Dislike Ironing? These Tips Can Make It More Enjoyable, and You'll Kill Germs in the Process

It's the weekend, and you want to relax with a good book under a cozy blanket, but there's a mountain of clothes waiting to be washed and ironed. How can you make ironing more effective and even pleasant?

While it's nice to put on a perfectly ironed shirt, ironing piles of clothes and bed linens can feel like a bit of a chore. Some people skip ironing altogether to save time and effort, but that can leave clothes looking wrinkled. Is there a way to ease the hassle of dealing with a pile of clothes that need ironing? With these tips, you can make ironing less of a burden while also killing germs in your clothing.

Yes, one of the benefits of ironing is that the high temperatures kill bacteria and fungi that may remain on clothes after washing them at temperatures below 60 degrees Celsius (140°F). Ironing is especially important for children's clothes, helping prevent skin irritations and allergic reactions from detergent residues. Ironing underwear is also useful for eliminating fungal infections.

So, how can you make your ironing process smoother and more efficient? First, washing your clothes properly will make ironing easier. Overloading the washing machine results in more wrinkles, so avoid packing it too full. Using fabric softener will also leave clothes softer and easier to iron.

After washing, immediately remove clothes from the machine and give them a shake before hanging. This helps stretch the fabric, reducing wrinkles and making ironing faster. It's best to start ironing while clothes are still slightly damp. If they are too dry or wrinkled, spritz them with warm water. Always iron in straight up and down motions to avoid stretching and distorting the fabric.

To speed up the process, keep your iron clean. Over time, residue builds up on the iron and can leave marks on clothes. You can clean your iron periodically with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar.

Since ironing is a simple, repetitive task, you can make it more enjoyable by pairing it with another passive activity. For instance, listen to a podcast (Spotify or Apple Podcasts have many to choose from) or play some relaxing music to make the task less boring. You can even consider ironing a form of meditative relaxation.