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Don’t tell me you didn’t read the care label before ironing that damn silk blouse. ‘Cause neither did I. I cut it off as soon as I bought the shirt, and entrusted its destiny to my own rational mind and its power of calculated decisions.
Asking what went wrong and at what point would be an understatement. Ironing fails are not for the faint-hearted, so be sure to arm yourself with the ability to laugh at yourself. Bored Panda has compiled a list of the funniest and, indeed, most painful cases of ironing gone wrong.
It serves as a tribute to all the people out there who thought they were going to take back control of their lives by getting that iron heated up on questionable materials and surfaces.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
My Friend Has An Ironing Board That's Haunted By The Ghost Of Jaws
RELATED:
#2
My Mother's Pressing Iron Fell Onto Our Synthetic Carpet And Left A Perfect Mold
I thought the bottom of the iron came off when I lifted the iron but it really is molten plastic
#3
I Guess It Happened On Monday
In a perfect world, nobody would ever have to do ironing (or washing), like, ever again. But surprise, surprise, we know very well that the world is far from perfect and you do need to iron that goddamn shirt from time to time.
Asking for help is one way to go about it, but if you want to feel like a responsible, independent adult, you’ll have to do it on your own. In order to make that time easy and pain-free, there are some basic principles when it comes to the art of ironing. I know this sounds like I’m being sarcastic, but trust me, making those creases even with a heated iron block is a form of art not meant for everyone.
The logic is simple: in order to master ironing, one has to try and avoid it all costs. I told you ironing is not for the faint-hearted, but if you go through this five-step program, the chances are you won’t see that fearful device any time soon.
#4
My Poor Girlfriend Wakes Up To Her Laptop With A Hot Iron On Top Of It Courtesy Of Her Brother
#5
Well... Crap
#6
After Investigating A Complaint (Smell), They Found That Guests Got High And Were Using The Hotel's Iron To Cook Dry-Rubbed Steaks
First, fold your clothes as soon as the dryer is done, because as soon as these crisp garments dry, they’ll develop creases and it will be too late.
The second step is not to dry your clothes fully, but leave them until they’re 80% done drying. Line-drying things would be the best and most crease-free way, but then you have to be patient and deal with humidity for longer than it’s necessary.
The third step is getting a garment steamer, which may sound like it’s a cousin of the iron, but trust me, it’s not. Steamers are easy to use and help with those daily touch-ups. Running the steamer gently over the surface takes a few minutes and you’re good to go.
#7
A Piece Of Furniture My Great Granny Used For Ironing
#8
My Steam Iron Wasn't Working Properly So I Decided To Run It With Vinegar, Thinking It Might Be Related To Calcium Deposits... Guess I Was Right
Sara Rodrigues 4 years ago
The hot iron has a setting that helps remove the calcium deposits by expelling hot water. Usually I do it several times and it works like a charm!
#9
Girlfriend Turned The New Iron On Without Checking The Bottom. She Turned It Into A Boiling Plastic Spreader
The last step is simply to try ironing for once in your life and see how it goes. Even if it’s not for everyone, and most of humanity (especially millennials) refuses to come to terms with it, it doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Calling your friend, girlfriend, and mom (if you’re willing to spend an hour or so talking about auntie Betsy and her new retriever puppies) is always a good idea.
#10
When You Put Volvic Flavoured Water In Your Iron, It Doesn't Make Your Clothes Smell Of Forest Fruits It Just Melts All The Sugar And Ruins Your Iron And Top
#11
Oops. Someone Left The Iron On For Too Long
#12
A Perfect Example Of Why I Hate Ironing
#13
Ironing The New UK Notes... Great Idea
#14
"I Ironed My Shirt On The Board. I Thought I Could Do It On My Body. I Was Fine Until I Hit The Steam"
Ms.GB 4 years ago
I've done it before....never hit the steam though. If I'm wearing a shirt and a notice a couple wrinkles I'll just pull the fabric away from my body and lightly run the iron over it.
Load More Replies...
