Ironing

nanasue

Morning all,
Hope you're all good and ready for a new week. I have a question, how do any of you cope with ironing. I find that I get bad pain in my back (mostly ribs) when I do the ironing, even after only doing a couple of items. My ironing board needs to be higher so I don't have to lean over so much, I'm not exceptionally tall (5' 6") so I get miffed as the board is at it's highest level, do the makers think we're all short. What I wanted to know is does anyone know if you can buy one that goes higher or can you get a gadget that makes it higher. I can't sit down to iron, I've tried that and I don't have anyone else to do it, OH can't iron, anyway i don't want to give up as it will just be another item on the list of things I can no longer do. Any answers/suggestions gratefully received, thanks.

Sue x

dreamdaisy

You may need to buy a new ironing board, catalogues tend to give the height range of each one, and go for the tallest you can get. A lighter iron could be another option, or how about four telephone directories, one under each foot of the board?

I have to iron sitting down now, there is no other option. It's not easy, far from it, but I am getting used to it. I now iron his stuff, and only do bits of mine as needed. DD

valval

to be honest have stopped doing lads stuff and oh fold it as soon as it dry and only do mine just before putting it on got to pack for hols in next couple of weeks and that going to take some planning holding the iron not great and ribs uncomphy so little and often only way val

woodbon

Yes, I find ironing seems to make my neck and hand very painful. I had to buy a new ironing board a while back and found one that you can pull up to exactly the height you need. It goes to a height that is too high for me to use, and I'm 5'4.

I tried sitting, but found that I kept having to move into awkward positions to use and it caused more pain than standing. Also, the physio told me, like everything, don't do too much at once. I know when I've overdone it and suffer for it, but if I'm careful its no worse than a lot of jobs - the only thing is that the ironing seems never to stop, and their are only 2 of us! Some people have a perch stool for the occupational health, but I've tried that and found it didn't work for me. Maybe, like a lot of things I give up, I lost patience before learning the nack!!! :oops:

Good luck, Love Sue xxx

bertyboy

hi Sue what about one of the press irons which is more folding just a thought x

woodbon

bertyboy wrote:

hi Sue what about one of the press irons which is more folding just a thought x

Yes, I saw one and thought it would be good, but pressed my fingers, so sent it back after 1 use :oops: !!! :oops: I think I need more patience! Love Sue

stickywicket

I've used a lightweight iron all my adult life and can't work ironing boards so I use a large table-top pad. Given that I iron as little as possible (a good wind will sort out a lot of everyday stuff) this works for me although I sometimes wish I could learn to love man-made fibres.

I can't manage more than 2-3 things without a break so I tend to set my stall out for the day and do a bit here and a bit there.

My best ironing days were before our younger son left home. He actually liked ironing so we had a trade off - I did his washing and he did my ironing. I benefitted twice as he had a tendency to put the washer on just as I was going to bed.

julie47

Sue I have an Ironing Press

It is brilliant, does my Ironing much quicker and neater than the iron.
I will admit that I have a belt on the handle to pull it down as my arms dont reach very high.
I have to sit when Ironing so the Ironing press is much easier for that too.

They do take some getting used to but they are brilliant for Creases in trousers, as I can never press an Iron hard enough and would end up with the dreaded tram liine.

Juliepf x

lalla

Hi Sue , can you use a perching stool? quite useful, also for when peeling veg ,ironing little and often helps also hanging clothes up /folding sheets etc straight from drier eliminates lots of creases. Take care Linda

frogmorton

My Ironing board is up all the time really....

well hubby takes it down every day because it's his side of the bed :oops:

So it's little and often for me too. With 5 of us ther's a lot of ironing here.



Toni xx

weejean

Hi Sue

I cant iron as my arms and hands ache so I cheat.... I use my tumble dryer all the time and fold the clothes when they are still warm. It works a treat. I dont seem to be much more for electricity and tend use it later at night as it is cheaper. The other benefit of this is that I also dont have to hang the clothes out on the line which I find totally exhausting. Living in Scotland it tends to rain all the time and you find yourself trotting in and out all day. My Mum is not a fan of the tumble dryer and loves her washing hung out but she also has problems with ironing. She bought one of the press irons and absolutely loves it. Hope you find a solution which suits you xx

traluvie

I iron sitting down too, would not be able to stand to iron, be falling down iron on top of me lol..#
Hope you manage to find solution..

pepperflo

Weejean I am the same as you, I tend to use my tumble dryer and then fold and put clothes away, but I do a small amount of ironing, but it does take me a while, and only small garments, my Husband does the bigger harder things if they need ironing.

nanasue

Thanks to all for your suggestions, unfortunately I don't have a tumble dryer (I used to when kids were at home) not worth it for me and OH. But thanks to G**gle I have found an ironing board that goes up to quite a high level (same as my worktop) in Arg** and not too expensive so I shall be trotting down there soon.

Sue x

weejean

Good Morning Sue

Hope the new ironing board helps out and you find it much easier and a lot less painful

pepperflo

Hope you have hours of pain free fun with your new toy Its surprising of all the new gadgets we have to buy due to our Arthritis, and that we took for granted all the normal every day things we can no longer use. Hope the new ironing board works for you x

dreamdaisy

Pepperflo is right, we replace perfectly good stuff with more perfectly good stuff just to help us. In the past couple of years I have replaced saucepans, the kettle, the iron, the board was three years ago, and all because of their weight. It is frustrating (and somewhat unjust) but if it helps then that is what matters. I hope the new board solves the current issues. DD

mouseymousey

My physio gave me a tip which may help, which is to put one foot on a phone book or anything like it to raise one leg.
I have a bit of a 'thing' about ironing, I have to do it all. I cope by doing a little washing every day/other day if I let it build up I find I can't cope.
Hope it helps.

hileena111

Hi
I do as little ironing as possible...fragile wash, out immediatley, iron with hands while damp then hang up on drier.....or if hubby is not about use the drier....he hates me using that unless it is necessary waste of money.
So the one I do have to iron I use my perch stool and the ironing board lower than normal....but still do it in bits and pieces......do a few bits and then go and relax or do something and get back to it later
Love
Hileena

valval

had to do holiday clothes today just did most of mine but had to sleep before going to work was exhausted hate ironing val

woodbon

I've got an ironing board that came from the same place as yours and goes high, its a lot less tiring, but need to get my husband to move in and out of the cupboard. It does help, but I still find it hard to do much at a time. My tumble dryer is quite good to use and fold, but it means bending and lifting the washing from one machine to the other, which I find a bit painful if I have the heavy stuff. Love Sue

madwestie

Sue I hope you got your new ironing board and it helps

I recently purchased a new one but I can't complain reall my old one was 21 years old I was amazed at how ta. Ll the new one goes and how much lighter it was
My occy health man old me not to iron anything bu hubby wears proper shirts to work and he says he tmbe dryer shrinks them
My favourite is I bought a steam generator iron it I a revelationi only have to iron suit trousers on one side the constant steam irons the otherwise which is great. The iron I much lighter to as no water in it. I did have an ironing press years ago and it was great for trousers and tee shirt but harder for blouses(they are a thing of the past now too many buttons) and shirts

I hope you are getting on well with your new ironing board

Tracey