Apologies, really dull houseworky question alert.

I've never used ironing water before, I had always thought it unnecessary, but since moving to CH, I had to skip my old metallic plate iron because it went all black and charred. I got a lovely new ceramic one but I wondered whether the hard water had contributed to the demise of my old one.

So I shopped for ironing water, but I could only find plain unfragranced distilled water. If I'm having to buy water just to put in my iron I would rather it was fragranced but there is none of this at the shops (only the spray-on ironing stuff)

My question is, what can I put in the distilled water to give it a scent but will not damage the iron?

Ironing water -- sounds very OCD and not a little futile!

The water in many parts of Switzerland is very hard and yes, probably hastened the demise of your old iron. If you're in a hard water area, use distilled water every time.

Personally, I wouldn't add any fragrance. There's not much point in using distilled water if you're going to add impurities to it.

Some irons can use tap water, even if it is very hard, because the iron has an anti calc function. It really depends on the brand.

If you have very hard water, then probably distilled water will be better. I have never seen scented distilled water but as posted above, that defeats the purpose of using distilled water.

You can't iron water - you have to wait for the wind to drop and then the surface should return to being smooth ...... just like a millpond.

Personally, I like the small of freshly washed laundry, without any added perfume.

I'm not sure I'd add anything to the water for fear of damaging the appliance or causing stains/discoloration on the garments you are ironing. If you are looking to add scent to the clothing have you considered adding some kind of hanging sachet to your wardrobe or scented drawer paper/liners?

You could use the condensate from the tumble dryer.

A bottle of distilled water from the store is cheap enough - and particle free.

On the subject of ironing, in a straw poll with friends it appears I am the only person who knows how to press suit trousers.

Is it really such a rare skill?

Some of us like to "delegate" certain responsibilities to "the wife". So have no use for said skill

A woman can not be expected to perform such a technical task - come on, you know their brains are smaller and more limited than a man's.


You'll be suggesting they could work in banks or drive trams next!!

Having been the officially delegated "ironer" for the past 10 years in CH, and not yet damaged any irons - I offer my advice here

I fill an old 2ltr pet bottle with tap water and use this to fill the iron, because I find that most of the kalk seems to settle/stick to the sides over time.
Then regularly de-kalk the iron too, using vinegar - but NOT in a hot iron (if there`s heavy kalk build-up can be dangerous to the iron). Wait till the iron has cooled off, fill it with the diluted vinegar, shake around and empty.

Sometimes I treat the iron to some Durgal de-kalker, the same as one uses in a coffee machine. Except now I buy the Landi product de-kalker as its a fraction of the price.

For smellies fragrance I use the spray from DM - "Sprühstärke" - takes out any ironed-in creases excellently - nice on shirt fronts, pillow cases, small fancy cloths. One can also buy a heavier starch spray that has a pleasant smell too.

Ha ha nice one Ken!

In all seriousness though is there any difference in pressing suit trousers to any other item of clothing?

I never do it cos of course suit trousers get cleaned and pressed at the dry cleaners as recommended by the manufacturer and in between dry cleans they just get hanged.

On the upside of those smaller and limited brains, women do not have appendages that drain the blood from the brain, so female brains function regularly on a regular basis.

Seems so. Over the years I've sometimes allowed cleaning ladies to iron my shirts, and even that seems beyond many of them. I mean, some of them even put creases in the cuffs, FFS.

I find the occasional overnighter in a Travelodge serves equally as well.

Depends!
Modern cut trousers will pull the press more, resulting in it dropping out after a few wears.
If you have a good rotation of suits this may mean long periods between dry cleaning.
Inclement weather may result in the press dropping at least partially.

I find re-pressing after every 2 or 3 times of wearing keeps the trousers looking sharp.

Yes. A damp tea-towel is needed to stop the nap of the woolen fabric from being damaged, leading to shiny-arse syndrome, and getting the creases right, particularly if you've got pleats, demands a certain attention to detail.

Only if you iron your press and not, well, umm, the clue being in the name and all that, press your press.

I always find it evaporates immediately on contact with the iron. Bloody annoying .