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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: Monoriu on June 16, 2009, 09:50:19 PM

Title: What do you iron first?
Post by: Monoriu on June 16, 2009, 09:50:19 PM
I've been locked in the great ironing debate with my mother in law recently. 

Basically, we don't iron the clothes immediately after they are washed.  They are put in a post-wash zone for a few days.  When "ironing day" comes, my priority is to clear the post-wash zone as quickly as I can.  Clothes that are left in the zone for too long become smelly, especially if they are not dried 100%.  That means, bed sheets get top priority, because they occupy the most space and are the most difficult the dry. 

Suits get the lowest priority, because they are dry cleaned and don't get into the zone in the first place.  For me, the purpose of ironing is to facilitate storage, to keep the clothes dry and to reduce space required. 

MIL adopts a completely different view.  She is an ironing maniac, and thinks that even pajamas and underwear need to be ironed.  In her ideal world, everything I wear should be ironed the day before I wear them. 

Her criteria is very simple.  Whatever that could be seen receives top priority.  For her, ironing is to make us look good.  Things that cannot be seen receives the lowest priority.  In other words, suits get the highest priority, while bed sheets get the lowest, exactly the opposite of me  <_<
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Neil on June 16, 2009, 09:51:41 PM
Null vote:  I'm married.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Grey Fox on June 16, 2009, 09:52:10 PM
Null vote: Don't own anything worth Ironing (or actually wear it).
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: sbr on June 16, 2009, 09:54:24 PM
Why would you iron bedsheets?  get them completely dry and either fold them up or put them back ont he bed to get wrinkled again.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Monoriu on June 16, 2009, 09:56:44 PM
Quote from: sbr on June 16, 2009, 09:54:24 PM
Why would you iron bedsheets?  get them colpletely dry and either fold them up or put them back ont he bed to get wrinkled again.

Because -

1. Bed sheets that are not ironed are difficult to fold
2. Bed sheets that are ironed occupy much less space, a precious commodity for me
3. Bed sheets are extremely difficult to dry.  Ironing ensures that they are properly dried.  I don't want to sleep in a smelly bed.  It is not hygenic.

I have 7 sets of bed sheets and duvet covers. Each set is numbered and is used on a strictly rotational basis.  Given that each set occupies the bed for two weeks, it'll be 14 weeks, or over 3 months, before each set is used again.  I therefore cannot "put them back on the bed again".
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: sbr on June 16, 2009, 10:07:31 PM
Quote from: Monoriu on June 16, 2009, 09:56:44 PM
Quote from: sbr on June 16, 2009, 09:54:24 PM
Why would you iron bedsheets?  get them colpletely dry and either fold them up or put them back ont he bed to get wrinkled again.

Because -

1. Bed sheets that are not ironed are difficult to fold
2. Bed sheets that are ironed occupy much less space, a precious commodity for me
3. Bed sheets are extremely difficult to dry.  Ironing ensures that they are properly dried.  I don't want to sleep in a smelly bed.  It is not hygenic.

I have 7 sets of bed sheets and duvet covers. Each set is numbered and is used on a strictly rotational basis.  Given that each set occupies the bed for two weeks, it'll be 14 weeks, or over 3 months, before each set is used again.  I therefore cannot "put them back on the bed again".

That's fair.  I haven't had much problem getting my sheets completely dry or storing them in a closet so I have never even attempted to iron my sheets.

I currently own one set of sheets (thanks to my cat thinking it was a good idea to shit on my bed twice in one month), I wash and dry them then put them right back on.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Martinus on June 17, 2009, 01:41:36 AM
I iron them as I need them. Can't be arsed to do "ironing sessions". :P
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Barrister on June 17, 2009, 01:55:40 AM
I had to iron some of my barrister's shirts a couple of months ago (they have a very particular collar, and french cuffs, to go along with barristers robes).

I had to absolutely hunt down our iron.  Turns out it had never been unpacked since we moved 2 1/2 years ago.

:lol:
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on June 17, 2009, 02:16:09 AM
Bedsheets, pants, t-shirts and shirts.

What goes first depends on what there is.

and EVE-mining while ironing is a good idea. :p
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Alatriste on June 17, 2009, 02:21:39 AM
I don't do my own ironing, I pay a cleaning lady to do those chores...

[You are invited to gape with awe and amazement as the Spaniards demonstrate the wonders of Work Specialization (that, and Romanian immigration). WARNING: Absolutely no scribes will be allowed.]

