You usually find people either love or hate ironing. It can either be seen as a tedious chore which is usually left to the last possible minute, or a kind of semi-meditative relaxation technique, done to the sound of sea washing onto the beach! In either case, here are some words of wisdom for tackling the most monstrous of clothes piles:
- One of the main culprits for putting creases into your clothes in the first place is the spin cycle on washing machines. Some fabrics are prone to creasing if your spin cycle has a high rpm.
- If you iron your clothes whilst still slightly damp, this will usually give better results and they will be easier to iron. Tumble driers are good for getting a lot of the creases out of your items but it can be expensive to use them all year round.
- Bear in mind you could be stood in one place for hours on end depending on the amount of ironing your prepared to do, so make sure you’re wearing suitable footwear that is comfortable and preferably non slip. Take regular breaks if you need them but make sure you switch off the iron at these times, taking care that the flex isn’t left hanging where someone can trip on it.
- For large piles of laundry, a good quality steam generated iron from a reputable manufacture helps immensely. The iron is fairly light as all the water is in the base and you will get better effects as the steam output is usually higher than a normal iron. This also means you will get through your ironing much quicker too.
- There are ironing boards especially designed for steam generated irons, although a normal board can be used and the base put onto a table or countertop, as long as there is no pulling of the flex involved, and the iron can reach the furthest point of your ironing board easily. The iron should have non slip feet but placing onto a damp tea-towel will also help.
- The iron can build up with mineral deposits after a time, so check if it’s clean or it could cough up a load of brown gunk just when you’re in a rush to iron that blouse before you have to rush off to work. Following the manufacturers’ instructions as to the frequency of cleaning is always a good idea, and even better if you can get into the habit of doing so after each use.
- It is a good idea to use an ironing board with a reflective cover that reflects the heat from the iron. This basically means you are ironing the item on both sides at once as the heat is transferred through the fabric. If you need more padding on your ironing board, you could use a normal ironing board cover and then a reflective one over the top. Padded under-covers are also available to buy.
- After use, especially after large loads, give your ironing board a wipe underneath. If left damp, any water from the condensed steam can run into the joints and start to rust them.
- Don’t use an iron where the cord has been damaged or worn through. If you hear any kind of ‘sparking’ noises, switch of the iron immediately as they have been known to burst into flames (seriously it HAS happened!)
- Leave out ironed shirts or blouses for a while before putting them in a closet to make sure they are completely dry.
- Make sure you do your ironing well away from children and pets. Don’t leave the iron on unattended or have the cord where it could be caught by someone walking past.
- And last of all,why not just get an ironing service to do it for you, while you sit in the garden with a nice cold glass of Pinot Grigio.
This article was written by Maria Buzza.
How to do laundry video from Youtube
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