Ironing for most people isn’t the most enjoyable chore in the world, and especially in the UK, with the British voting ironing as their least favourite household chore per Tombola!
This is why so many are trying to discover hacks to considerably reduce ironing time, allowing you to enjoy the things you actually love doing.
Fortunately, we have come up with some expert tips and tricks that will dramatically reduce your ironing time without sacrificing the quality of your ironing either. In fact, if you follow these tips you will likely notice an increase in the quality of your ironing.
By following these steps you will not only reduce your ironing time considerably, but you will almost completely remove any excess creases or wrinkles in your clothes too. Let’s find out how to iron quickly, efficiently, and effectively.
Wash and Dry Intelligently
Yes, this sounds pretty obvious but you would be shocked at how many people prolong their ironing time by simply not washing their clothes properly. We have been told for years to use the highest spin speed for quicker drying of clothes, and yes, whilst this does reduce drying time, it is not good for reducing ironing time.
This is because a lower washing machine spin speed will reduce the number of wrinkles your clothes and bedsheets have when you take them out of the machine. Another tip is to remove your clothes from the washing machine as soon as it has finished its cycle and give them a good shake out and smoothing over with your hands. This will also help alleviate the creases while your clothes are still damp and before they are dried.
Another big no-no when it comes to your washing machine habits is to not overload it with too many clothes, sheets, or towels. Many people do this to reduce the number of washes you need to do but this does not allow your clothes much room in the washing machine, and the more you load up, the more creased everything will get.
When it comes to drying, many people do not have the ability to dry outside in the sun (except mostly in the summer), but if you have decent weather and the space or garden to do so, then take advantage of this by putting your laundry out on the line to dry. You should peg from the bottom of your garments or sheets so the creases drop out of the material rather than hanging your clothes or sheets completely over the line.
If you are unable to dry clothes outside and have an inside drier, then we recommend laying your clothes as flat as possible with plenty of space between your other clothes to give them the best chance of de-wrinkling. You can also hang them on a clothes airer in much the same way you would from a washing line, pegging from the bottom.
Be Careful When Shopping For Clothes
It is easy to go shopping and pick clothes that look the best and suit your particular style; however, you must consider the material before making any purchase. If you are not a fan of long, fussy ironing, then we advise you to check the fabric makeup of item you are looking to buy. For example, wool, polyester, and knits do not crease as easily, so would be good options. Additionally, fabrics that are blended are much less prone to creasing too, for example, polycotton is less likely to badly crease than 100% cotton. If you are a fan of linen clothes, you might not be a fan of ironing them! Avoid 100% linen clothes if you don’t want to spend hours at the ironing board.
Tumble Drying Hacks
This advisory is pretty sneaky, and not many people know about it. If you discover a creased garment, then splash a little bit of water onto those creases or use a water sprayer and put it in the tumble dryer. Literally, after just 5-10 few minutes in the dryer, the creases should have gone, or at least drastically reduced to make your ironing that much quicker!
Another lesser-known tumble dryer tip is to add an ice cube to the load, this will melt and produce steam when the dryer is on, which will help with those stubborn wrinkles.
Cleaning Your Iron
Many people overlook the importance of regularly cleaning your iron, which should be performed periodically. The buildup of limescale can stop your iron from working at its optimal best, can slow down the speed you can iron at, and can even damage clothes by spitting sediment and dirt onto your freshly washed garments.
It is pivotal that you clean your iron on a regular basis and most modern steam irons will help you with the process too, with their self-cleaning or anti-calc features. An iron cleaning tip would be to pour both white vinegar and water into the iron chamber, switch it on, and let the steam out for 5 to 10 minutes until the vinegar has evaporated. Fill up the iron’s reservoir with fresh or filtered water and steam out again until the vinegar residue has gone, and then wipe the iron’s base and steam vents clean. We also advise after doing this to run your iron for a few minutes over an old tea towel or similar to get rid of any sediment that might still be in your iron.
You must always read the manual of your iron as the manufacturer may suggest using something else rather than vinegar, so check that out before cleaning. Also, if you live in an area with particularly “hard water”, then consider using filtered water rather than tap water in your iron, it will increase its efficiency and drastically reduce any calc build-up.
Do Not Go For The Cheap Options
It is easy to think about saving money when it comes to ironing, because, let’s be honest, it isn’t fun. So, why spend loads of money on an iron that you despise using? Because it will speed up your ironing time and improve the quality of your ironing!
Investing in a good steam generator iron will actually save you a lot of time and money in the long run as you will not need to purchase one again any time soon, and your ironing will be slick, and performed quickly!
Conclusion and Bonus Tips
In conclusion, speeding up your ironing is not about simply performing the tasks quicker, it is about intelligently planning your laundry washing and drying before you go near an iron, to make the entire process more efficient.
If you follow these tips you will almost certainly reduce the time you spend at your ironing board. A bonus tip and something that everyone should keep in mind – ironing garments when they are slightly damp is highly recommended for not only good results, but quicker ironing time due to the creases not being completely dry and easily ironed out.
I am a content strategist and the administrator of this website. Professionally, I am an assistant Electronics professor at the University of Chester. I love to read about my profession and have a lot of interest in various home electronics appliances. Freely contact us if you have any queries regarding steam irons and other electronic devices.