Are you a freak who irons?
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Freaks Who Iron
I am short on time today, but I'm dying to know something. This past weekend, I spent TWO hours ironing. TWO. T-W-O. That is TWO hours I could have been doing something more fun. But, I am obsessed with ironed clothes. There's nothing like a crisp crease. MMMM MMMM good. I iron all my kids shirts, shorts, pants, my shirts, shorts, pants, and my husband's shirts and shorts. All his work stuff goes to the cleaners. My school year routine has been to iron on Tuesday mornings, but I have let that slip for a couple of weeks because we have been so busy with other things. As a result, the pile was ginormous. Thus, the two hour iron fest. So while I was ironing, I wondered if I was only the freak who firstly, irons at all, and secondly, who finds it, ya know, kind of therapeutic. I know. I know. I'm a freak.
Are you a freak who irons?
Are you a freak who irons?
I am one who irons...but I don't think I'm freakish about it :) My preference is to iron everything as you do all at one time, but it seems as of late that I never have time to do that, so I just iron as we wear it. Not my favorite thing to do, but right now it's working. I really like already having it ironed before it goes in the closet, because then you can just grab and go.
ReplyDeleteKat
Oh, and what is really freakish is that I used to have an aunt that ironed her UNDERWEAR!!! I think my Mom irons the sheets for her bed.
I just recently picked up the iron. I got into quilting and had to iron the seams...and I liked the effect. Now I will iron certain things. It must be a SAHM thing, huh?
ReplyDeleteI wish I enjoyed ironing...then on the days that my boys want to wear their "nicer" shirts, they wouldn't look like rumpled messes...
ReplyDeleteThough I fully appreciate a nice, freshly ironed article of clothing, we currently don't have an ironing board (or a place for one...), and so I am forced to use our kitchen table and a towel. So, the inconvenience added to the fact that I wear jeans and tshirts to work more often than not (and I think the hubby would laugh hysterically if I started ironing his scrubs) means that I don't really iron all that often.
ReplyDeleteI'm not opposed, though, and I can see myself becoming a compulsive ironer in the future.
Oh, and we don't have closet space, so everything is folded into drawers anyway...
It occurs to me that you perhaps were not looking for my life story as it pertains to ironing, but there you go.
I would be the freak who won't buy an article of clothing if it will need to be ironed in the future! seriously, I hate ironing though I do like freshly ironed clothes! I send my husbands dress shirts to the cleaners and hang his work pants right out of the dryer so I pretty much avoid ironing at all costs! my 11 year old son, on the other hand, LOVES to iron so it's now his job when I do need something ironed!
ReplyDeleteOh - no,no,no ... I'm a "put it in the dryer and fluff it" kind of gal. I'm not even sure I know where my iron is! ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm with bobbi. "Put it in the dryer and fluff it" is the extent of my ironing. I do own a steamer for when it is absolutely neccessary.
ReplyDeleteDryer girl here. I stick a wet dryer sheet in with it. Good enough!! I blame it on an irrational fear that a young child would knock over the ironing board and get clobbered and burned by the iron. (But I can't say that I honestly remember ironing before that either.)
ReplyDeleteI iron NUTTIN' I hate to iron, and I don't/won't do it unless I absolutely HAVE to :)
ReplyDeleteTheraputic and cathartic! Only I iron daily, as needed. I could never face a mountain of wrinkles in one time frame!
ReplyDeleteI. Do. Not. Iron. Nope nope nope. I'm horrible at it and I send it away to be done. I'm snooty that way.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE IRONING!!!! It must be a result of the fact that I am a seamstress, and if you're going to sew, you're going to iron. We did have one of my son's friends who lived with us for awhile and I'll nominate him as the most prolific ironer I've ever met. He IRONED EVERYTHING. And he was good! He never left the house with even the hint of a crease.
ReplyDelete- Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife
I like ironing and I find that it's therapeutic.
ReplyDeleteI have a bit of a pile waiting at the moment as my trusty old ironing board spat the dummy recently. I'm buying a new one this week.
I do iron, some stuff. The girls everday clothes, no, but anything for work or church gets ironed.
ReplyDeleteI DO like doing it. I like anything where you can see where you've been.
