John Watson
16 April, 2025
News

Bristol residents are most clueless about ironing

Bristol is the British city most clueless about creases - as its residents make the most searches for ‘how to iron’, new research has revealed.

Philips 5000 Series Handheld Steamer

The garment care experts at  Philips analysed a year’s worth of Google data for their new study - analysing over 13 million searches from confused Brits. 

The South of England is leading the charge for ironing incompetence, with the village of Pucklechurch near Bristol having the most searches. 

Close behind is the boujee area of Sutton in Greater London – proving some city dwellers require a serious ironing intervention. 

It’s not just city dwellers struggling – Surrey’s picture-perfect village of Pirbright also makes the list, showing that even the countryside isn’t immune to ironing woes.

Southerners aren’t the only ones struggling ironing, with the Welsh well and truly in the tangle, as Talgarth and Barry round out the top five. 

Meanwhile, the North is mostly holding its own – but Harrogate has let the side down, sneaking into the top ranks of ironing offenders. Ponteland and Blyth in Northumberland aren’t far behind, while Otley and Winsford prove even northern wardrobes aren’t entirely wrinkle-free.

On the findings, Lamprini Fameli, in-house product expert at  Philips said: "It's safe to say that ironing isn't exactly a beloved chore for most of us, especially the poor residents of Bristol.

“So, it's hardly surprising that we're seeing such a surge in ironing-related searches – everything from 'how to iron a shirt' to 'how to get burn marks off an iron'. It's clear people are keen to get to grips with the task itself, as well as find quick and simple solutions that get rid of those creases without the fuss.

“For keeping your clothes looking their best without using a clunky, old iron, handheld steamers are a brilliant solution. They’re fast, cost-effective, and portable, plus they refresh fabrics, help to reduce how often you need to wash items, and they're a more eco-friendly way to care for your clothes too."

Looking for an easier alternative to whipping out the old iron? Philips 5000 Series Handheld Garment Steamer is available in  John Lewis for just £49.99.

Top 10 Clueless towns when it comes to ironing

Ranking Town Name
1 Pucklechurch, near Bristol
2 Sutton, Greater London
3 Harrogate, Yorkshire
4 Talgarth, Wales
5 Barry, Wales
6 Ponteland, Northumberland
7 Pirbright, Surrey
8 Blyth, Northumberland
9 Otley, West Yorkshire
10 Winsford, Cheshire