Ironing clothes is one of those household chores that many of us put off as long as possible. Not only does it take a lot of time, but it can also be physically tiring. In fact, research shows that ironing is one of the most unpopular household chores – half of people say they don't like ironing.
Why is ironing tiring and disliked?
Ironing requires standing, repetitive hand movements, and careful focus on the details of each piece of clothing. Many people perceive ironing as a boring and time-consuming obligation that often lasts for hours. Additionally, ironing can be physically exhausting – constant standing and bending contributes to back and arm fatigue.
Interestingly, ironing also burns calories: about an hour of ironing can burn approximately 150 calories. Another thing you might not know is that the high temperature of the iron can partially disinfect clothes, destroying bacteria and small insects.
Professional irons vs. home irons: what's the difference?
You've probably noticed that clothes come out perfectly ironed from dry cleaners or laundromats. This is not just due to the skill of the workers – professional ironing equipment differs significantly from home appliances. Professional irons and presses are designed for long-term operation, higher pressure, and much stronger steam output (over 150g/min vs 20–60g/min at home).
That large amount of hot steam relaxes fabric fibers faster and removes stubborn creases. Also, professional irons have more precise temperature control. The result is that ironing goes not only better but also faster. Another big advantage is that your wardrobe arrives neatly folded or hung on a hanger, ready for the closet.
Robots and gadgets that iron for you
Technology makes ironing easier than ever. In addition to steam stations and presses used by professionals, home appliances have appeared on the market that automatically iron clothes with the help of warm air. These devices often look like inflatable dolls that straighten creases while the clothes dry.
Although such "ironing robots" can only process one piece of clothing at a time and take 8–15 minutes per shirt, the advantage is that you don't have to do anything. There are also more advanced robots like Effie that can iron multiple pieces of clothing at the same time.
How much time does ironing a shirt take?
If you are just learning to iron, it might take you 10–15 minutes per shirt. Someone with more experience will manage to shorten that to about 5 minutes. In contrast, skilled professionals achieve incredible results in a very short time – often under 2 minutes per shirt! For example, workers in our partner laundries iron a shirt in just 100 seconds.
This gap in time shows how much professional routine and equipment speed up the process. What takes you 7–10 minutes and a lot of effort, an experienced worker with good equipment finishes in the blink of an eye.
Conclusion: is it worth outsourcing ironing?
Ironing requires time, physical effort, and patience. Fortunately, today there are ways to make this obligation easier for ourselves. Perhaps the simplest solution is to entrust ironing to professionals. By using laundry services, you save both time and energy, and your clothes will be ironed better and faster than at home. It's even better if you don't even have to go to the laundry, but just hand over your laundry from the warmth of your home.
Whether you iron yourself or leave it to someone else, it is useful to know that there are professionals ready to jump in and help, while you can dedicate your time to more pleasant things.