How bad is it to not fold underwear?

This reminds me of my dh's cousins who came to visit from out of the country. They only wore ironed jeans (complete with pressed crease down the middle) the wife kind of looked down on dh for wearing (gasp) non ironed jeans, while we were busy laughing about how incredibly dorky they looked with their jeans ironed.....

Platinum Member Joined: Dec 27 2007 Posts: 7241

Senior Member Joined: May 07 2007 Posts: 197

Executive Member Joined: Jul 24 2008 Posts: 316

To the mother who takes pride in dressing her kids well and ironing their clothes:

I REALLY admire you, and I am NOT being sarcastic. You sound like a wonderful woman to take care of your Mom, your special child, and keep your children looking VERY well taken care of. While I do not iron on a consistent basis at all, I do like to have my daughters' Shabbos clothes ironed (though am not always able to do so, or have my helper do it), as they DO look so much crisper when ironed.

Sorry about all the bashing. You do your thing and take pride in it. You were honest enough to say that this is your thing, as opposed to baking Challah, which may be of priority to others. You held your own well, and with dignity, throughout this conversation.

Gotta go-some of the laundry needs folding!

Platinum Member Joined: Dec 27 2007 Posts: 7241

Silver Member Joined: Jun 14 2010 Posts: 693

Don't fold underwear, don't iron anything (except kids bead projects! I seriously bought an iron for this purpose alone), buy only wrinkle-free shirts for dh, rarely bake challah, rarely bake period (I cook though), don't own a mixer, don't buy clothes with lace/ribbons/anything delicate for kids.
If I had the time, I would take a nap.

Platinum Member Joined: Dec 27 2007 Posts: 7241

But, amother, if your whole ironing underwear thing is about doing right by your child, then please accept my sincerest apologies for all the snark I have shovelled at you in this thread.

Gold Member Joined: Nov 27 2008 Posts: 1635

Senior Member Joined: Dec 20 2009 Posts: 115

My hubby and brothers wear the Jos A Banks shirts as well as Brooks. Its a dream though the rest of his shirts go straight to the cleaners, and never the same results as the above!!

Silver Member Joined: Nov 23 2007 Posts: 691

Wow, I just looked at the poll results and I can't believe there are folders of underwear at all. I thought the post was a joke.

My MIL folds underwear and I always thought it was bizarre and yet another reason why we were polar opposites. In general, I try not to iron whenever possible. If something is wrinkled, I put it in the dryer wrinkle release cycle. If it is too delicate for the dryer, it is too delicate for my life.

Gold Member Joined: Aug 19 2011 Posts: 2029

I live in south Africa and everyone irons everything. And I literally mean everything. Kids undershirts, pajama pants, boxers, towels, sheets, sweatshirts, tshirts. But we don't have a drier so things are a little more crispy.
Many families once they have more than 1-2 kids have a char ( part time maid) come in to do the ironing.
I am American and wasn't used to it and even told my maid she does have to iron the kids clothing except for Shabbos and she was horrified. She explained to me that it's easier to iron and fold than to foldout without ironing, which I totally don't understand, but I'm not going to force her not to iron my clothes. I've told her I don't expect/ need/ or even particularly want ironed pajamas for my 6 month old but everything is still ironed.
On the plus side my closets are really neat.
Oh and my toddlers have a miniature iron and ironing board that looks so realistic that entertains them for hours. I just give them a pile of clothing and they stand there ironing.
Oh and my maid irons all of her families clothing as well.
Perhaps that's why I buy a new iron every 4-6 months

Diamond Member Joined: Feb 14 2007 Posts: 2888

What is 'woven' and what is 'knit'??

I don't think it is so incredibly cheap to hire help in south africa. You need to give them a place to live, food, wages, often the employer will buy things like schoolbooks for the maids kids. (its kind of like adopting a helpful adult child) At the end of the day it probably evens out to me paying my cleaner $13 per hour. (ok, maybe slightly cheaper) If I offered accomodation I bet I could get help for even less.

Obviously the ability to hire cheap labour stems from the deep inequalities in south african society (and there are gaps between rich and poor in other 3rd world countries too)

Platinum Member Joined: Apr 12 2010 Posts: 5784

I know a SA guy he always told us about his maid, she was like a friend who helped out in the house.
One day he came in and said mazel tov char had a baby! We were like what??
Yeh , his maid had a baby back home in SA and he was all excited! Laughing

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