I'm currently using an old iron and it gets really hot (yes, it starts to burn my hands so I have to stop after a couple shirts) when I iron my husband's dress shirts. I need a new iron anyway but I've been trying to decide if it's worth buying a garment steamer as well. Does anyone use one or recommends one? Is it easier to use than a regular iron for dress shirts?
I was sending the shirts out to the drycleaners but it's expensive and not worth the trip. My husband doesn't care less, he will wear t-shirts to his professional job if he doesn't have shirts. But I can't risk him losing his job. I did get a new iron and a garment steamer. I like my garment steamer better than my new iron.
Iron? What's that? Ha! Seriously, I buy wrinkle resistant dress shirts (really nice ones at Costco! That's probably some fashion faux pas, I'm sure!) and get them out of the dryer and on their hooks still warm. No time for ironing my clothes, much less his. You are a good woman and he should realize how lucky he is to have you! Wish I could give you the actual advise you asked for. Well, no I don't. : ) Good luck!
Weigh the cost of the steamer over how many shirts you could send out. For me, it is so worth the cost of sending them out. They come back perfect, better than I could ever do with either a steamer or an iron. If you enjoy the ironing, save up a few hours worth and put your board in front of a good movie or your favorite TV show. That way it doesn't seem too tedious.
I don't iron...very often. I made the mistake of buying a couple 'iron only' shirts and he hardly ever gets to wear them...haha. I don everything else, but that chore is not at the top of my list...so I buy the wrinkle free shirts and he puts them in the dryer when he wakes up with a damp towel and by the time he gets out of the shower and gets the shirt out, it's done. (another post said almost the same thing...and it works!) Sooo much easier. I do occasionally iron something if it really needs it...as a special treat to him...haha. I just use an old iron as well, but only ironing one or two shirts isn't that bad....I tried a steamer once and could never get the hang of it - it's sitting in my garage as we speak.....and if worse comes to worse, he can always hang his shirts in the shower to steam it.
iT ALL DEPENDS ON THE CONTENT OF THE SHIRT, WHETHER YOUR HUSBAND PREFERS STARCH AND HOW MUCH TIME YOU WANT TO SPEND EACH DAY. STEAMERS ARE GREAT FOR STEAMING TO FRESHEN ITEMS AND TAKE OUT GENERAL WRINKLES, BUT DRESS SHIRTS ARE A DIFFERENT STORY. IF A SHIRT IS A GOOD, ALL COTTON ONE AND IF YOU HAVE PRE-STARCHED IT, IT WILL NOT LOOK ADEQUATE WHEN YOU ARE DONE WITH A STEAMER. iT IS ALSO HARD TO STEAM THE ARMS AND NOT BURN YOURSELF WITH STEAM. IF YOU LIKE IRONING, GET A GOOD IRON, BUT IT WOULD SEEM YOU HAVE PLENTY ELSE TO DO WITH A TODDLER, SO i WOULD ADVISE SENDING THOSE SHIRTS OUT! fOR $5-$6 PER WEEK YOU GET THEM BACK PERFECTLY. In CONTEXT THAT IS LIKE A MOVIE FOR 2 WITH POPCORN ONCE A MONTH. WELL WORTH IT! AND IF YOUR HUSBAND BALKS, i SUGGEST YOU ALLOW HIM TO TRY TO IRON ONE SHIRT AT HOME HIMSELF; SOMETIMES APPRECIATION OF THE FULL TASK IS ALL IT TAKES TO FIND A BETTER OPTION...GOOD LUCK!
Ironing is the pits! I recommend that you purchase a really good steam iron. Rowenta makes the best I have ever used. They run more than others but literally cut your time down to nothing since one pass does the trick. They have a new one that I would love to have that has even more steam holes. Don't get the least expensive Rowenta. Get one that does the job well. We have had ours for about 5 years and it is used daily. Look at their DX8800 or DG8030 models. I don't know how much ironing you do but a great iron is what it takes! Forget the upright steamers unless you need one for other things. They won't put in creases and do the men's dress shirts correctly.
Yes, the steamer is easier. However it takes time to learn to use it well. It really is quicker, once you learn the trick. It would be nice if the guy wearing the shirts would learn the trick. That would be the best. The worst part about the steamer is finding a place in the house to store it when not in use. As well, steam creates moisture in the air in the room where you are using it. should not use it in a carpeted room, or near curtains, or where mold can build up from the moisture. I steamed my clothes in the bathroom, and stored the thing under the bathroom sink. We use a lot of lysol to prevent mold in the bathroom already.
Good luck.
A.
