. Ironing is one of those things I assume everyone but me does.” I’m right there with you Sandra.
Remember how Dawn said the sales associate told her no one irons anymore? Oh contraire. Cue trumpets.
“It’s quite possible I also iron certain sets of sheets I own, call me an old southern lady,” said Lisa of A Daily Pinch.
Gasp! She even makes her own ironing water out of distilled water, essential oil (2 drops for full bottle – won’t go on clothes) and a drop or two of unscented, all natural (like 7th Generation) dish soap. “It’s for that nice smelling, lightly starched feeling.”
That was the helpful tip part of this story. Oh, wait! Katja of Skimbaco Lifestyle shares another, ”Spray water on it and smooth/iron it with your hand, let dry. If that doesn’t help, do the same tomorrow.” I suppose that can work for a cloth shower curtain, certain clothing or a set of sheets.
Okay, those tips didn’t sink in. As soon as I’m done typing this I’m taking the sheets off my bed and heading over to the dry cleaners.
And I just remembered why my mom failed me because I know she was taught by the master. I’m certain my 92-year-old (southern) grandmother could iron circles around anyone. Back in the days when many of my friends moms were called homemakers, mine was a working mom, a nurse, and she took our clothing to a ‘ironing lady.’ I remember helping carry baskets into her house. Rest in peace, Mrs. Grooms. You saved me from having to learn the fine art of pressing a crease.
So? Do you iron?
No ironing here. We have one and I’ve attempted to use it for Scouting patches but even then they’ve invented something called “Badge Magic” where you just stick it on and throw it in the dryer. I may have ironed a collared shirt once or twice in the past decade but that’s about it!
Wow, Tonja! You just reminded me one of the last times my iron was hot! Girl Scout badges. But I’m totally checking out badge magic for next time! Thank you ~
My husband irons his own clothes everyday, that has to count for me somehow… right? I iron my own clothes when I really need to (if a spray and smooth doesn’t work out) but I iron my boys’ clothes regularly! Haha!
Sarah, that’s a good husband. Mine irons more regularly than I do too! You iron your boys clothing? Wow. Impressed. Not enough to do it for mine, but impressed!
nope, don’t iron. well, let me take that back, I do iron, but only if it’s for a wedding or something major. Other than that I try to steer clear of items that will need to be ironed. Though, on the contrary, I do love the look of ironed items.
Jenny, we are cut from the same cloth (seems appropriate for this post!). I iron for the ‘big events,’ and I put items back on the rack that I like after deciding they’d look crappy out of the dryer without ironing. I tend to really compliment people who’s wardrobe clearly has seen an iron or a dry cleaner. Let’s agree not to judge each other, mmkay?
I am a firm believer in “ironing went out in the 50′s” I am like you. I love the look of neatly pressed clothing but when I try to iron clothes.. they look worse than when I started. A recent addition to our household.. the Lab/CoonHound puppy that I post excessive pictures of on Facebook is completely TERRIFIED of the Ironing Board… reason enough to leave it in the back bedroom right? You can’t go upsetting the dog!!He’s a rescue!! .. the yelling during Bronco games is already more than he can handle.
You have the perfect excuse, I mean, reason now, Chrissy – don’t get out that ironing board because your new puppy is traumatized. We’ll be wrinkled together. Clothes. I mean clothes!
The iron only gets pulled out on very special occasions. I make a point of buying ONLY wash and wear clothes. Don’t like to iron and don’t like dry-cleaning bills.
Chris, I hope clothing manufacturers are listening! And I hear you about the dry cleaning bills, although, luckily, I’ve found one here in town who charges $1.70 to press items ($2 each but they discount for cash payment!). Even my mom in Ohio is jealous of that price. Most things are more here than in the midwest, but this is one thing I’ve found at a bargain!
I only iron in hotel rooms, generally for blog conferences or events. At home? If it has to be ironed, I’m not wearing it! My husband irons his stuff about 4 times a year for special occasions.
Ha, Jenny, I think I’ve ironed more in hotel rooms than at home too! But I still try to pack items you can basically wad up in a ball and get away with, like Chicos & Cabi – they have some good travel wear. Happy you stopped by!
I do all inside chores except ironing. I rarely iron mine, but hubby does all of his ironing, i’m just not good at it.
Jennifer, I don’t think there is anything wrong with not being good at ironing. Clearly. Love that your hubby irons, though. Hot.
I iron, but I don’t like to.
Lolli, I think those who admit to loving the actual act of ironing fall into the category of loving going to the dentist. Ha. Necessary. Not something I love. Except the look of ironing. Can’t deny I prefer it. You’d think that would motivate me to do it.