# Ironing Out Excess Time

Category: Daily Living

## Post 1 by Raskolnikov (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Tuesday, 03-Jun-2014 4:16:20

I must admit, ironing clothes used to be personally rewarding for me, back when doing so killed no less than forty-five minutes to an hour. What’s more, solutions to many of life’s problems came to me this way. But it now takes that same amount of time to iron a single shirt and pair of trousers, and honestly speaking, that’s simply unpleasant and unacceptable.
I do have my closet neatly organized and plan what I’ll be wearing throughout the week.
There must be some other method to expedite the process. Resorting to the kinds of stratagems used in the Big House, such as carefully spreading out a pair of jeans and shirt beneath the mat on one’s bunk and counting on sheer body weight during the hours of sleep, seems sensible. At this point, any ideas are welcome.
Back in the day when I was sighted ironing was a great pastime. I’d use starch and at times other imaginative ways to make the creases as sharp and long-lasting as possible. I could probably have caused heads to roll with those razor blade creases with a roundhouse kick. Nowadays I settle for starch, steam, lint remover, and a spray bottle, but without sight, the whole task is frustratingly time-consuming. I’m afraid getting the perfect crisp creases running down the middle of the pant legs is something I’ll have to sacrifice for lack of time and patience.
Maybe someone on here has a knack for getting rid of unwanted wrinkles. Ironing one’s clothes should not last late into the night.
Taking my threads to the dry cleaners to have them pressed also involves some unsanitary as well as economic issues I refuse to deal with.

## Post 2 by DevilishAnthony (Just go on and agree with me. You know you want to.) on Tuesday, 03-Jun-2014 12:22:45

I haven't ironed in years, but I had to do it in order to pass my home management class back in highschool, and since I did the best job of anyone in the class, I won a pair of pants for my effort. It was a great learning experience and was actually fun, but even though I have plenty of time to kill now, I just don't see the point, plus, now that I haven't done it in so long, I'm afraid of getting the iron too hot or letting it run too dry and then possibly damaging my clothes and not knowing it until someone says something about it in public. but have you ever tried one of those travel irons that you can use while the clothes are hanging up? Wonder if it would give you some simblence of the results you want but in less time.

## Post 3 by forereel (Just posting.) on Wednesday, 04-Jun-2014 15:43:22

I can aron, and fast and well, but....
I don't know what type of clotheing you wear, but much can be gotten iron free.
Lots of cotton shirts, if you don't dry them, just hang them out, won't wrinkle.
Jeans are fashionably not suppose to be ironed, especial the raw variety, because it hurts the true color.
You wash them in cold water, and you hang them so the legs and all are not together.
When they dry you can smooth any left over wrinkles out with your hands. It is the suggested care actually.
I dry things like T shirts, cotton underwear, socks, towels, but the rest no.
That will save lots of ironing.
Maybe just buy some new shirts that are wrinkle resistant, or free.
If you want to know who has these say and I'll post.

## Post 4 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Wednesday, 04-Jun-2014 15:52:26

Here's another tip, for the Coast Guard uniform wear, they tell us just put it in the dryer with a damp towel if it need to be de-wrinkled.
That usually works.

## Post 5 by Raskolnikov (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Thursday, 05-Jun-2014 10:10:36

These are all good time-saving tips.
The travel iron idea seems good, but I’m afraid its purpose is to get rid of unsightly fold marks that come from packing suitcases and luggage tightly and so on, which is probably a lot easier to get rid of. Would such an appliance be suitable for heavy duty use? Perhaps it’s a misunderstanding as I’ve never used such an iron, though there probably isn’t much of a difference. I tend to pack already ironed clothes when traveling…
As for switching to a different style, perhaps that will be done some time in the future. At the moment I prefer to wear what I know looks good on me. The freedom to choose which clothes to wear is not one I’m quite ready to surrender. I know several people who have good taste in clothes selection whose advice and help will come in handy someday. But maybe that would make for an interesting discussion on a different topic, how to avoid having to rely on others to help pick out your clothes. Maybe I’m mistaken but how can a blind person develop their own sense of style without having to rely on others? Is such a thing even possible? Perhaps, but it seems it would be a long and tedious process of trial and error.
A good way to prevent burns and further damage is to use a clean rag or small towel to protect the material. Simply lay it on the area being ironed and apply rolling pressure, the rag will shield the material. I make sure to use this technique on the few denim clothes I have…
I’ve heard of and have used the tip mentioned in the previous post. Even so, I still have felt it necessary to iron my clothes.
I’m not actually looking for an exit strategy for ironing, but rather techniques to shorten the process without compromising the appearance of my clothes.

## Post 6 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Thursday, 05-Jun-2014 14:37:38

I think the style issue depends on who you are talking about. You used to be sighted. So you have a definite sense of what you appreciate visually, even if you cannot see it anymore.
To us lifers, or for me at least, I know I am aiming at the best end result. So, for instance, when it comes to uniform wear for my volunteer Coast Guard duties, I will only ask a military person for an inspection. Some sighted people may become hot, bothered and offended, because their sight should give them preeminence to my end result, but that simply is their emotions in need of coddling.
The same goes for getting a suit if I wear one. I would confer with someone who dresses for the occasion in question on a regular basis. You are right, it is tedious, or would be if I gave it much mind most times. I wear rather neutral colors and dress like a average working guy, which is precisely what I am. Blind salespeople dress like salespeople, meaning they dress to their audience.
When I had piercings, I only consulted others who had similar piercings, not just any jewelry store person or average sighted person who would say 'eeew' about running a 10-gauge piercing through two holes in one ear.
One thing is clear, though: if I get an answer that is all dogmatic and upset, or 'you don't want that', I know it's just an apologetic for their emotional security. I have to go find someone who can explain how the situation actually appears, in rational terms.
I do realize that I have sidetracked this thread just a bit, but you bring up a very relevant question, in my opinion.

## Post 7 by Ed_G (Zone BBS is my Life) on Thursday, 05-Jun-2014 15:06:27

I found an excellent way of not only saving time on ironing, but significantly
improving the quality of output. I installed Wife 1.0 with excellent results.

## Post 8 by Westcoastcdngrl (move over school!) on Thursday, 05-Jun-2014 15:09:57

It's too bad that Husband 1.0 is full of bugs and appears to be caught in a
data loop of eating and sleeping and beer drinking. It's getting to the point
where I'm having to seriously consider doing a hard reboot and or a device
swap out for a better model.

## Post 9 by forereel (Just posting.) on Thursday, 05-Jun-2014 19:02:19

I don't find choosing style to be tedious, at all, and you can find lots of things to read on men's fashions.
Another tip to save ironing is to allow the clothes to dry, but not completely. Remove them from the drier before they are bone dry and you get less wrinkles.
If you like creases, these flat airons are nice, but large. You could even get a steamer table, but that only do pants is you like them creased.
I did a topic on dress some place on here as well.

## Post 10 by loves animals (This site is so "educational") on Friday, 06-Jun-2014 21:52:44

what good tips given here, smiles.

## Post 11 by forereel (Just posting.) on Saturday, 07-Jun-2014 18:36:57

So when you coming over to iron and use these tips for me. That even save me more time?