Dig Out Your Ironing Board

Before you can start making progress on the likely mile high pile of laundry you are staring at, you will need to dig your ironing board out of whatever dark place you have been storing it. Whether you hang it off the back of your closet door, keep it in a special ironing board cabinet, or store it deep in the back of your darkest closet, bring your ironing board out of hibernation, dust it off and place it in a spot that has good lighting and some form of entertainment to turn what you might consider a dull task into an easy one. Be sure there is no risk of a person or pet walking into the iron cord wherever you choose to set up.

Checking Over Your Ironing Board & Cover

Check over your ironing board cover to ensure it’s in good working condition. Unlike your iron and ironing board, the cover of your ironing board is not meant to last indefinitely and you should plan on replacing it around the 2-year mark. If you are in the market for a new cover, you’ll have plenty of options including covers that are 100% unbleached cotton, reflective, or have a non-stick surface. Cotton covers excel at keeping your clothes or crafts in place so they don’t move around the ironing board as you iron, a non-stock surface prevents clothes from sticking to the board, and reflective surfaces transfer heat back into the clothes for faster ironing. A cover with a good amount of padding is essential to getting quality results. Whatever cover you select, be sure you measure the width of your ironing board to make sure you buy the right size cover for your ironing board.

No Ironing Board? No Problem.

You might be wondering- can you still iron even if you don’t have an ironing board? Of course! Just use a sturdy and flat surface like a floor, counter or table as your “ironing board”. You will need to cover the surface with a protective material, preferably an ironing blanket that is heat and scorch-resistant, or at the very least a very thick white or off-white cotton towel that will protect your surface.

Pre-Ironing Tips

• Cover your ironing board with a padded, heat resistant cover. Brush off any dust so it doesn’t end up on your clothes.
• Set the height of your ironing board by standing with your elbows bent at right angles. Drop your hands slightly so your arms are in a comfortable position. This is the ideal height for your ironing board.

Additional Ironing Tips & Techniques:

The Ultimate Ironing Guide >

Before You Get Out Your Iron

Prepping Your Clothes for Ironing >

Ironing Instructions for Your Specific Fabric Type >

Ironing Out the Differences: Picking the Best Iron >