Lakota JG 4 years ago
Um, curious as to how it seemed to be a good idea to put a steaming hot piece of machinery on your body.
Roxanne D'souza 4 years ago
I've done that several times actually. I iron my outfit normally and sometimes when I wear it, I notice a few creases that I missed. So instead of taking it off, I stuff my cushions under my outfit (usually always a dress) and then gently place the hot iron against my body. I only do it to myself and for my clothes. My sister has asked me to do the same to her but I just refuse because I'm not confident enough, because when it's myself, I can feel the cushion and I know where it starts and ends and I know my body has a barrier in between. But I won't be able to tell for someone else. And I never let her do it to herself either.
Load More Replies...
Declan Herendeen 4 years ago
What on the FREAKING CORN ON THE COB WERE YOU THINKING?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
WildBerry 3 years ago
Google "The Darwin Awards" and read the rules and you'll see that ironing an object on your body would never qualify to be nominated for the award.
Load More Replies...
The Coated Dev 4 years ago
Lol what did you think was going to happen if you were putting extreme amounts of heat on a flimsy shirt that covers your body.
#15
Someone At Work Accidentally Set A Hot Iron On The Table And It Melted Through
#16
Ripped Up The Carpet In My Room And Found The Shape Of An Iron Burned Into The Hardwood
#17
There Was An Attempt To Iron My Mask
#18
Oh... Well, I Guess I've Got One Less Interview Outfit Then
#19
An Iron Melted Through This Plastic Table
#20
Roommate Left The Iron On
#21
Lesson Learned
#22
We Do Not Sow
#23
Ummm. Well, I Need A New Iron
#24
Well Who Would Have Known Ties Don't Iron
Sara Rodrigues 4 years ago (edited)
They do but you have to put them underneath another cloth! I wonder if all these people never learned how ro iron... Well at least they're trying ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
#25
My Iron Fell And I Didn't Notice
#26
My House Is Littered With Evidence Of My Epic Housewife Skills. Stuff Like This
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
Time to move the furniture and nobody knows. "Why this sidetable just off the centre of this room?" "Feng shui, that's why!"
#27
Someone Put Sugar Syrup In The Iron
#28
Clothes Iron Fell From The Other Side
#29
Dropped A Hot Iron On The Hardwood
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Troux 4 years ago
Most of these errors are easily avoidable by some simple tag and precaution reading. I know it's a lot to ask to read and understand every manual of every appliance in your house, but an iron can literally destroy buildings when misused. PLEASE be vigilant and educate yourself a little before you heat one of these up!
juice 4 years ago (edited)
wait, an iron can literally destroy buildings?
Load More Replies...
Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago
I have a scar on my arm from an iron burn. My hubby was ironing my hair (yes, hair) anyways I lifted my arm up to put a bunch of hair on the table ready to be straightened when I touched the hot iron with my arm. We had plans for dinner so needed to go to the chemist first and get stuff to treat the burn. At dinner my partner proposed so not only did I get an engagement ring, I also got branded lol.
Kim 4 years ago
Folks, you CANNOT IRON SYNTHETIC FABRICS. 🤣🙈 IT’S PLASTIC. (Synthetic fabrics don’t wrinkle as much but if you wanna iron you HAVE HAVE HAVE to put something like a cotton cloth on top and use the lowest heat possible. Better just hang your clothes to dry so they don’t wrinkle...)
G.T. van Middendorp 4 years ago
There's basically just two fails here: "let me iron this plastic piece of clothing" "let me place this iron, hot side down, on this random surface"
Evil Little Thing 4 years ago
Ironing was one of my childhood chores. I spent the past 20 years refusing to buy an iron or allow anyone to gift me one. They are not allowed in my house. So long as i don't have an iron, I never have to iron anything. Don't put something away fast enough after laundering? De-wrinkle spray and hang it up.
