Ironing: understanding the different rates in the UK

Did you know that on average, a person in the UK spends 69 hours a year doing laundry?

That’s almost 3 days of your life spent washing clothes, but mostly ironing... an incredibly time-consuming task. No wonder ironing is one of the most hated household chores according to studies.

So now you're probably starting to wonder how much it would cost to hire a cleaner to do your ironing for you (like we offer on Yoojo), and I completely get it!

In this article, I’ll show you how much it cost using examples:

Explanations and examples of different types of pricing:

Understanding the cost of ironing wouldn’t be so hard if there weren’t so many different options available.

However, it’s possible to break them down into two categories: pricing by the hour or by service type (by weight, basket, or per item).

Ironing charged at an hourly rate:

Hourly rates are often used alongside a complete home cleaning service. Your cleaner will come to tidy up your home and also take care of the week’s ironing.

The hourly rate for ironing can vary significantly:

- between a big city and the countryside: from £18 to £8 per hour

- whether you hire through an agency or employ your cleaner directly: an average of £17 to £11 respectively.

What price for ironing by weight?

Ironing by weight is mainly used by agencies that come to your home, collect your laundry, and return it all neatly folded.

Of course, you’re paying for the pickup and delivery, which makes this option a bit pricier if you have heavy clothes like jeans, jumpers, coats, or blankets.

What price for ironing by basket?

Ironing by basket is an old-fashioned term and not really used much anymore for obvious reasons: baskets come in all shapes and sizes!

In the end, basket ironing is priced by the hour, depending on the basket’s size and the amount of laundry it can hold:

For example, small baskets of 2-5 lbs look like this:

The medium basket of 11-13 lbs looks like this:

The large basket around 13-18 lbs, often in the form of a hamper:

What price for ironing by item?

Ironing by item is the preferred choice of dry cleaners, but it can also be chosen by your cleaner if you give them a lot of particularly difficult clothes to iron, like shirts, sheets, dresses, or certain trousers.

Example of pricing for ironing by item:

• Shirt on a hanger = £2-£3

• Folded shirt = £3-£4

• Jeans = £1-£2

• Jumper = £3-£4

• Skirt = £2-£3

• Pleated skirt = £5

• Jacket = £4-£5

• Duvet cover = £4-£5

• Sheets and fitted sheets = £3-£4

• Bath towel = £1-£2

• Two-piece suit = £10-£15

As you can see, ironing by item can quickly become quite expensive. It’s generally recommended to hire a cleaner and have them work by the hour:

Find your housekeeper on Yoojo

Ironing at home or at the cleaner’s: what’s the difference?

If you're starting to think about getting someone to do your ironing, you’ll need to choose between two options:

• The ironing is done at your place

• The ironing is done at your cleaner’s home

Let’s explore the pros and cons of these two options.

At my cleaner’s home:

✅ Pros:

• No need to provide the equipment

• No one comes to your house

❌ Cons:

• It costs more if your cleaner has to collect the laundry

• You’ll have to make a round trip if you're the one dropping off the laundry

At home:

✅ Pros:

• It’s cheaper because there’s less travel involved

• It’s more affordable if you combine it with a home cleaning service from Yoojo

• Your laundry stays in the house

❌ Cons:

• You’ll need to provide the equipment

• You’ll need to be present or leave your keys with the cleaner

In the end, the choice is really personal, but in both cases, you’ll be satisfied if you’ve chosen the right cleaner.

I recommend trying out several providers before settling on the right one, and always make sure to communicate your expectations clearly. Often, clients who are disappointed didn’t provide enough details about what they wanted or the result they were expecting.

Undeclared ironing service: is it really cheaper?

It can be tempting not to declare your cleaner when you see that employer contributions can almost double the cost of the service.

But honestly, it’s just not worth the risk these days. First, because you risk facing a fine of up to £20,000 if you get caught... and that’s some expensive ironing!

EXAMPLE:

Let's say Mary comes to do the cleaning and ironing for 3 hours a week. If you pay her £11/hour, it will cost you:

• £33

• which comes to £55 per week with social charges included

You’d need to pay your cleaner less than £18/hour undeclared for it to be worth it financially, and with the risks involved, it’s much better to go through an organised structure.

Post an ironing job request for free on Yoojo, and you’ll only pay once the job is done.

 

Discover our at-home ironing service

Using a dry cleaner: how much does it cost?

A dry cleaner can be a good option for washing and ironing your more delicate clothes, like suits or evening dresses. Their specialised machines will do a fantastic job on these fragile items.

But, as the cost is much higher per item or by weight than it is by the hour, you’ll notice a big difference in the price you pay.

Conclusion: getting your ironing done affordably is possible

If you want to know exactly how much a specific job will cost, simply post a request on Yoojo.

It’s free, and ironing experts will tell you the precise price for your personalised service.