Ironing: questions and Band 8 answers

Not very often, to be honest. I tend to buy low-maintenance fabrics that don't wrinkle easily. I usually only get the iron out once a week if I need a crisp shirt for an important meeting at work or a family dinner.

Yes, my mum taught me when I was about twelve or thirteen. She was quite strict about school uniforms, so I had to press my own trousers and shirts every Sunday evening before the school week started.

Mainly formal garments, like cotton shirts, tailored trousers, and smart dresses. I never bother ironing things like jeans, pyjamas, or casual T-shirts because hanging them up straight out of the wash usually gets rid of the worst creases anyway.

I actually find it quite therapeutic, as long as I'm not in a rush. I usually put on a podcast or some relaxing music in the background, and there's something genuinely satisfying about smoothing out all the stubborn creases.

I reckon fewer people will rely on traditional irons. Handheld garment steamers are already becoming really popular because they're faster and much easier to store, especially for people living in smaller flats who don't want a bulky ironing board.