Roxanne D'souza 4 years ago
I don't understand why so many people leave their recently used irons hot face down. They literally have a flat edge so that they can be propped and kept upright until they cool down. I remember rooming with this really messy and careless girl for 3 months on a film shoot. She always asked to borrow my personal iron and I would watch her iron on the bed and then place the hot surface down on the white sheets. She ruined 3 different sheets with burn marks and had to pay for them. She asked me "how come you don't burn the sheets" so I had to do this entire demo of myself ironing and then I showed her how I would place the iron on my bedside table while adjusting my clothes and not facedown on the sheets. She was like "ohh...."
Beans 4 years ago
We really need to stop using synthetic fabrics. They are just basically plastic and never break down. :(
Uncommon Boston 4 years ago
I was making our Halloween costumes, when my son walked into the ironing board and the iron fell face down on his face. I hallowed much longer than he did. At the ER, I asked why they didn't consider this child abuse. They told me abusers don't cry much less sob. Until it healed completely, I went to his daycare center several times a day to apply cream. As a result, he doesn't have a scar. My ex wanted to catch me acting irresponsibly, so he went to the doctor and asked how negligent they thought I was. He got a loud, long lecture about my dedication to our son. They were impressed I drove from my office to the day care center twice a day. If only I had explained how hot the iron was to my son. He had never seen one. (At his request, we dressed as a witch family, because boy witches have swords and he really wanted a sword. He told me after the costumes completed. It did look cute tucked into his gold belt.).
Francis 4 years ago
i burnt myself by accident when i was 8. my mum just finished ironing, the iron stands on the board, still hot, to let it cool down. and somehow i stumbled and my elbow touched the iron and yeah well i couldn't move that arm for weeks or otherwise blister ripped open again. you can still see the scar (almost 20y later)
Uncommon Boston 3 years ago
Some people make mistakes, admit it, then laugh about them later. Either you never make mistakes or can't see the humor in it later.
Load More Replies...
Bender Bending Rodríguez 4 years ago
I feel attacked by all the people judging these pictures.
Sarina Greenhaven 4 years ago
So in conclusion, I learned that if you want something melted get an iron
Mike Crow 4 years ago
A long time ago I was in Air Cadets and we were billeted in a brand new officers quarters for the night that wasn’t even officially open yet. One of the other cadets was ironing his pants on the carpet of his room and left the iron face down. No surprise that he burned the iron shape into the brand new floor.
Carol Roeder 4 years ago
If these weren't so unbelievably stupid they would be out and out hilarious! I have never laughed so much at so much stupidity. For one thing, there are a lot of neat gadgets at the store to hold your wayward iron to keep it from getting in trouble! You can spend $10.00 on a rubber rippled mat to setnyour iron on. Hot or cold, it doesn't matter. There is also a wire rack that you lay your iron in and it keep it from falling. Please people. Save some money and go to your department stores or shop on-line for one of the gadgets. Much cheaper than buying new carpet!
Celtic Pirate Queen 4 years ago
I am just astounded by the number of people who have done this. Really? Humanity has become that freaking stupid? I can understand walking away and forgetting to turn the iron off, but I can pretty much guarantee that I've never done so with the iron FACE DOWN. Also, an iron falling to the floor will make a fairly loud THUNK noise - which you just naturally assume is the neighbor?
Amarédesse Gemtree, SLYTHERIN 4 years ago (edited)
Plot Twist: They're trying to tell us it's the new illuminati symbol!
Cathy Gaines 4 years ago
I've never considered myself a real adult mainly based on the fact I've never, in my adult years, owned an iron. This post is suggesting to me my decision was sound. I'd rather have slightly wrinkled clothing, thank you!
DogMatic 4 years ago
I do own one...for using iron-on patches to repair holes, or iron-on hemming stuff. That's it.
Load More Replies...
Uncommon Boston 4 years ago
Few, very few. People who wear wrinkled clothes live longer and spend less on dry cleaning.
Load More Replies...
Lara Verne 4 years ago
My worst ironing fail happened last year. I somehow managed to burn my elbow. So now I have triangular scar to remind me of my ironing skills.
