HISTORY OF IRONING

In years gone by when families were bigger and we didn’t have modern appliances to make domestic work easier washing and ironing was an arduous task.

Cloth in Europe was at first “smoothed” with stones, glass or wood. In the 14th and 15th centuries blacksmiths started forging simple Flat irons. The household chore of “ironing” began and was named after the metal of this device.

Early versions, called sad irons or smoothing irons, were essentially pieces of metal heated over a fire or stove. Flat irons are shaped pieces of metal that are flat and polished on one side and have a handle attached to the other. They were heated on top of a stove.

Flat irons

Flat irons were heavy to use and often there were two irons – one to iron with and the other heating on stove ready to use when the other cooled down. Metal handles were often used, requiring a pad or cloth to grip. Later, detachable handles were introduced to keep the user’s hand cool.

Fuel irons

In the late 1800s, fuel irons were invented, using liquid fuels like kerosene, methylated spirits, or petrol. These irons had a reservoir for the fuel, which was pumped and ignited to heat the iron’s base. They were popular in areas without electricity. They were a step up from sad/flat irons as they didn’t require a fire source to heat them. Fuel irons were often dangerous as they were prone to explosions, causing fires, burns, and even death.

Advances in ironing technology continued in the ensuing decades – the electric iron was patented in 1882 by Henry W. Seeley. This was a significant breakthrough, but it was still difficult to control the heat. ‘Hotpoint’ electric irons were first sold in Australia around 1914 and remained a popular product for many decades.

From the late 1920s they were manufactured in Australia by the Australian General Electric Co. Ltd and these thermostatically controlled irons made ironing an easier activity. The early electric irons often had metal bases with a separate power cord and a wooden handle. Electric irons became widely adopted as electricity became more prevalent in Australian homes. They transformed laundry routines, offering a cleaner and more convenient way to iron clothes compared to older methods. The ability to adjust temperature settings and the convenience of electric heating significantly reduced the time and effort required for ironing.

Steam irons

Steam irons became commercially successful later, further improved the ironing experience. Electrically charged steam irons, became popular in the 1940’s. At the same time, many modern fabrics (developed in or after the mid-twentieth century) such as polyester and nylon do not require ironing at all, and what was once heavy and sometimes dangerous work is now light, quick and safe.

Trouser press

The trouser press a device for removing wrinkles from trousers was invented in the 1930’s. Peter Corby a British businessman was credited with inventing the trouser press. They are still used today.

Marianne Ball