Do you love ironing? I know some who do, they find it like a meditation... but for me, not my idea of a fun time! So I asked Bianca who is an expert on all things ironing to write me some tips to ease the ironing burden, as I'm sure that others may feel a little like me about this necessary chore (if you want to look polished, pulled-together and stylish).
Most of us have at some point have been faced a gargantuan pile of laundry that needed ironing. Just looking at it makes your heart drop into your shoes and you start to seriously question your life choices.
But iron you must! If you don't, co-workers and family members might look at you and wonder if you've truly given up and if they should actually start planning that intervention.
Thankfully, Ironing Lab has jumped in and put together a list of quick and easy hacks for us, to help you make the task quicker, easier and more fun!
1. Dodge the Ironing All Together
The best way to iron is to not iron at all. You can buy wrinkle-resistant clothing which eliminates (for the most part) the need to iron.
Choosing synthetic materials like polyester, nylon, rayon as well as some natural fabric like wool, cashmere or some denim blends, will drastically reduce ironing time.
Simply hanging the garments after a wash is usually enough to smooth out the wrinkles.
You could plan your wardrobe perfectly and never have to touch an iron! But what if you absolutely have to iron something... how can you make it easier, get it done faster and maybe even enjoy the experience? Here's tip number 2...
2. Netflix and Ironing?
Ironing is not rocket science and if you're comfortable enough with the distraction, the best way to pass the time is to get in some binge-watching on your favourite series. Even better, make it one you can enjoy alone without having to consider the rest of the family.
Before you know it, you'll be done with the ironing work and wishing there was more. Okay, let's not get too excited... it's not a magical solution, but it will help the time pass quicker.
Now let's look at some more technical ways to speed up the process.
3. Use Tons of Steam
Did you know that the steam actually does most of the ironing work? It conducts the heat from the iron into the fabric fibres causing them to soften and release the wrinkles much quicker. The more steam you use, the faster the whole process will be over and done with.
A good clothing iron with super high steam output will be your best friend here.
4. Iron Clothes Slightly Damp
As with the previous tip, if the clothes are slightly damp, the heat will penetrate the fabric much easier and the wrinkles will just melt away. Iron the clothes right after they leave the dryer (and before they're fully dried) and keep a spray bottle with water handy in case you need to re-dampen stubborn creases.
If you want to take it extra easy, a continuous mist spray bottle will take all the effort out of getting your clothes lightly damp before ironing. They work effortlessly and save you from having to continuously pump the sprayer of your iron each time you want to use it.
5. Cut Corners
A sneaky hack is to only iron the parts of the garment you can see. If you'll be wearing a dress shirt under a jacket, consider ironing only the front, the collar and the cuffs of the shirt.
As long as you don't remove your jacket, no one will ever know!
The same goes for cotton or linen shirts that will be worn under a sweater. Make sure it's a really light sweater so you're not tempted to remove it as the day warms up.
6. Start an Ironing Club
I know, I know... this idea seems crazy at first, but the more you consider it, the more it makes sense.
Ironing club is when you get together with some friends on a weekly basis and just fly through the ironing together rather than standing alone and miserable in your living room. You get to chat about anything and everything.
It's cheaper than therapy and might actually become something you look forward to. Why not try a different bottle of wine each week to add to the experience?
7. Lastly, Pick Your Battles
Many of us have been led to believe that if you really want to be "worth your salt" as a woman, housework has to be done by you and you alone.
Firstly, let's get over this misconception right here and now. It's your job to help delegate the work so that it gets done without anyone burning out.... that includes you! Don't let those teenage kids fool you either. They're perfectly capable of ironing a garment or two.
If your significant other is overworked and the kids are too busy studying, consider sending the laundry out to be ironed once in a while. It's a small price to pay for a great deal of sanity.
That's a Wrap
The last thing we need in our already busy lives is an ironing emergency the morning before a meeting. By implementing even one or two of the above tips, you'll prevent the ironing from getting ahead of you and the ironing you do end up doing will be less of a grudging chore.