Rainy Day Wolf 4 years ago (edited)
well we know common sense is very uncommon... almost as uncommon as having reading skills... I mean, there are probably tutorials on youtube now on how to iron, maybe check a few before buying an iron? (btw I do not own an iron, I don't think I'll ever need an iron tbh)
Uncommon Boston 4 years ago
How old are you? I started ironing in 1975. Were there books on how to iron, maybe never saw one. The instructions were better, but the iron belonged to my mother. The instructions were long gone. If you sew, you will need an iron to do it well. Now I have a steamer -- easier, better result. Whatever works, just please don't judge others or make assumptions.
Load More Replies...
Uncommon Boston 3 years ago
Steamers take less effort, the results are better, and it is safer.
Load More Replies...
ZombieGirl 4 years ago
Dont place a hot iron face down when not using it! It stands up for a reason, lol!
SirPatTheCat 4 years ago
I have an old house (I think around 120 years old) and I think I have the impression of a small, antique iron on the floor xD. It looks like one of those that was just iron, and you heat it up yourself to iron with it.
Beans 4 years ago
My brother's house has an iron impression on the carpet, from the previous owners.
Load More Replies... Troux 4 years ago
Most of these errors are easily avoidable by some simple tag and precaution reading. I know it's a lot to ask to read and understand every manual of every appliance in your house, but an iron can literally destroy buildings when misused. PLEASE be vigilant and educate yourself a little before you heat one of these up!
juice 4 years ago (edited)
wait, an iron can literally destroy buildings?
Load More Replies... Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago
I have a scar on my arm from an iron burn. My hubby was ironing my hair (yes, hair) anyways I lifted my arm up to put a bunch of hair on the table ready to be straightened when I touched the hot iron with my arm. We had plans for dinner so needed to go to the chemist first and get stuff to treat the burn. At dinner my partner proposed so not only did I get an engagement ring, I also got branded lol.
Kim 4 years ago
Folks, you CANNOT IRON SYNTHETIC FABRICS. 🤣🙈 IT’S PLASTIC. (Synthetic fabrics don’t wrinkle as much but if you wanna iron you HAVE HAVE HAVE to put something like a cotton cloth on top and use the lowest heat possible. Better just hang your clothes to dry so they don’t wrinkle...)
G.T. van Middendorp 4 years ago
There's basically just two fails here: "let me iron this plastic piece of clothing" "let me place this iron, hot side down, on this random surface"
Evil Little Thing 4 years ago
Ironing was one of my childhood chores. I spent the past 20 years refusing to buy an iron or allow anyone to gift me one. They are not allowed in my house. So long as i don't have an iron, I never have to iron anything. Don't put something away fast enough after laundering? De-wrinkle spray and hang it up.
Roxanne D'souza 4 years ago
I don't understand why so many people leave their recently used irons hot face down. They literally have a flat edge so that they can be propped and kept upright until they cool down. I remember rooming with this really messy and careless girl for 3 months on a film shoot. She always asked to borrow my personal iron and I would watch her iron on the bed and then place the hot surface down on the white sheets. She ruined 3 different sheets with burn marks and had to pay for them. She asked me "how come you don't burn the sheets" so I had to do this entire demo of myself ironing and then I showed her how I would place the iron on my bedside table while adjusting my clothes and not facedown on the sheets. She was like "ohh...."
Beans 4 years ago
We really need to stop using synthetic fabrics. They are just basically plastic and never break down. :(
Uncommon Boston 4 years ago
I was making our Halloween costumes, when my son walked into the ironing board and the iron fell face down on his face. I hallowed much longer than he did. At the ER, I asked why they didn't consider this child abuse. They told me abusers don't cry much less sob. Until it healed completely, I went to his daycare center several times a day to apply cream. As a result, he doesn't have a scar. My ex wanted to catch me acting irresponsibly, so he went to the doctor and asked how negligent they thought I was. He got a loud, long lecture about my dedication to our son. They were impressed I drove from my office to the day care center twice a day. If only I had explained how hot the iron was to my son. He had never seen one. (At his request, we dressed as a witch family, because boy witches have swords and he really wanted a sword. He told me after the costumes completed. It did look cute tucked into his gold belt.).
