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Ironing for beginners......
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Can anyone give me advice on which iron to buy (preferably on t'internet or from Argos) and is a bigger ironing board better?
Up until now I've always given my unironed stuff to a mates mum to do - she was cheap and did a really cracking job but unfortunately she's moved abroad. :rolleyes:
I'd also be very grateful for any tips when doing the ironing too.
Many thanks in advance
Up until now I've always given my unironed stuff to a mates mum to do - she was cheap and did a really cracking job but unfortunately she's moved abroad. :rolleyes:
I'd also be very grateful for any tips when doing the ironing too.
Many thanks in advance
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Tips on ironing? Get a tumble drier, wash clothes with fabric softener and immediately throw them in the tumble drier when done, then before the drier stops pull the laundry out and put on hanger. Throw away the iron
Seriously though it really is just a case of laying item flat and running the iron over for most things. Just pay attention to the temperature settings which will be on each garment.
Expect to pay around the £35 mark. Something like the Phillips or a Tefal - I had a Tefal before, well 2 or 3 - I have a nasty habit of knocking them onto the floor. I'd say the Phillips is the best so far though. Easy glide, straight forward controls, good steam etc.
Go too cheap and it will make the chore of ironing so much more painful and too expensive, much more to go wrong - or like my neighbour, too heavy to lift. The cordless are rubbish, they go cold too quickly.
Just taken a quick peek at Argos and they haven't got the model I have they do have one called Philips Easycare Steam Iron which looks very similar for £39.99.
As far as ironing boards are concerned, an ironing board is just an ironing board to me I'm afraid. They all look the same except some do look sturdier than others. If you have the space then maybe a wider one would be easier. I have just found the softer the cushioning on the top the better, but then its easy enough to find an ironing board cover if you need extra padding. Having a look at Argos it all depends really how much you want to spend. There are ones that look just fine for around £16 but go up to £30 odd for the more deluxe versions.
When you are ready for some tips give us a shout, although I find everyone kind of learns their own way of doing things and some are more meticulous. than others - I'm a 'oh that'll do kind' of gal. lol Happy to help, it just might be much easier to be shown at first.
Just don't put neat tram lines in your jeans lol. Shiny materials may melt - turn the heat right down and test on an inconspicuous area first. Some trousers may go shiny - iron them inside out if necessary. Even better - find someone to do your ironing for you again.
I must get the make of my cordless for you, it really doesn't go cold too quickly at all. Maybe if you ironed sheets and the like (fortunately I pay for them to get done!) but for shirts its great.
I bought a proper steam generator iron and it made all the difference. The pressure from the steam cuts through the hardest creases and makes it so much quicker to iron clothes. The only downside is that it takes longer to warm up than a standard iron, but a full tank will give you about 2 hours constant ironing. As the water is kept in a separate tank the iron is quite light.
I paid about £65 for mine, but they've come down in price a lot ( I think you can get one for about £40 in Asda). The time i've saved is well worth it!
Edit: Argos have this one in clearance - reduced from £50 to £19.99 http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4109536/Trail/C%24cip%3D42001.Kitchen%2Band%2Blaundry%3EC%24cip%3D44804.Clearance%2BKitchen%2Band%2Blaundry.htm
Wow that looks good value - anyone else got one of these?
Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions so far
I was always led to believe you got better results ironing on a hotter temperature and this is what I have always done but have heard people say this isn't the case...........
Any comments, suggestions and advice welcome
However it will be easier if you just look at this.
Do you realise OP that you dragged up an almost seven year old thread?
Still, I suppose ironing is ironing whatever year it's done, although some fabrics/fashions/irons may vary.
You may have been joking but I am a big advocate of this. I take items out of the tumble when they are slightly damp and then hang them up. 9 times out of 10, they don't need ironing and those that do barely need it.
* I do realise this is a very old thread, as is the post I am replying to.
I think I'll try this in the future. I spent 4 1/2 hours yesterday ironing, bloody boring.
Collar
Sleeves
Back
Front
I had that drilled into me by my mum, - must have scarred me though, as i no longer possess an iron.
We've got a Bosch something or other, cost about £40 from Currys. One thing you want to watch out for is how big the water fill hole is. Some are minute and you waste ages drizzling water into the body. Get one with a good sized filler.
don`t start what you can`t finish.
don`t start at all just put it in the drier damp.
i only use an iron for sewing.
Lol I haven't used mine in a year.
I dry everything on a clothes horse, and hang it up, straight away when dry, no space for an ironing basket.
Non iron school clothes are great!
I recommend a good iron which has a good steam output &
Shot of steam. This is important when ironing linen and cotton items.
I learned from experience not buy an iron with steam buttons which stick out as a certainclumsy person knocked it off the ironing board and the buttons snapped and broke, all within a day of buying the iron!.
Do not simply go for a cheap iron unless you like wearing creased clothing and spending ages attempting to remove the creases, this is both frustrating and unproductive.
Do not buy the liquid fragrance stuff from supermarket, it will pong your iron out and make unpleasant to iron.
Iron cotton and linen when slightly damp as it makes ironing easier.
Always test the iron on theironing board before ironing thin delicate fabrics or they may stick to the iron.
When ironing certain items such as trousers, use a thin scarf over the top, unless you like shiny bits. This happens when trying to remove double crease lines down the centre.
When ironing shirt hems, do not iron in one direction only as the thin hem which get bends in it.
When ironing shirts iron sleeves first, then use the end of the board to iron the area around the shoulders before ironing the rest of it, iron the inside not outside.
If I think of anymore i'll let you know.
The OP might now be married and his good lady wife might be doing all his ironing for him ..
That's such a sexist attitude, I no longer iron as my good gentleman husband does it all.
are you replying in 1950?