The New Sport of Extreme Ironing

With the Olympics constantly in the news and the closing date for ticket applications passed, many people see this as a chance of bringing the lesser followed sports into the limelight. One such sport is the specialist sport of Extreme Ironing.

Extreme ironing was born in the UK, so perhaps it is not too surprising that one opportunistic enthusiast used the closure of the M1 motorway to indulge his passion for the sport.
 Described as "the latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt", extreme ironing fittingly has its roots in Leicester, served by the M1. Phil Shaw, who has written the definitive book on the sport, is often credited with inventing it in 1997 and since then instances have sprung up across the globe. The dressing gown-clad individual who jogged onto the M1 to iron what appeared to be a single white shirt, in reality had enough time to rattle through the rest of his wardrobe, with all southbound lanes between junctions one and four remaining closed until further notice because of fire damage.

The seven mile section had been shut since Friday after a large fire at a scrap-yard underneath an elevated section at Mill Hill in north London. The full width of the motorway didn’t reopen until Thursday.

The good news for extreme ironers is sadly unlikely to offset the misery suffered by motorists and holidaymaker.

So if erecting an ironing board in the middle of one of the countries busiest roads or trying to perfect razor sharp creases whilst sky-diving then why not give us a call as we don’t promise to make the headlines but do promise a professional and affordable ironing service

Why not check out our services on our website http://www.iron-maids.co.uk/. or give us a call on 01622 870111.

Easter is here ......

Easter is here! … or it very nearly is. Although a fundamental date in the Christian calendar, this is also a time for getting together with friends and family, just sitting down and relaxing in the garden with a BBQ, in order to supply burnt offerings to any poor unsuspecting visitor who happens to drop in! As we all know, the one thing we can guarantee in the UK is the unpredictability of the great British weather.

Now this gives you two choices mainly…. lock them outside to face a virtual drowning,  with only a water logged burger to aid survival or you can always resume the party from the comfort of the inside of the house. The second option also has its perils,  risks like the grubby arm ends on the 3 piece suite,  that are a reminder of  what fun the children can have in the garden, or the creases in the curtains that usually you don’t notice but as company’s expected,  seem to be surrounded in flashing lights to advertise themselves!

So why not get a full spring clean done in the house and all of the covers, curtains and tablecloths professionally dry cleaned or laundered and ironed?

We can offer a full service ready for your Easter break, thus giving you peace of mind and enabling you to relax and enjoy yourself. Give us a call for a quote and you could be surprised how reasonable our rates are too!

Why not check out our services on our website http://www.iron-maids.co.uk/. or give us a call on 01622 870111.

Tumble or line dry ?

On a more practical level, why would you want to dry your laundry in a tumble dryer? With the ever-escalating cost of electricity and the growing threat of the planets future, when for a few minutes effort, you can dry it for free in the fresh air?

Fresh air is nature's own fabric conditioner, and it's there for the taking. And the stretching and bending involved in loading your line is a mini workout in itself, but without the sweating and the hefty gym membership fees. These days, there's also the concern of the carbon footprint and the energy saving aspect of line drying. That's a consideration, of course, but it doesn't really influence my preference. Like most people in the developed world, I owned a tumble dryer. It used to sit, alone and unwanted, in the utility room. It was only ever used if we had a solid two weeks of rain and I ran out of clean underwear. When it expired, probably in a fit of depression at being so undervalued, I didn't bother to replace it. And I haven't missed it.

Your clothes are a bit like your skin. If they're subjected to too much harsh treatment, the effects will soon become apparent for all to see. Drying clothes naturally will extend their life, giving you an extra saving in addition to reduced electricity costs.

Constant exposure to the heat of the tumble dryer will cause damage to the fabric and may increase the risk of shrinking if you get the temperature wrong. If you don't believe me, just take a look in the filter in your dryer. All the white fluffy stuff you remove on a regular basis once formed part of your wardrobe. Regularly tumble drying your clothes is like constantly exfoliating your skin it's not a good idea!

If all this has failed to convince you to bypass the white box in the utility room, just think of climbing into a freshly changed bed, when the sheets are straight from the line. If they could find a way to bottle that fresh, clean aroma, somebody would literally clean up!

Why not check out our services on our website http://www.iron-maids.co.uk/. or give us a call on 01622 870111.