Francis 4 years ago
i burnt myself by accident when i was 8. my mum just finished ironing, the iron stands on the board, still hot, to let it cool down. and somehow i stumbled and my elbow touched the iron and yeah well i couldn't move that arm for weeks or otherwise blister ripped open again. you can still see the scar (almost 20y later)
Uncommon Boston 3 years ago
Some people make mistakes, admit it, then laugh about them later. Either you never make mistakes or can't see the humor in it later.
Load More Replies... Bender Bending Rodríguez 4 years ago
I feel attacked by all the people judging these pictures.
Sarina Greenhaven 4 years ago
So in conclusion, I learned that if you want something melted get an iron
Mike Crow 4 years ago
A long time ago I was in Air Cadets and we were billeted in a brand new officers quarters for the night that wasn’t even officially open yet. One of the other cadets was ironing his pants on the carpet of his room and left the iron face down. No surprise that he burned the iron shape into the brand new floor.
Carol Roeder 4 years ago
If these weren't so unbelievably stupid they would be out and out hilarious! I have never laughed so much at so much stupidity. For one thing, there are a lot of neat gadgets at the store to hold your wayward iron to keep it from getting in trouble! You can spend $10.00 on a rubber rippled mat to setnyour iron on. Hot or cold, it doesn't matter. There is also a wire rack that you lay your iron in and it keep it from falling. Please people. Save some money and go to your department stores or shop on-line for one of the gadgets. Much cheaper than buying new carpet!
Celtic Pirate Queen 4 years ago
I am just astounded by the number of people who have done this. Really? Humanity has become that freaking stupid? I can understand walking away and forgetting to turn the iron off, but I can pretty much guarantee that I've never done so with the iron FACE DOWN. Also, an iron falling to the floor will make a fairly loud THUNK noise - which you just naturally assume is the neighbor?
Amarédesse Gemtree, SLYTHERIN 4 years ago (edited)
Plot Twist: They're trying to tell us it's the new illuminati symbol!
Cathy Gaines 4 years ago
I've never considered myself a real adult mainly based on the fact I've never, in my adult years, owned an iron. This post is suggesting to me my decision was sound. I'd rather have slightly wrinkled clothing, thank you!
DogMatic 4 years ago
I do own one...for using iron-on patches to repair holes, or iron-on hemming stuff. That's it.
Load More Replies... Uncommon Boston 4 years ago
Few, very few. People who wear wrinkled clothes live longer and spend less on dry cleaning.
Load More Replies... Lara Verne 4 years ago
My worst ironing fail happened last year. I somehow managed to burn my elbow. So now I have triangular scar to remind me of my ironing skills.
Rainy Day Wolf 4 years ago (edited)
well we know common sense is very uncommon... almost as uncommon as having reading skills... I mean, there are probably tutorials on youtube now on how to iron, maybe check a few before buying an iron? (btw I do not own an iron, I don't think I'll ever need an iron tbh)
Uncommon Boston 4 years ago
How old are you? I started ironing in 1975. Were there books on how to iron, maybe never saw one. The instructions were better, but the iron belonged to my mother. The instructions were long gone. If you sew, you will need an iron to do it well. Now I have a steamer -- easier, better result. Whatever works, just please don't judge others or make assumptions.
Load More Replies... Uncommon Boston 3 years ago
Steamers take less effort, the results are better, and it is safer.
Load More Replies... ZombieGirl 4 years ago
Dont place a hot iron face down when not using it! It stands up for a reason, lol!
SirPatTheCat 4 years ago
I have an old house (I think around 120 years old) and I think I have the impression of a small, antique iron on the floor xD. It looks like one of those that was just iron, and you heat it up yourself to iron with it.
Beans 4 years ago
My brother's house has an iron impression on the carpet, from the previous owners.
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