Its a rare day that I iron, but I will. My hubby's idea of an iron is a spray bottle filled with water which he spritzes on his pants/shirts what have you and then smooths with his hands.
ReplyDeleteWell, I've got to admit ... I never EVER iron anything. Is that because I've got boys? because I live a casual California lifestyle? because I'm lazy? because I'm married to an engineer who rarely wears the kind of clothes that need to be ironed (and when he does wear the nicer stuff, HE'S the one who does the ironing ... guess he knows that to get it done right to his engineering standards, he better do it himself than rely on my slapdash, non-perfectionist ways...) :-)
ReplyDeleteMy iron only comes out once a year! (and that's usually to iron my kids perler bead projects!) I rely on the steam setting on my dryer to take wrinkles out of everything--no nice creases, but I don't look like I just crawled out of a box either.
ReplyDeleteOne of the families I stayed with in Germany had a housekeeper who ironed EVERYTHING!!!--my jeans, my underwear, my t-shirts, the sheets for the bed (I really liked that last one!). If it got washed, it got ironed. Now THAT'S a little freaky to me :)!
I think you are completely nuts...but I'm ok with that. As long as it's theraputic, and you don't sit their cursing the clothes the whole time...I say go for it...make it a bit of quiet meditation with a bonus of wrinkle free clothes.
ReplyDeleteI have a love/hate relationship with my iron. I love ironed things. I have a lot of things that need ironed. I like my kids to not look like neglected homeless children. But I hate ironing. Everything my husband wears must be ironed, so he irons it. But everything else I must iron. I even iron the top of my sheets and the pillow case because I hate when it looks all bunched up. But I only do the ironing on a must/need basis, which means I have a huge ironing basket. Ocassionally I pull my kids clothes out and think "Oops, too bad that sat in there until they grew out of it! Oh well."
ReplyDeleteI usually iron as we go, but lately I have been trying to iron more ahead of time so we can get cute at a moment's notice. All those smocked outfits that I am so fond of for the girls take a lot of work! It's hours and hours to iron all of our laundry, though, so I'm trying to find the right balance so I don't leave stacks of clothes lying around just waiting to be ironed before they're put up.
ReplyDeleteIron? What's that word? I've never heard of it.
ReplyDeleteNow, if you would have said laundry or washing dishes, I could have understood...but iron...I don't think so.
Oh dear, no ironing for me. Occasionally I'll iron a church outfit, but that's it. I'm with all the other "dryer fluffers" out there.
ReplyDeleteNo, can't say that I remember the time I last ironed. Maybe 1998?
ReplyDeleteNo. I detest it. It is the most absolute worst chore ever.
ReplyDeleteI'm a grown woman, but I pay my mom to iron the necessities (like my work shirts). It's our little secret.
don't even own one. Not sure how to pronounce the word either.
ReplyDeletewe do have two weird surf boards with collapsable legs, though. don't know why we have those.
We ALL have our freak areas for you....
ReplyDeleteI think it crosses the line into freakdom when you are ironing the kids playclothes. :) My kids have a few church things that need ironing but that's IT!
My favorite "iron" is a spray bottle of water and hangers! It works like a charm.
As far as therapeutic, I get that COMPLETELY. We moms need mindless work at times to quiet ourselves. Folding clothes and painting do it for me. walls. not pictures.
see ya at vbs,
j
I am not an iron freak BUT my husband is. I usually iron his work stuff for him though.
ReplyDeleteThe other day I was getting my daughter dressed and he goes oh no that needs to be ironed. I was like are you kidding me, iron kids clothes? He was serious. Went downstairs got the board and iron out and ironed her shirt. Sounds like your kind of man, right?
My ironing is done on Saturday nights if something needs to be ironed for church. ;) Otherwise, I avoide it and I just asked a friend for a dry cleaning recommend for a few things. :) My mom and sisters - l.o.v.e ironing. My girlfriend J irons everyting!!
ReplyDeletesista......you need help!!! HOW?? How can you enjoy this?? Can i send some clothes your way please??
ReplyDeleteTherapy? Really? Do you get out much?
ReplyDeleteI iron as needed. And really, there is not much need. One day I will have the steam dryer and I'll give my iron to goodwill.
