| Thread Number: 40485
Who Still Irons? |
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Post# 598978 5/25/2012 at 23:40 (358 days old) by AutoWasherFreak  (Davenport, Iowa) |
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  I washed my bedroom curtains a few days ago, and they are 100% cotton, and no matter what cycle I use, they come out of the dryer looking like they have sat in the dryer for weeks. I decided this time I was going to iron them, first time I've used an iron in years. I think the last time I used an iron was when I printed my own iron on decals that I designed for Christmas gifts one year.
If you still iron, what all do you iron? | ||
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| Post# 598980 , Reply# 1 5/25/2012 at 23:55 (358 days old) by rickr (as da hood turns...) | ||
 I have a silk tablecloth that we use during the holidays. So it is ironed after laundering. That is all I iron. So I use the iron once a year. Timot irons his jeans, shirts, even tee shirts. I just roll my eyes. I do the laundry, and I get the stuff out of the dryer right away and hang then up. But he likes his stuff ironed. I say, "iron your lil heart out, cause this one ain't doing it"
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Post# 598983 , Reply# 2 5/26/2012 at 00:15 (358 days old) by Supersuds (Knoxville, Tenn.) |
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| Post# 598988 , Reply# 3 5/26/2012 at 01:00 (358 days old) by hoovermatic (UK) | ||
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.........dress shirts (minimum 5 a week but this week 10 as have been in a show at the theatre, linen table napkins, tee-shirts, hankerchiefs, tea towels, duvet covers pillowcases......................am I MAD???????? | ||
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Post# 598990 , Reply# 4 5/26/2012 at 01:06 (358 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia) |
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| Post# 598992 , Reply# 5 5/26/2012 at 01:11 (358 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea)) | ||
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Not since early 1969. I hang shirts faintly damp out of the dryer and they iron themselves. | ||
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Post# 598993 , Reply# 6 5/26/2012 at 01:14 (358 days old) by Launderess (La Pomme Grande) |
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Post# 599037 , Reply# 8 5/26/2012 at 07:32 (357 days old) by paulg (My sweet home... Chicago) |
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 I iron a shirt for work. I'll also iron the T-shirt just a little. I keep the ironing board in the master bath.
Also, All dress shirts Cotton pants Shorts (I iron them so they aren't wacky-wrinkly) Napkins Tablecloths Neckties, sometimes (yes, I am careful) I rotate my irons. Current favorite - the 1970's Sunbeam Jewel Shot of Steam. Spares, 1970s GE, 1970s Sunbeam standard and 1960's Hoover. | ||
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Post# 599038 , Reply# 9 5/26/2012 at 07:36 (357 days old) by westingman123 (st louis,mo) |
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| Post# 599067 , Reply# 11 5/26/2012 at 12:16 (357 days old) by bosch2460 (Harrisonburg, VA) | ||
 I iron weekly. I typically iron any shirt with a collar, the occasional tablecloth or napkins, or curtains if necessary. I wear at least one dress shirt and a pair of Dockers-type pants every day. I hate ironing pants, and do everything in my power to prevent me having to iron them. Speaking of ironing...I need a new one. Any suggestions on a really good iron that I do not have to sell my soul to afford?
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Post# 599068 , Reply# 12 5/26/2012 at 12:32 (357 days old) by stainfighter (Columbia, SC) |
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 after having two Rowentas give up, conveniently right after warranty ran out of course, went back to buying Sunbeam. We consider it to be pretty good for the price, it has outlived its warranty by two years (!) more than we can say about Rowenta. Steam blast is strong (though not strong enough to vertically steam for more than a second or so) - others may have different recommendations for you...
I like the look of a smooth dress shirt, even the 'no-iron' type gets a quick spray of sizing on the inside of front panels followed by Faultless heavy on the outside, gives them that professionally laundered look and lasts the occasional 12-hour day | ||
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Post# 599074 , Reply# 13 5/26/2012 at 13:57 (357 days old) by polkanut (Wausau, WI ) |
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My suggestion would be to check your local thrift stores or estate sales. An older iron will usually have lots of life left in it, is better quality, and most often cheaper than new. | ||
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Post# 599088 , Reply# 14 5/26/2012 at 15:21 (357 days old) by super32 (Rhode Island) |
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 @ Stainfighter......guess im not the only one who has been thru a few Rowentas! FPOS! Im currently on my 3rd which so far has lasted about 5yrs now. Its a steam generator as the other 2 were just standard irons.
I iron buisiness casual clothes if im in my corporate office and i do iron most of my "nice" or "casual" shirts. All of my dress pants come out of the dryer looking absolutly flawless. I usually have to iron for my partner as he is not quite as picky as i am. Im kinda sad to see the TV show Desparate Housewives go. That was my show of choice while ironing 25 shirts at one time. | ||
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Post# 599092 , Reply# 15 5/26/2012 at 15:47 (357 days old) by dishwasherfan (Phoenix, AZ) |
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Post# 599102 , Reply# 16 5/26/2012 at 17:05 (357 days old) by paulg (My sweet home... Chicago) |
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I did have a Rowenta at one point. It worked well and outlived its warranty. When it failed it shot black crap through the steam jets onto my clothes. Didn't like that but nobody guarantees that a unit will fail in a pleasant manner. All in all, it was an OK iron good for a few years.