Now, I wash clothes the day before she comes to my flat, so everything is ironed roughly 12-18 hours after being washed.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: syk on June 17, 2009, 02:39:53 AM
About once a year I iron a shirt.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Jos Theelen on June 17, 2009, 03:13:08 AM
I don't iron. I hang them when they are still wet. That removes most of the wrinkles.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Martinus on June 17, 2009, 03:13:39 AM
I am now between cleaning ladies (the last one went back to Ukraine). The new one I will hire will need to iron stuff too, because I can't stand doing it every morning. :P
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Brazen on June 17, 2009, 04:57:48 AM
Quote from: Monoriu on June 16, 2009, 09:56:44 PM
Because -

1. Bed sheets that are not ironed are difficult to fold
2. Bed sheets that are ironed occupy much less space, a precious commodity for me
3. Bed sheets are extremely difficult to dry.  Ironing ensures that they are properly dried.  I don't want to sleep in a smelly bed.  It is not hygenic.

I have 7 sets of bed sheets and duvet covers. Each set is numbered and is used on a strictly rotational basis.  Given that each set occupies the bed for two weeks, it'll be 14 weeks, or over 3 months, before each set is used again.  I therefore cannot "put them back on the bed again".
1. Get rid of 5 sets of bed clothes.
2. Tumble dry and hang until completely dry.
3. Put away without ironing now you have room to keep them.

Also change your bed clothes every week, Mister Stinky.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Caliga on June 17, 2009, 05:07:32 AM
No need to iron anymore.  My wardrobe is: 100% polyester.  :cool:

My suits are wool, but the dry cleaner takes care of those.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: CountDeMoney on June 17, 2009, 05:14:45 AM
Null vote: a family of Koreans do it for me at the dry cleaners.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: CountDeMoney on June 17, 2009, 05:24:54 AM
Quote from: Monoriu on June 16, 2009, 09:50:19 PM
I've been locked in the great ironing debate with my mother in law recently. 

Basically, we don't iron the clothes immediately after they are washed.  They are put in a post-wash zone for a few days.  When "ironing day" comes, my priority is to clear the post-wash zone as quickly as I can.  Clothes that are left in the zone for too long become smelly, especially if they are not dried 100%.  That means, bed sheets get top priority, because they occupy the most space and are the most difficult the dry. 

Suits get the lowest priority, because they are dry cleaned and don't get into the zone in the first place.  For me, the purpose of ironing is to facilitate storage, to keep the clothes dry and to reduce space required. 

MIL adopts a completely different view.  She is an ironing maniac, and thinks that even pajamas and underwear need to be ironed.  In her ideal world, everything I wear should be ironed the day before I wear them. 

Her criteria is very simple.  Whatever that could be seen receives top priority.  For her, ironing is to make us look good.  Things that cannot be seen receives the lowest priority.  In other words, suits get the highest priority, while bed sheets get the lowest, exactly the opposite of me  <_<

Do us a favor, Mono.  Drop us advance word or a PM or something, so when you finally pop and make MSNBC's front page for your inevitable killing spree and incredible, defies- the-laws-of-physics suicide, we want to know it was you.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Zanza on June 17, 2009, 06:06:30 AM
My shirts and suits are ironed by someone else at the laundry. I am too lazy to iron anything else. So no order at all.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: BVN on June 17, 2009, 06:42:50 AM
I think I tried to iron three times in my life. I think it's best I not try again...
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Josquius on June 17, 2009, 07:05:47 AM
I....ro.....n.....?
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: DisturbedPervert on June 17, 2009, 07:11:21 AM
I don't iron anything.  Either my girlfriend or the laundry service in my apartment does it.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Ed Anger on June 17, 2009, 07:37:36 AM
An ironing board is an unstable platform to have sex on.

Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Grey Fox on June 17, 2009, 07:48:24 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on June 17, 2009, 07:37:36 AM
An ironing board is an unstable platform to have sex on.

Is first hand experience why you have a bum leg?
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Ed Anger on June 17, 2009, 07:52:51 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on June 17, 2009, 07:48:24 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on June 17, 2009, 07:37:36 AM
An ironing board is an unstable platform to have sex on.

Is first hand experience why you have a bum leg?

