ironing – Home's Cool!

What would your mother do? Make do!

Posted on May 16, 2018July 26, 2019 by Katharine

What can one mom even do to make a difference?

We moms need to know this.

This is a short series about all the huge little things moms do. It’s not a contest, but let’s all tell about our memories of those little things that mean so much, that only moms know how to do best. ❤

One thing my mom did was to make things last. She reused everything! Did you know you can iron wax paper lightly and make it all smooth and reusable again? She did. She saved bows and wrapping paper, for reuse, along with empty cardboard tubes, which she gave to us for hitting each other. We were never allowed to hit each other any other time, so when an empty cardboard tube became available, it was one of our prized possessions. We played they were swords. It was great fun.

My mom saved holey socks, weaving a patch over the hole (darning) and even saved a burned-out light bulb for the darning form, slipping it into the sock for a work surface, to give it the form it would need to fit right, later.

When our ironing board cover wore a hole, she did not replace it. She carefully laid an old bath towel over the worn area and pinned it tightly in place underneath. It was a great cover. Other old bath towels became bedding for our ill puppy, extra door mats during sloppy weather, and tied to a mop stick, a pretty good wet mop.

I could think of so many more examples, because we were poor yet we always had something. My mom made it happen. I know she learned it from her mom, because I often saw my grandmother sort and store things inside empty cereal boxes. It was just their way, and although I have all I need and more, it is also my way. See if you can find an example in this story.

And share with us how your mom has made do! Thanks!

Signature

Blessings of Habit, Homemaking, Inspiring, Womanhood

Can I Teach You to Love Ironing?

Posted on October 26, 2015May 27, 2017 by Katharine

learn to love ironing

Maybe I can; I surely hope I can . . . .

A lot depends upon where your heart is.

Ironing is an art.

I mean, we take the raw material and turn it into a sort of sculpture, don’t we? And it is most beautiful when the shirt is made right, in the first place, so the ironing chore is a joy for the one who irons: The plaids fall naturally into the pleats, the seams fold in the right direction, and the button placket is flat and cooperative.

In that way, ironing is like two artists who’ve worked together to send someone out into the world looking finely sculpted.

I’ll tell you, there is something about a man with a fresh haircut, who has groomed his face, and possesses the wealth of freshly ironed shirts to choose from in his closet, that makes him stand out, not only to his employer, but also to me.

I love giving that to my man. And that is the basis of my love for ironing.

The entire foundation for this love lies in the finished product.

I love looking at the shirts all lined up in the closet, ready to indulge in.
I love slipping into a smooth and lovely fresh-ironed shirt.
I love the way I look in the clothing that must be ironed.
I love feeling rich, as I do wearing an ironed shirt.
I love that my husband goes to work looking totally sharp every day.
I love knowing how to iron, and knowing not everyone does know how.

Ironing is probably very much an elitist, self-gratifying thing with me.

After all, I also love when building a tall lasagna that tastes magnificent because we grew the tomatoes, the onions, and even the eggs for making the pasta.

It’s a sort of self-satisfaction with the doing of it, I suppose. However, it also is totally a self-indulgence, quite a bit like rushing to be the first one to dig into the whipped cream carton…

Does that help?

How did I become so nutty?

It all began with my mother. I can remember watching her iron for hours on end, to make some spare cash for our family. It was something she could do and still be available for her children.

I remember she ironed for a woman who explained in an embarrassed way that she could not do ironing herself, due to arthritis in her hands, which were all gnarly with the devastation. This woman’s husband played an instrument in a dance band in the early 60’s. His white shirts had to be starched and ironed to a specific degree of perfection.

Watching that project taught me a lot about the right and wrong ways to perform with iron in hand.

I remember she also ironed for a woman who worked outside the home as a nurse. Think white uniform dresses, again totally starched and totally in need of perfection in ironing skills.

My mom was exceptionally skilled at the job, and loved knowing how, teaching me how, and devising new ways to improve.

(She tried re-inventing distilled water for her steam iron, by melting down frost from the refrigerator. Didn’t turn out too well, since the clothing then smelled like fish and bell peppers.)

Oh, it helps to know how.

One factor that adds to the pleasure is adding a bit of cooked starch to the last rinse water, and then hanging the shirts to dry.

After that, spritzing with water to iron makes the fabric stay glossy and in place, and makes the work last until you are ready to waste it on yourself.

As I said it is a self-indulgence thing.

And here is the boiled starch recipe: 1/2 cup corn starch stirred into 2 cups of water, then that mixture stirred into 2 quarts of boiling water. It thickens, some, as you stir, and becomes semi-transparent. Add this hot little mess to a half-washer-load of rinse water and then add all the clothing you want to starch, up to about six shirts or so. Agitate and spin on the gentle spin cycle, which leaves a bit more of the liquid in the fabric.

Hang this clothing indoors to dry.

That is the secret, and it is worth it, to me. This method keeps spray starch off the walls, floor, ironing board, iron, and everything else. It’s how we who really iron get that really good-looking shirt.

