Survey Reveals America Is Hot On Ironing

Survey Reveals America Is Hot On Ironing

Items such as socks, shoelaces, sandwiches and steering wheel covers being pressed across the country

MEDFORD, Mass., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Americans are ironing everything from their puppets, pillowcases, pet paraphernalia and panties to their t- shirts, tennis shoes, term papers and towels, according to a recent 15-city survey conducted by Rowenta, the garment care expert and high-performance iron manufacturer.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050825/NETHFNS3 )

More surprisingly, ironing boards have sometimes been replaced by such items as buckets, bathtubs, barstools and bleachers.

"I am very impressed with the creativity Americans display when it comes to ironing," said ironing guru Ingrid Johnson, Professor of Textiles, Fashion Institute of Technology and garment care spokesperson for Rowenta. "However, with a little more focus on the basics, I feel strongly that Americans will press their way to perfection."

Survey respondents fell into three different "ironing personality" categories:

* Ironing Aficionado -- a perpetual presser ironing a large variety of
items from boxers to socks to curtains;
* Peer Pressure Presser -- an ironer who sticks to the basics yet has a
firm grasp on the importance of the task;
* Seasonal Steamer -- an infrequent presser that dusts off the iron for
special occasions, only pressing what's necessary.

As an indication that Americans may be too rushed, nearly 25 percent nationwide confessed to ironing their clothes while wearing them. Conversely, all cities surveyed reported residents ironing in the nude. Showing some creative cooking skills, residents in seven cities reported making grilled cheese sandwiches with their irons.

Nationwide, 39 percent said they enjoy ironing, possibly due to the fact that they combine the task with such activities as singing, dancing the Merengue, praying and having sex.

The 15 cities surveyed include Atlanta, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Nashville, New York, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.

For more information about Rowenta, please visit http://www.rowentausa.com/.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050825/NETHFNS3
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Rowenta

CONTACT: Jennifer Gear for Rowenta, +1-781-937-3489 (office), +1-781-760-
9754 (cell), jennifer@cogentpr.com

Web site: http://www.rowentausa.com/

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