That was falling off a turnip truck. Keep up.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: saskganesh on June 17, 2009, 09:38:29 AM
hanging clothes> ironing.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Valmy on June 17, 2009, 10:30:50 AM
I never iron.  I do not even own an iron.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Monoriu on June 17, 2009, 10:33:09 AM
Err, I am not very big into appearance, but even I can't wear dress shirts to work without ironing them first  :lol:
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Valmy on June 17, 2009, 10:34:38 AM
Quote from: Monoriu on June 17, 2009, 10:33:09 AM
Err, I am not very big into appearance, but even I can't wear dress shirts to work without ironing them first  :lol:

I wash them, I hand them up and they dry with no wrinkles.

Also this is Texas I could show up to the office in jeans and a T-shirt and nobody would say anything about it.  I just have this silly antiquated belief about looking professional.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: crazy canuck on June 17, 2009, 10:49:16 AM
I dont understand how you cant dry your sheets.  I can understand that you dont have the luxury of being able to hang them to dry but doesnt your dryer work properly or are you just overloading your dryer?

The only thing that I ever iron is my work shirts.  A task I do about once every two weeks.  Iron a bunch and I am good to go for another couple weeks.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: lustindarkness on June 17, 2009, 12:52:28 PM
I just pull the clothes out of the drier. Ironing bedsheets?!  :lol:
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: DGuller on June 17, 2009, 01:07:42 PM
I only buy iron-free shirts and slacks.  Nothing else needs to be ironed.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Mr.Penguin on June 17, 2009, 01:20:58 PM
If I ever iron my bedsheets (I dont... ;)), would I use the large rolling iron in the laundry. Otherwise the only thing I iron is shirts and that only right before use..
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: PRC on June 17, 2009, 01:33:52 PM
Ironing is an insidious and nefarious chore.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: MadImmortalMan on June 17, 2009, 02:14:39 PM
You can hang up clothes for several days and they still won't be dry? What kind of humid hell is that, anyway?  :(
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Iormlund on June 17, 2009, 04:41:06 PM
Like my fellow Spaniard Alatriste, I pay a Romanian cleaning lady to do things like that.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: DisturbedPervert on June 17, 2009, 05:14:28 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on June 17, 2009, 02:14:39 PM
You can hang up clothes for several days and they still won't be dry? What kind of humid hell is that, anyway?  :(

Thailand is about as humid as Hong Kong, and the few times I've washed my own clothes instead of using the illegal immigrant Burmese to do it for me, they've dried very quickly.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Monoriu on June 17, 2009, 08:20:11 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on June 17, 2009, 10:49:16 AM
I dont understand how you cant dry your sheets.  I can understand that you dont have the luxury of being able to hang them to dry but doesnt your dryer work properly or are you just overloading your dryer?

The only thing that I ever iron is my work shirts.  A task I do about once every two weeks.  Iron a bunch and I am good to go for another couple weeks.

First of all, you need to understand that Hong Kong is far more humid than Vancouver. 

Second, dryers don't dry the bed sheets to 100%.  This is intentional.  Bed sheets are often made of cotton, which shrinks if it is heated too much. 
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Sheilbh on June 17, 2009, 08:35:57 PM
Suits don't get ironed.  It can damage the structure of the suit (TAILOR POWER! :w00t:) and should be left to professionals.  Shirts should be ironed when they come out of the wash or at least when they're still damp, it's a lot easier and if you don't then I recommend spraying the shirt to dampen them while you iron.  Formal non-suit trousers should be ironed.

Apart from that I iron nothing.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: katmai on June 17, 2009, 10:35:50 PM
I keep reading title as Iron Fist, and wondering where Power Man is. :(
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: garbon on June 17, 2009, 11:51:45 PM
Quote from: katmai on June 17, 2009, 10:35:50 PM
I keep reading title as Iron Fist, and wondering where Power Man is. :(

I kept thinking the same thing! :hug:
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: jimmy olsen on June 18, 2009, 12:15:59 AM
Quote from: katmai on June 17, 2009, 10:35:50 PM
I keep reading title as Iron Fist, and wondering where Power Man is. :(
:o I thought I was the only one!
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Grey Fox on June 18, 2009, 06:14:06 AM
We're a bunch of Nerds.
Title: Re: What do you iron first?
Post by: Slargos on June 18, 2009, 06:38:57 AM
Clearly the first priority is Germany, then any of its client states that are under-supplied.

If at all possible, I want to avoid ironing Soviet Russia but since the objective is to strengthen the economy, I will iron them aswell if it comes to that.