Iron or Dryer?

**trinaren** · 10-12-2010, 08:40 AM

I often will delay ironing until I have a huge pile of it, so is if I have enough for a full dryer load, which is cheaper: ironing for over an hour or putting it in the dryer for 20 min? I have a dryer that's only a few years old, so it's pretty energy efficient.

**Josephhgoins** · 10-12-2010, 09:26 AM

I usually make sure to hang them as soon as they are dry. That way I don't have to put them back in the dryer to get rid of the wrinkles or iron them.

I don't wear button up shirts often (less than once a month) but I cheat on those and take them to the cleaners to be pressed. It costs a buck and looks much better than any ironing I could do.

**Contrary Housewife** · 10-12-2010, 10:39 AM

It's "cheaper" for me to just use the dryer. If wet clothes sit around here they get musty and have to be re-washed. No savings there. Spending an afternoon ironing and heating up the house is not an efficient use of my time, either.

**pat in east texas** · 10-12-2010, 10:46 AM

It just depends, garment to garment. Do I want a crisp, pressed look or a softer unpressed-but-still-presentable look?

**AmyBoz** · 10-12-2010, 11:14 AM

This is one area that I scrap frugality. I'd rather do the dryer than spend my time ironing. I absolutely HATE ironing. HATE IT!!!

**heartofmine** · 10-12-2010, 11:54 AM

Ironing is the one chore I hate and I only do it if I have no choice. Usually its some of my sons business type clothes. I get things immediately out of the dryer and hang them up.

**happymomof4** · 10-12-2010, 12:49 PM

I iron over the dryer. Because DH likes all his dress clothes ironed and pressed with seams.

**stinkbug** · 10-12-2010, 01:30 PM

I also iron all of dh's work clothes. Shirts need to be crisp and pressed...and the cleaners here charge 2.50 EACH!!! I hate to iron too...I set up in front of the TV and watch things I have recorded....

**KeithBC** · 10-12-2010, 02:10 PM

If you're talking about the cost of electricity, check the wattage of each appliance. Check the manufacturerer's label on each appliance to find out how many watts it uses.

Let's say the dryer uses 1000 watts and the iron uses 250 watts. An hour of ironing is 250 watts x 1 hour = 250 watt-hours. Twenty minutes (1/3 of an hour) of drying is 1000 watts x 1/3 hour = 333 watt-hours. So the ironing uses less electricity.

Substitute your own numbers and do the calculation, and then you'll know.

**shoiji** · 10-12-2010, 05:14 PM

I really do not enjoy ironing but I still need to get the iron out instead of running around with wrinkled clothing. Most of the time I just use the steam function on the iron. Hang the piece of clothing on a hanger and steam the wrinkles out. It usually works pretty fast.

**Trishagirl** · 10-12-2010, 06:01 PM

I'm with you on this Amyboz I hate ironing, but sometimes need to iron dh pants for work or I will Iron a top if it's too wrinkled.

**lisaflex** · 10-12-2010, 07:07 PM

i too, hate, ironing!!! most of our ironables do go to the drycleaner. especially dh's work shirts. i know, not frugal at all, but, better than the no alternative!!!

**Thevail** · 10-22-2010, 02:46 AM

I'd say dryer based on the wattage of the iron of course. Also, your time is worth something too

**Saule** · 10-22-2010, 10:45 AM

Dress shirts go to the cleaners - they do a better job than I do and it's worth it to me. Most things go in the dryer only and I try to pull them out, fold or hang right away and they look fine. I admit to buying more knits and similar fabrics lately to avoid having to iron. Plus, frankly, they just look nicer throughout the day. I bought two more pairs of the identical pants that have just a little spandex in them - they look great all day, are comfortable, and I just throw on a long sweater jacket to make it into an outfit for business wear.

I have a few things that just must be ironed, and I do those. I iron maybe once a month, if that. Not like in the old days, and certainly not like mother did!