However the 1975 Sunbeam Jewel Shot of Steam works just as well if not better and has lasted longer. They aren't hard to find on Ebay and the like. | ||
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Post# 599104 , Reply# 17 5/26/2012 at 17:09 (357 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA) |
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| Post# 599108 , Reply# 18 5/26/2012 at 17:30 (357 days old) by LordKenmore (WA) | ||
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| Post# 599110 , Reply# 19 5/26/2012 at 17:39 (357 days old) by LordKenmore (WA) | ||
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I'll also put in a vote for older irons. I have heard too many people who iron a lot say how much better things got when they bought vintage.
I'm not sure how old my iron is. It's a GE, US made. But it's new enough not to have the cloth-style cord. What I can for certain: it's heavier and more solid feeling than any modern iron I've used. I got it on clearance at Goodwill just to play with, having heard about how good vintage irons were. One use, I was sold. The Rowenta I'd been using (and which had been better than many modern irons) went out the door. | ||
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Post# 599117 , Reply# 20 5/26/2012 at 18:17 (357 days old) by ptcruiser51 (New Jersey) |
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 Just about everything except sheets, towels sox and underoos. Fire up the Proctor-Silex "Steam Master" with distilled water (or at this time of the year, water from the dehumidifier). Set up the ironing board (vented) in the dining room facing the TV, tune in the Mets game and go to town. To me, it's one of the most relaxing things I do all week. A little shot of Niagara Spray Starch here and there and I'm good to go. Done in about an hour.
I know, I know. "Mfr. says use tap water". Let me tell you, this is my third iron in 30+ years, the first two had the cord short-out. It beats having lime/calcium scale build up on the sole plate and leave deposits on my white shirts. | ||
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Post# 599128 , Reply# 21 5/26/2012 at 18:46 (357 days old) by mixfinder (Stuart Mountains) |
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 I iron anything cotton, linen and silk and touch up most permanent press and some knits. I am lucky enough to have an upstairs laundry next to the master with cabinets, closet, room to leave the ironing board and iron up and also room for a clothes rack to dry special items. I love doing laundry and iron almost everything. It helps to pull items from the dryer just a few moments before done and press them while still damp. I have a newer Rowenta and a Sunbeam Shot of Steam from the 70's. Both irons have been 100% dependable but the Rowenta has a slightly larger foot print. 
This post was last edited 05/27/2012 at 00:03 | ||
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Post# 599133 , Reply# 22 5/26/2012 at 19:49 (357 days old) by dynaflow (rockingham nc) |
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Post# 599141 , Reply# 24 5/26/2012 at 21:05 (357 days old) by ozzie908 (Lincoln UK) |
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 I have to admit I enjoy ironing and as my other half wears a white shirt to work most days then they need doing.
Plus I do like the way clothes look when ironed I even go so far as to starch shirts and table linen it looks so much better. I too have a Rowenta steam generator and I use a vented board thats extra wide and long. I have an ironing room with racks in front the board and a wall to wall rail for all hangers. Austin | ||
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Post# 599183 , Reply# 25 5/26/2012 at 23:12 (357 days old) by Launderess (La Pomme Grande) |
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If your modern iron's owner's manual states to use tap water, then distilled can cause problems. Many new and some vintage irons have systems to deal with all but the hardest water and actually *need* the mineral content.
Use distilled water in my commercial pump and steam boiler irons, also in my vintage Presto "vapo steam" irons. Everything else gets tap. | ||
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Post# 599186 , Reply# 26 5/26/2012 at 23:42 (357 days old) by Frigilux (the open prairie of Minnesota) |
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Post# 599218 , Reply# 27 5/27/2012 at 07:10 (356 days old) by AutoWasherFreak (Davenport, Iowa) |
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| Post# 600319 , Reply# 28 6/1/2012 at 14:08 (351 days old) by abcomatic (Bradford, Illinois) | ||
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NO, I don't like it at all. I only iron if i must and that is leaning towards the never idea. Gary | ||
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Post# 600386 , Reply# 29 6/1/2012 at 19:11 (351 days old) by petek (Sarnia Ontario) |
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| Post# 600393 , Reply# 30 6/1/2012 at 20:09 (351 days old) by omono (australia) | ||
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Post# 600407 , Reply# 31 6/1/2012 at 21:24 (351 days old) by oldskool (Kansas City, MO) |
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I prefer all shirts for work be ironed; just a more professional appearance. Slacks occasionally when needed; usually fine from dryer. I recently bought a "mangle" Ironrite for $40 in great shape but don't have a clue as to how to use the thing. Any instructions or tips would be appreciated. John | ||
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