Best Ironing Board

Choosing the Best Ironing Board for Your Home

Ironing boards are useful but bulky items and take up valuable space in cupboards, so it is always a good idea to consider how and where you will use one before purchase – and whether you need something fancy with extra storage, or just a plain but functional board. Choosing the Best Ironing Board can be a challenge, so know your available space before you buy.

The Smoothing of Linen in Times Past

The smoothing of cloth with flat stones can be traced back thousands of years; the Chinese were using flat metal while the rest of the world still used stone or glass. Metal flat irons were forged by blacksmiths in Europe in the Middle Ages.

Ironing would take place on a flat surface such as a table until the mid 19th century, when purpose-made ironing boards began to appear. These would be placed across the top of two chair backs for use; an African American woman named Sarah Boone patented a narrow-boarded ironing platform, the better to iron shirts.

By 1940, a tubular metal collapsible frame was added, and thus the modern ironing board was born.

Reliable C30 Ironing Board

Reliable Longboard 2-in-1 Home Ironing Tables

4-Leg Ironing Board with Natural Cotton Cover

Household Essentials Fibertech Mega Wide Top Bronze Finish 4-Leg Ironing Board with Natural Cotton Cover

Choosing an Ironing Board

Ironing Boards are available in several forms:

Free-standing Y or T-shaped frames. These are the commonest around today.

Over-the-door ironing boards. These are designed to hook over a door and fold down when needed. They fold back up when not in use.

Tabletop ironing boards – these are light, being usually of aluminium, have a smaller ironing surface and short folding legs. They are good for quick ironing jobs and can be placed on a table or bed for minor ironing chores.

Sleeve boards – just for shirt sleeves.

Wall-mounted ironing boards are fixed to the wall and are similar to over-the-door boards.

Ironing table systems allow for the storage of clothing and can often be wheeled for one room to another.

Brabantia Ironing Board with Ivory Frame and Leaves Cover

Brabantia 310164 124 by 38-Inch Ironing Board with 22mm Ivory Frame and Leaves Cover Steam Iron Rest

Brabantia Ironing Board with Ivory Frame and Ice Water Cover

Brabantia 321962 124 by 45-Inch Ironing Board with 25mm Ivory Frame and Ice Water Cover Solid Steam Unit Holder

Eurosteam Split Board Ironing Board with Wire Iron Rest

Eurosteam Split Board Ironing Board with Wire Iron Rest
Smooth operator. With a revolutionary, split board design, this ironing board lets you press both legs of your pants, or both sleeves of your shirt without stopping to reposition the item. The arms can be easily pushed back together for use as a traditional ironing board. From Eurosteam.