A bit ago, I blogged about ironing my kitchen linens, and I know it freaked some of you out.
: 0)
Yes, I have a touch of OCD.
We all know that - and there is medication for that.
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| Got this adorable towel at Target - I kinda sorta collect dishtowels. Again - medication available. I however do not recommend these towels for drying dishes - they just smear the water around. Not very absorbent! |
There is a darned good reason that I iron my kitchen linens, and it's not cause I have more time on my now lovely manicured hands than I know what to do with.
I do it because ironed linens look better than ones that aren't.
I do it because it's an exercise in mindfulness.
I do it because if it weren't for my pillowcases and dishtowels, I wouldn't have any ironing.
I do it because it reminds me of my mom, and in some way, it keeps my mom's spirit alive.
Just the smell of ironing - and I'm 12 again - standing in front of the ironing board on cold Chicago morning, as she would iron my blouse for school.
She liked to iron them right before we put them on in the winter - how sweet is that?
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| Before |
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| After - HUGE difference : -) |
So for those ten minutes a week that I spent ironing, reminiscing, using the very ironing board that she used, and keeping my mom alive -
I'm in quite a happy place.
And girls - this just makes me happy every time I open the drawer to get a fresh towel...
I get it...I don't DO it, mind you, but I get it!
ReplyDeleteI like the smell of ironing too! I remember using a Tupperware water sprinkler/shaker back in the 6o's when I ironed clothes at my mother's bidding. Love that smell, but not something I care to do much these days. xox
ReplyDeleteI iron all my tea towels and pillowcases...to take a crisp ironed tea towel out of the drawer seems to make the kitchen work easier to me.
ReplyDeleteI am not an ironer. I kind of hate it. But I totally get it.
ReplyDeleteIt's the little things sometimes.
Ok we'll now that u clarified that I can so understand where you're coming from !??!!!!! Iron on!!!
ReplyDeleteI know just what you mean! And the reason I'd rather wash dishes. I do a lot of thinking while I'm doing that.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Iron on, Jayme! Those are the little things that fill us up inside.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of it. Since we're on the subject of nice crisp and pretty kitchen towels, how do you keep them stain free? I buy the IKEA towels, and I get all giddy about them, and before I can blink, someone has wiped up something like coffee or chocolate. Thinking of dyeing them all black!
ReplyDeleteI love ironing tea towels and pillowcases! Brings me back, too. Ironing my Dad's handkerchiefs when we tall enough to see over the ironing board and my Mom helping us move the iron and never, never leave it in one place! You had a good Mom, Jayme. We can only cherish the memories they gave us.
ReplyDeleteI iron towels, too...and pillow cases and even the ruffles on the top sheets. It IS a sickness-you know it is! xo Diana ps. I used to iron my kids undershirts. yes.I.did.
ReplyDeleteI love to iron and hang out my wash too! My Great Aunt Gladys (93) used to iron everything including her scrub rags:) She is soo dear.
ReplyDeletexo
Leann
I iron too: my husband's dress shirts for work, some tea towels and pillowcases and sheets that are the old fashioned kind of cotton, BUT, the photo DOES NOT do your ironing justice; I can hardly see a difference between the before and after photo! Love the drawer with neatly folded items! Makes my heart sing!
ReplyDeleteI only iron on rare occasions - very rare occasions, but I love that you do and the reasons why you do.
ReplyDeleteI totally get the appeal of ironing too. A million years ago, when I was a new mommy I even ironed diapers for a short while, until I read something that said that ironed cloth isn't as absorbent as non-ironed cloth. May be why your new towels just push the water around.
ReplyDeleteI still love getting out my linen tablecloths and napkins for the holidays, just so I have a chance to iron them.
Totally with you on the 'ironing tea towels' front. Nothing like freshly laundered and ironed linens. Hated ironing as a kid (made to do it by Mum in the kitchen, alone). Started loving it when my daughter was born. I ironed everything then, even her tiny socks...crazy! Could not get into a fresh bed if sheets were not ironed...defo a bit OCD x
ReplyDeleteI like to iron too, but I use a clothes dryer and they come really nice, can't hang outside, too many trees and bugs. . . so I skip the ironing, only if it look really wrinkled, like some of my 100% cotton linen towels. . .the goal now is to get all my decluttering done, oy, my dishtowel drawer looks nothing like your peaceful drawer. The fork it towel is too cute!
ReplyDeleteThe pics alone tell it all! Very prettily organized!
ReplyDeleteI iron my cloth napkins and pillowcases...love the crispness when I look in the drawer to pull them out...
ReplyDeleteI love to iron, too! Always have and always will! I find it quite relaxing in this crazy world and I feel like I've gone back in time to a better place.
ReplyDeleteMy friend's mother regularly washed their sheets and it was heaven to sleep in them. I just can't do it, but maybe, I could find a cleaners that would wash them and iron them.
ReplyDeleteJust inherited old linens especially a lot of old napkins. Funny, every time I fold them I've been thinking they would look so much prettier ironed if I would just take the time and do it. Enjoy your blog.
ReplyDeleteI loathe ironing and do it VERY rarely, only when absolutely necessary. My sweet husband ironed all of his own clothes - I used to feel so sorry for him every time I saw him ironing (but not sorry enough to do it for him.) But I do understand YOUR reasons for doing it and liking it. FYI: the best dish towels on the planet are from Williams-Sonoma. Worth EVERY penny.
ReplyDeleteyour cousin Debbie
People with OCD do not get pleasure from ironing or anything they feel they have to do. It is a serious disorder causing huge distress.
ReplyDeleteSo enjoy your ironing and organizing for the reasons you give and feel good that you can:-)
I am amazed at the neatness of your tee towel (tee tail, tee tall -- had a rough time spelling that one) drawer. Mine is so crammed full the front is about to burst off. When I read about how ironing made you think of your mom, something went soft inside of me. Not sure why, but I thought it was cool and thought I'd mention it. idk Anyway, have a great day.
ReplyDeleteJayme,
ReplyDeleteIt has been a LONG time since I've written to you.
I thought I was the only one! I iron cloth napkins and kitchen towels. I love to iron and people think I'm crazy. They look at me with that look on their face as if I am odd.
To me, ironing is peaceful...literally ironing away life's wrinkles.
You and me, kindred souls we are!
love, Cheryl