-- Brandi
Thanks for your words on my bloggy. They really meant a lot to me.
BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
ReplyDeleteWhat. Ever.
My mom loves to iron. I think I own one.
She came from a family of 12 and no one wanted to do the ironing. So, if she volunteered everyone else stayed FAR away and she got some quiet.
TWO HOURS?!?! I seriously think I've ironed about two times in my whole life and not by choice. I try to fold my clothes neatly, so that they don't wrinkle, but if they do, I just wear my clothes wrinkled. I prefer to dress comfortably in sweats or T-shirts and shorts. That's one of the perks of working from home, not to mention how much I dislike commuting. On the other hand, my mother-in-law is always ironing. I bought her one of those infomercial irons that heat up instantly and allows you to iron vertically as well, but it seems she enjoys ironing the old-fashioned way. She must be a freak like you who finds it therapeutic 'cause I can't think of any other reason. :)
ReplyDeleteNeither of us iron. Not at all. In fact, when my mom moved in the house, I couldn't tell her where the ironing board was. Lost.
ReplyDeleteI just don't buy things that have to be ironed. I buy some kind of blend, because I don't like to do it.
I gotta tell you... I was talking to my husband the other night and was quoting something you said, and he wanted to know who sait it. I was like, Debbie. So expecting him to know who you are! So funny.
Do you remember me? I'm a princess. I don't iron. But my mom...the laundry queen...loves to iron. And she even ironed here at the beach. I think freak is a good description.
ReplyDeleteOh heck no. YEARS ago, I used to iron every week. Now, I just make sure I get everything out of the dryer right away...no wrinkles. Voila! I send my husband's shirts to the cleaners because I can't get that really good crispness like they can. I did it for a couple of years, but I finally just let it go.
ReplyDeleteDeb,
ReplyDeleteI always read but had to comment on this. I never, N-E-V-E-R iron! I actually look at clothes when I am buying them to ensure that they are not wrinkle prone!
You could have gotten a pedicure in those two hours...
I found you through Kimba... We may have met before, sorry but yeah for me now... I do get it! I know what your talking about on your last post. My family... they dont get it... Im finding myself becoming a closet blogger in front of my family... Oh if they would only understand how great you people really are... Love all of you! Susie h~
ReplyDeleteOK, no. I do not iron. Nope. Nada. Don't do it. Never will.
ReplyDeleteNow, I do write me some funny new words - and I photographed a certain spot today on an outing with my kids JUST for you.
I'd love it if you'd take a look and let me know...
No...but even better,I'm married to one! He is an AWESOME ironer (is that a word?) Love it!
ReplyDeleteI'm loving your blog. Your last post about people not getting it is so true! You're a great writer.
I wish I found ironing more therapeutic! Instead, I hate it! I discovered Downey Wrinkle Release a few years ago and that has been my saving grace! It doesn't give a nice clean crisp pleat or ironed look, but it does get the wrinkles out. Which, for me, is the most important part since I will just get all wrinkly when I get to work anyway. 2nd grade is like a wrinkled shirt/skirt/pants waiting to happen! :)
ReplyDeleteSince Kat, your first commenter, is my best friend, you'd think I'd follow her example and iron, too. Nope. Not if I can help it. I iron only when absolutely necessary. Like if I, for some reason, have a strange desire to wear linen. Then I force myself to turn the iron on.
ReplyDeleteNo, it's not that bad, but almost.
the only thing I iron is my hair. ;)
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I try to avoid ironing, but do like things to look neat. SO, I'm kinda in between.
ReplyDeleteI did have a camp cousnelor one year who ironed her underwear at night when she thought we were all asleep. I totally thought she was weird!!! :)
What's an Iron???? Hehe
ReplyDeleteOkay, I don't even own an iron. I use the old run the dryer again and pull them out while their hot....
ReplyDeleteNo stinkin freaky way!
ReplyDeletebut I'd be happy to let you do my ironing if you'd like.
actually we are a wash and wear type of family.
my MIL irons everything, including my FIL's tighty whiteys.........
we inherited an iron from my husbands grandpa when he passed about 8 years ago. i've probably used it twice and one of those times was to get melted candle wax out of my carpet.
and what Gina typed up there.......about our mom.....I had no idea that was why she loved to iron. The things we learn whilst blogging.
