Ironers and Irons

[launderess]

In honour of this thread hauled out my Hurley Ironer-Press this weekend for getting up the weeks laundered linens.

While a bit longer than using the Pfaff ironer it was actually faster and gave better results for the larger items (sheets, duvet covers). Not having to worry about cat whiskers/creases made the larger flat work items a snap to press. Also because this thing exerts more pressure than ironers things could be folded into fours and still pressed wonderfully. What one did is press both sides of a sheets folded into four and when folding noticed all layers where pressed properly.

Fitted sheets are much easier on the press as one does not have to worry about moving things about to accomodate the elastic and corners.

 

[retromania]

Yes

I have heard that the B&D Digital Advantage Iron is a very good iron.  There's a sewing blog I follow and the blog master is on his second B&D DAI.  That's how well it performs.  He commented on it.

 

[retromania]

It's unusual I guess, but growing up I never knew anyone to have an ironer.  I have been interested in vintage appliances and household products, cars, lawnmowers since a very early age and can tell you what everyone had.  Please someone comment on this.  I bet the person owning an ironer sent very little to laundry!!!  Just the things that had to be dry cleaned.  That's probably it.  Also, a person that used a lot of table linens.  It would have been more cost effective to own an ironer that pay those laundry bills.  Our ironing set-up was this:  My mother ironed.  She paid someone to iron for her.  My sister ironed and as soon as Mom  was convinced I wouldn't burn the house down,  Andy ironed.  I loved it.  I would iron everything in sight.  Sucker!!  LOLLL.  The big stuff went to the laundry.  The sheets, big tabled cloths and my dad's shirts.  Even so, there was still a mountain of clothes to iron.   

[this post was last edited: 12/31/2012-05:10]

 

[foxchapel]

There's a sewing blog I follow and the blog master is on

Would that be MPB blog? ;-)

 

[michaelman2]

Andy, you are right the did reduce the number of garments that were sent out to the laundry. I am assuming since you are in SC that you might have grown up in the south. Ironers were not as common here as they were in northern regions. In fact the ones that I have acquired over the years have all been north of the Mason-Dixon line.

It takes some practice to operate a rotary ironer but it is interesting and can be fun for a while. I can do a shirt quickly on one, but as mentioned above, there is a delicate balance on moisture within the garment and how well it irons on an ironer.

 

[retromania]

foxchapel,

That would be correct! 

 

[retromania]

Yes.

I'm home grown!

 

[retromania]

Michael, This is your thread and I apologize....

I want to make one brief comment to foxchapel since there's no other way contact this person.  foxchapel, you know MPB has only been sewing since 2009!?!  I'm speechless!  He does such good work.  I still have trouble lining a garment and his looks to be perfect.  Ok, Michael.  That all I wanted say to fc.  Thank you.       

 

[launderess]

Interesting About Ironers

As the South is known as the land of *Starch*! *LOL*

From what one understands historically almost everything that breathed was starched and ironed in the South up to and including blue jeans. Give the often hot and humid climate one can understand why as starched laundry does have more body and will resist going limp longer, but still.

Cannot imagine sitting in front of a hot ironer much less standing over a hot ironing board during the warmer months in the South, especially in the days before AC.

 

[michaelman2]

Yep, you are correct Laundress about the "land of starch". If you read or saw "The Help" you understand why ironers were not as plentiful here than other regions. I remember the lady that worked for my mom up until she passed in the 1990s telling me before I went to college...." before you leave this house, you will know how to fry chicken, make green beans and iron a shirt, you hear me?".....well may she rest in peace I think am proficient at all three.

Of course the heat and humidity that you mention were another reason that many homes, early on had a "Summer Kitchen" a detached kitchen to keep heat (and fire) away from the home itself.

 

[launderess]

The Help

Yes, saw the film and was going to go there but didn't want to be dragged into another fight about "sterotypes" and the South.

Summer kitchens not only kept the heat out of southern nomes but the smells associated with cooking as well.

Unlike colder climates the homes in the south didn't require the heat from large ranges to heat kitchens (and by extension often parts of the entire first floor), for most of the year either

 

[retromania]

I haven't fried chicken in a while, but I will be frying pork chops noon day tomorrow to go along with the collards and crowder peas.  It's supposed to be black eyed peas, but I don't like black eyed peas (tha part about me is not Southern) then crowder peas it is.  I might fix rice and gravy.  Let's just pack on the pounds.  Oh and through in a drink or two.  Lolll. 

 

[foxchapel]

OT reply to retromania

(My apologies to Michael)

Yes, I know, and I continue to be impressed. Peter is not impeded by the 'paralysis of perfectionism' syndrome that I suffer. LOL

Now, back to the topic on hand ...

 

[dynaflow]

wet cold and rainy

New yrs day wet cold dreary, nothing better to do than iron and watch bewitched marathon plus since my furnace has bit the dust it helps to warm me up using a old Ge or Sunbeam heavy iron and spray startch what better way to pass time
Happy new yrs to all
RDJ