More about hanging clothing to dry, here.

Starching also adds to the longevity of any article of clothing, adding durability and protecting from body oils. It is truly worth every moment of the time it takes.

One small note before you reject every bit of this post: Try starching and ironing your favorite piece made of rayon.

You will be forever hooked.

Mmm.

Blessings of Habit, Homemaking, Photos, Wives

Super Smart How-To…

Posted on July 25, 2013July 26, 2013 by Katharine

…IN ONE TRICK:

Break free from slavery to the exact moment the dryer stops…
Make clothing last longer, and stay cleaner longer, and be easier to clean next time…
Save money and the environment…
Keep your husband looking super all day long…
Keep your wall from disintegrating due to spray starch overspray…

It’s just not so difficult. REALLY. You CAN do this!

First: Place clean clothing to be starched in washing machine and fill half full with warm water. This can be more clothing than you would normally add to a half load of wash, because we will not be trying to get clean, and concentrated is good. You may have to use the wash cycle to achieve warm water, but do so only until it sloshes, then shut it off until you finish the remaining steps.

Prepare starch water by bringing it to a boil.

Second: Bring a couple of quarts of water to a full boil.

Add one half-cup of starch to two cups of water and stir. — Add one half-cup of cornstarch to two cups of water and stir.

Third: Add one half-cup of cornstarch to two cups of water and stir until well-mixed and lump-free. “Lump Free” is important. Turn off heat under boiling water and slowly add starch mixture to boiled water, while stirring a lot. Keep stirring until it turns from white to a “cloudy-clear” color.

Fourth: Pour contents of the pan onto the surface of the wash water and set for the last rinse cycle of the “gentle spin” choice. By using the last rinse cycle, you can close the lid and walk away from it, knowing it will not automatically do anything more to this load. By choosing “gentle spin” you keep more starch inside the clothing and not going down the drain.

Fifth: Hang clothing to dry. Once dry, dampen slightly and iron. Don’t worry; at first the clothing will be stiff as a board, but as you iron, it will soften to just exactly perfect. You will SO love this!

Blessings of Habit, Homemaking, Inspiring, Sayings

Four Fun Steps to Catch Up on Your Ironing

Posted on July 9, 2013May 21, 2015 by Katharine

It takes guts to admit it: I’m behind on my ironing.

I’ve posted about this 4-step process before and now, need to read it again, to help myself remember how easily we can catch up. So here goes!

4 How-To’s

Hurry. That makes it go much faster. Time yourself and see how long it takes to iron one shirt or one pair of pants. Then see if you can cut the time down each time you repeat that performance. Play peppy music to help you stay quick.
Set aside time to fire up your iron every day. If you have a designated spot for the ironing board, where you can leave it set up all the time, or if you have a board that is easily stored, such as in the wall or on a door, all the better.
Iron twice what your family would wear, every day. This can only lead to success. They wear five pieces daily? You iron ten. Simple math leads to simple solutions.
Continue until caught up. The finish line may seem elusive, but truthfully, it’s that other word just above–“CONTINUE”–that is a lost or hiding concept for us, especially when it comes to ironing. We feel foolish? We feel tired? We feel uninspired? We should consider how good it feels to have it all done for a change. Yes.

Now, with the goal of continuing, of not quitting, of actually being caught up instead of planning to catch up someday, here are some motivators I use, to keep me reaching for that last piece in the bottom of the basket:

4 Motivators

The peppy music. Already mentioned, yes, this trick not only helps me move faster, it also keeps me cheery. Sometimes I even sing along, and it helps, like a daily, longed-for music session. Trust me.
Multi-tasking. Need to make a phone call?–Turn down the music and turn on the speaker phone. Need to exercise?–Leg lifts, walking in place, or knee bends all work while ironing, and can be done in time to the music. Need to watch a pressure canner?–Iron in the kitchen. Need to study the next lesson in your online course?–Turn off the music and listen to the lecture.
Get it?
Rewards. Nothing like that last ice-cream bar in the freezer to make you get the job done. You cannot multi-task with ice-cream bars. You have to get ‘er done, then hit the ice! Another reward, for me, is seeing my hubs looking as sharp as can be when he leaves the house. Has to be good for his soul, too, I think. And sometimes I reward myself with a promise to spend time with my feet up, visiting with you, my readers. And then there is the newly-won space on the laundry room floor . . .
Finally, being able to get dressed without first ironing, is a huge motivator. It is such a luxury, to me, who grew up ironing every morning and being late to catch the bus. Whew. So glad those days are over.

That’s it—so easy. For me, since only my husband wears much ironed clothes, if I iron two shirts and a pair of pants for him each day, soon all is done. Now and then I insert something for someone else, but really, most of us wear no-iron clothing like t-shirts, sweats, and the softer denims. It may take a week or two, but it does work.

Now, guess what I’m about to do!

Oh, and always remember: A job well-done need never be done again.

Right? That is right, isn’t it?

_____________

Photo credit: Wikipedia