Option 1: your regular cleaner irons
Many domestic cleaners will do ironing as part of their visit, using your iron and ironing board. It's usually charged at the same hourly rate as cleaning, which makes it simple. The main trade-off is time: an hour spent ironing is an hour not spent cleaning, so households often add an extra hour to the visit.
It works best for a predictable weekly load – school uniforms, work shirts, bedding – left in a basket ready. Tell the cleaner how you'd like things folded or hung, and point out anything that shouldn't be ironed. Our guide to how many hours a cleaner needs helps you work out whether to add time.
Option 2: collect and deliver ironing services
Dedicated ironing services collect your laundry, iron it at their premises and bring it back, usually within a few days. Some also wash and dry. Items are returned on hangers or folded, often bagged. Many work on a weekly round in a particular area, so collection is on a fixed day.
These services are often cheaper per item than paying a cleaner by the hour for large loads, and they're good for households with a lot of ironing and little time.
Option 3: drop-off shops and laundrettes
Some dry cleaners, laundrettes and ironing shops take ironing drop-offs, priced per item or per bag. It's a flexible option for occasional loads, such as after a holiday or before an event. Dry cleaners are the right choice for delicate fabrics and tailoring that shouldn't be ironed at home.
How ironing is priced
Pricing models vary, so compare like with like:
| Pricing model | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Per item | A set price per shirt, pair of trousers, duvet cover and so on | Knowing exactly what you'll pay |
| Per bag or per kg | A fixed price for a standard bag or by weight | Mixed everyday loads |
| Per hour | Your cleaner irons during their visit at their hourly rate | Smaller weekly loads at home |
| Subscription | A weekly or monthly fee for a set number of items or bags | Regular large loads |
Common ways UK ironing services charge. Prices vary by area and provider.
Get quotes from local cleaners
What to check before you book
A few questions avoid disappointment:
- Do they wash as well as iron, and what detergent do they use (important for sensitive skin)?
- How long is the turnaround, and is there a collection charge or minimum order?
- Are items returned on hangers, and are hangers charged for?
- Is their work insured for damage to clothes, and how are claims handled?
- Do they handle delicates, or should those go to a dry cleaner?
- How are items tracked so nothing goes missing?
Making ironing easier at home
Whoever does it, a few habits reduce ironing. Take clothes out of the washing machine and tumble dryer promptly and shake them out. Hang shirts straight from the wash. Fold bedding while it's warm. Many fabrics don't need ironing at all if they're dried flat or hung carefully. Pillowcases, towels and underwear rarely need it.
Combining cleaning and ironing
Some cleaning companies offer combined cleaning and ironing packages, or a housekeeper who handles laundry, ironing and cleaning together – see our comparison of cleaners and housekeepers. When you request domestic cleaning quotes, say how much ironing you'd like included so it's priced into the visit.
