Ironing, this task that we imagine reserved for a few die-hards nostalgic for the impeccable fold, when in reality it occupies a much more central place than we think in the daily life of the French.
A study carried out by Rowenta on ironing habits in France reveals a surprising figure: this activity is practiced in more than 93% of French households. Even more surprising, one in two French people admit to ironing more often than they vacuum, which instantly places this task, often perceived as secondary or dated, at the heart of the country's household habits. Far from the image of a chore that is disappearing, ironing remains deeply anchored in the daily life of the vast majority of households.
The most unexpected detail of this study concerns what we actually iron. Intuition would naturally lead us to imagine shirts and blouses at the top of the list, these dressy pieces spontaneously associated with the iron. However, reality says something completely different: it is everyday clothing, described as “shapeless” by the study itself, which comes out on top. T-shirts occupy first place with 75% of mentions, followed closely by pants (72%) then jeans (68%). A result which shakes up the traditional image of ironing reserved for formal outfits, and reveals a practice that is much more generalized and daily than we imagined.

What this task actually involves

Ironing laundry involves passing the iron over wrinkled clothing and textiles to smooth out the creases, generally after the machine-washed laundry has dried. Allow around 15 minutes for a typical session, a time which varies greatly depending on the volume of laundry accumulated and the type of items to be treated.

Tips and tricks for efficient ironing

Ironing laundry slightly damp, rather than completely dry, makes it much easier to smooth out the most stubborn creases: the residual moisture allows the fibers to relax more easily under the heat of the iron, without requiring excessive pressure.
Sorting your laundry by type of fabric before starting a session allows you to adapt the temperature of the iron without having to make multiple adjustments along the way: synthetic materials, which are more sensitive to heat, are treated at a low temperature at the start of the session, before gradually moving on to more resistant fabrics such as cotton or linen which can withstand higher heat.
Directly ironing everyday clothes such as t-shirts and trousers, rather than systematically reserving them for dress shirts, is also part of the real usage observed by the majority of French households, far from the traditional image of ironing reserved for special occasions.

With more than 93% of French households ironing according to Rowenta, and a marked preference for everyday clothes rather than formal outfits, this task remains much more alive and widespread than one might think. A regular rhythm, rather than a one-off accumulation, allows you to avoid the long sessions that make this activity dreaded.