Dr. Pepper Lip Smackers? Check. Captain and Tenille? Check.
ReplyDeleteFREAKS WHO IRON? Awwwwww, yeah, girl...I am OBSESSED with ironing. I purposely let my pile build, then I break out the Rowenta and my special spray starch and iron for 2 hours straight, while watching a movie. It's twofold...I don't feel guilty for watching shameless crap while my kids nap, and I hate to iron without having something juicy on. A win-win situation for all.
Yeah, we are flying our freak flags.
I agree with Lula...I like to let it pile up then watch a show off of my DVR or something while I iron. I still get to watch my show, but with much less guilt...and much nicer clothes! I usually end up doing my ironing on Saturday or Sunday since I work through the week & it does take me a while cause I iron lots of things! My husband thinks I'm crazy, but at least he looks nice!
ReplyDeleteI too, share your love of crisp, ironed clothes...but in a family of seven...we are an "iron as you go" family. Every.single.one.of my family irons their own as they go. Yes, even my 15 yr. old irons his own clothes!
ReplyDeleteMy method of ironing is to put things in the dryer and then pull them out immediately and either fold or hang them. I just HATE ironing. NEver learned the art of it.
ReplyDeleteMy hubby either irons his own work shirts or has them dry cleaned.
I'm such a bad wife sometimes.
Ok, blogger wasn't letting me post yesterday for whatever reason...
ReplyDeleteI don't iron. In fact, I buy only clothes that don't require ironing. BUT my mom loves to iron. She will take clothes of mine or the wee ones home with her just so she can iron them. And
I just maybe have called her a freak once or twice.
I have the will to iron, just not the skill. I burn items of clothing. Yes, I'm aware that this should be difficult to do, but somehow I manage to do it repeatedly!
ReplyDeleteBut...I DO love to wash baseboards.
Debbie,
ReplyDeleteRemember when I was at your house ironing Bob's clothes and there were these one pair of shorts that were awful so we decided to throw them out without telling him? Oops...bob, I just busted myself!
Favorite sister-in-law! hee hee! :)
Sorry dear. You are, in fact, a freak who irons. But I love you anyway. :-) The only time my iron gets used these days is when I'm hanging a new shower curtain.
ReplyDeleteThe last time I hung up new curtains, I drug out the iron and board. My 4-year old said, "Mommy, what is THAT?" Guess that tells you how often it gets used.
It's not that I walk around like a wrinkled mess. I don't buy too many clothes that need ironed. And I've mastered the art of pulling something out of the dryer while it's wet and hanging it so the wrinkles fall out. All of hubby's work clothes are wrinkle free.
Gina.......That is how I got peace and quiet from you kids too. None of you would come within a 20 foot radius of an iron.
ReplyDeleteI do not do it much anymore, but I do love the smell and feel of ironed clothes. My husband takes all of his work clothes to the cleaners now. I do not mind, I can find other things to do.
Yeah, Trish that was why. I liked to do the dishes also for the same reason. In a family that big, time to self was almost unheard of so I chose the jobs no one else would do which would give me peace and quiet I really craved at the time.
ReplyDeleteMy Husband can out iron me! ME I do not iron...throw it in the dryer if I want the wrinkles out. I did try once to iron some of the husbands clothes and well he asked me not to! IT was not good....I can cook....that is relaxing to me.
ReplyDeleteI wish.
ReplyDeleteI do not iron at all. I use that de-wrinkle spray and throw the clothes into the dryer. I also probably spend too much money on dry cleaning. ;)
ReplyDeleteNoooooo.... I don't iron ever. For any reason. My husband once took a shirt to Idaho for his mom to iron :)
ReplyDeleteNope .. I wear my wrinkles with pride :o)
ReplyDeleteBut my mom is a freak who irons .. she also finds it theraputic. Especially her napkins. She bought cloth napkins for a few reasons but on the top of her list was:
"I love ironing them."
*shakes head* I don't understand .. but then I would rather Febreze my stuff than wash it... I kid, of course .. ? :o)