Tuesday, November 22, 2011

New Tech (I'd Make A Good Wife)

This just isn't what a guy should be saying, but I love my new iron! I know what you're thinking - why does this guy have an iron and why does he enjoy it? It starts with a story.

Over 30 years ago when Wilma and I were dating, we'd talk about many things. In that process she declared that she would not iron, make my lunch or get up early just to cook my breakfast. In pondering all the things to decide if she was "the one", these seemed small. Since she did marry me, these could be considered a verbal prenuptial agreement, so I'll honor them.

Therefore, I iron those shirts of mine that aren't wrinkle-free. These are the shirts that feel softer and the ones I prefer to wear, since the wrinkle-free treatment produces a harsher texture. But I still tend to be lazy so I have both.

In the course of our 30 year marriage we have not upgraded irons. The old iron still worked and I thought it was fine until I used a newer one at a motel while on business travel. The extra steam it produced made a world of difference. Gotta have a new one!

Last weekend we bought this one and I'm in heaven. It has a wide stance to hold it upright, automatic shut-offs for time-out and falling over, and a swiveling power cord. There's a neat little clip on the cord so it can be wrapped up and secured. This all appeals to me as an engineer. Great design and attention to detail. Part of the steam control can even be taken out for cleaning, so there's attention to maintenance, too. So I tried it out on this weeks shirts. It glides with ease and has a nice slow steady stream of steam. Then the burst of steam when you push the button. Wow! I've been missing a lot these last few decades. This is the right tool for the job.

8 comments:

Revelle Taillon said...

great sketch and cute story!

MaryO said...

You are a jewel, I must say! I don't iron either, but my dear husband didn't so I ironed military shirts and dress shirts for him later on. Today I just do no-iron clothes shopping!
But he does his own breakfast and lunch for which I am totally grateful.

Barbara said...

My husband has bought our last two irons. He's just about the only one who uses one. In college, back in the '60s, he had guys lined outside his door on weekend nights waiting for him to iron their shirts at 15¢ a shirt.

Cheryl Gebhart said...

The comments are almost as good as your sketch! I don't iron clothes either, but as a quilter, I need a good iron. I see From your sketch that yours has a T-fal coating but what brand is it? I'm not too thrilled with my current iron.

john.p said...

Cheryl - The brand is T-fal. It's their 1400W middle of the line model we found at Penney's. It looked like there's not much difference between models, though. Wilma took the old iron for her quilting room.

Bei Price said...

Great sketch! I like the little descriptions for the iron components! Cute story too...sometimes I try to get up and make breakfast but most of the time that doesn't happen... :)

Mary Walker said...

All good points a positive review always makes me want to buy things oh wait I have one of these...I've used it once. Maybe it's a woman thing not wanted to iron avoiding a 50's stereotype?

Deborah said...

Great story and great sketch! What amazes me most is that your old iron lasted 30 years! That's about as long as I've been married, too ... and we have a trail of broken irons behind us. When they stop steaming they get used for crafts.
There is indeed something wonderful about that "extra burst" of steam.