How to choose an ironing board: tips and tricks

Ironing boards make ironing easier and shorten the time needed to iron clothes. But that's not all they can do. Some models can transform into ladders, be built into pieces of furniture or turn into clothes dryers. Today we will tell you what the advantages and disadvantages of each type of ironing board are and what you need to pay attention to when buying.

Types of ironing boards

Portable Floor Ironing Boards

This is one of the most popular types of boards. They are easy to fold and can often adjust to a person’s height. Many of them are equipped with a leg-piece, a stand for an iron, a socket and a holder for a cable.

Some portable boards can transform into stepladders or drying clothes and vice versa. This is a good option for small premises.

Virtues

• Excellent stability;

  You can adjust the height (usually 30 cm);

• Ironing clothes can be performed in any convenient place;

• Some folding boards have additional features. They can warm up the ironing surface, remove excess steam, perform blowing, which allows you to smooth delicate materials and small details of clothing.

• The board can be folded and hidden behind a wardrobe, door or sofa;

• The length and width of the table top is enough to iron large size clothes and bed linen. As a rule, the length of the product varies from 120 to 125 cm, and the width - from 38 to 46 cm. There are also models whose length is about 140 cm and width - 46 cm.

• Large selection of models, ranging from the simplest products, consisting only of the table top and legs, and ending with boards, clothes dryers;

disadvantages

• Take up a lot of space when unfolded;

• We need to find a place where the board will be stored.

Desktop Ironing Boards

Desktop models are installed on a flat surface, most often on the table. They are quite compact - the working surface is about 70–85 cm in length and 30–35 cm in height, they have a small weight (1.5–3 kg) and small non-slip legs. Such models are ideal for ironing underwear, small size clothes, children's clothes. In addition, they are convenient to store - many boards can be hung to the wall with a hook.

Virtues

• Affordable price (from 350 rubles);

• Good stability;

• Small weight - easy to transport;

• Convenient to store;

• Take up little space;

disadvantages

• Not suitable for ironing large items;

• They do not have such additional functions as a stand for an iron or a steam generator, a holder for a cable, built-in sockets and

Ironing coupe

These models are most often embedded in full-size wall mirrors, but sometimes they “hide” behind magnetic-marker boards (for a nursery) or glass photo-panels. To lay the board, you need to move the facade to the side.

Coupe models are often equipped with an outlet for an iron and have the same dimensions of the working surface as ordinary floor boards.

Virtues

• It is convenient to iron the clothes of large sizes and curtains on them;

• Designed for heavy weight (from 20 to 50 kg);

• Easy to fold and unfold;

disadvantages

• The high price (15 000–20 000 rubles);

• Cheap coupe boards are distinguished by their flimsy design and, consequently, low strength. In addition, the transformation mechanism may loosen;

• Cannot be moved to another room;

Retractable Ironing Boards

Retractable boards - a great option for small apartments and for those who want to save more space. They can be installed together with a drying and washing machine, as well as built into the drawers of cabinets or furniture walls.

Virtues

• Space saving;

• Suitable for quick ironing;

• Simple retractable system;

disadvantages

• Sliding mechanism may break;

• The maximum load on such boards is about 10–15 kg;

• The ironing surface is small;

• High price (15,000–30,000 rubles)

Ironing Transforming Boards

Transforming boards look like a chest of drawers with several drawers / laundry baskets, the surface of which unfolds. The table top has standard dimensions (about 120–130 cm long and 35 cm wide) and is often equipped with a stand for an iron. The cabinet can have four wheels with a locking mechanism, which increases the mobility of the product.

Virtues

• Excellent stability;

• A good price, as for things 2 in 1 (5 000–9 000 rubles);

• You can not lay out the board to stroke small objects and children's clothing;

• Multifunctionality - storing things and ironing clothes;

disadvantages

• Low mobility;

• Cannot adjust height.

Choosing a tabletop material for an ironing board and its size

The strength and durability of the ironing board depends on the material of the tabletop, and the size is convenient to use. It is usually made from thermoplastic, aluminum, steel or wood.

1. Thermoplastic - one of the most successful options for the production of ironing boards. This is a light material, so an ironing board with such a tabletop weighs a little (4–5 kg). Thermoplastic surfaces perfectly withstand exposure to high temperatures, steam and moisture, and are characterized by a long service life.

2. Wooden tabletops are made of plywood or chipboard. This is the budget option - folding ironing boards made of wood cost about 500-1,500 rubles. However, wooden surfaces are not very durable - over time they swell, exfoliate and become unusable.

3. Metal countertops are made from aluminum or steel. Aluminum models are resistant to corrosion and are lightweight, but they are prone to deformation - they bend and scratch easily. Steel products weigh more, but they are characterized by high strength and durability.

4. Metal countertops may consist of a solid sheet metal with holes or a metal mesh. Mesh surfaces remove excess steam well, but can leave traces of perforation on clothing. This is a good option for steam handling things. All-metal products are more durable, but with a small number of holes, they miss couples worse and have more weight compared to mesh worktops.

Ironing board dimensions

The size of the tabletop ironing boards range from 30 cm to 46 cm in width and from 70 cm to 150 cm in length. Small items are suitable for small spaces and temporary housing, as well as for quick ironing and small items of clothing.

Models of large sizes should be chosen if you have to iron a large amount of bed linen, towels and curtains.Of course, if you do not need to iron the “mountains” of bed linen every day, you can buy a regular ironing board with a surface 110–120 cm long and 30–38 cm wide.

Determine coated ironing board

Covers for ironing boards are made from cotton and synthetic materials. Cotton is easily washable and breathable, but if cheap dyes were used to dye it, it can shed. Therefore, it is better to choose ironing boards with light covers without pictures. In addition, cheap cotton covers do not live for a long time.

1. Polyester is often used in the production of budget ironing boards. Polyester covers often stick to the iron and accumulate static electricity. Their lifespan is 1–1.5 years.

2. Fabrics with metallized thread are considered the best materials for covers. They have non-stick properties, well reflect steam and heat, which provides two-way ironing of clothes. Often, such products have Teflon coating, which increases their durability and strength.

When buying, you should also pay attention to the type of fixation of the cover. It can be attached to the tabletop with elastic bands, tapes, tapes and cords. Covers on elastic bands are considered the most unreliable, because over time, elastic bands stretch, and with cords - the most durable.

It is also important that the case has a soft lining (at least 2 mm in thickness). It facilitates the process of ironing and protects from marks left by the metal mesh of the table top on clothes.

Lining for the cover are made of batting, foam rubber and padding polyester. Batting is not recommended for boards made of chipboard and plywood, because It has a high moisture permeability, and, therefore, contributes to the deformation of the wooden surface.

Stability and support

When buying, pay attention to the width of the legs and the method of attachment. If the legs of the ironing board are not wide enough, the stability of the product will be low. The best option is when the base of the legs is wider than the table top.

If the legs are attached to the tabletop and to each other with bolts and rivets, then over time they can loosen. Rivets are considered the most unreliable fixing method.

To prevent the board from sliding and scratching the floor, choose products with silicone or rubber caps on the legs.

When buying, pay attention to the shape of the legs. The most stable are T-shaped structures.

Locking mechanisms - ironing board height

The height of many boards can "adapt" to the growth of the owner. In most cases, the tabletop can be raised to 20–30 cm (up to 94–98 cm).

Ironing boards can have step and smooth height adjustment. Step adjustment allows to raise a table-top on 2–3 levels, and by means of smooth adjustment it is possible to establish an ironing surface at any height. However, over time, the reliability of fixing models with a smooth height adjustment is lost, and the design is loosened.

We select the weight of the ironing board, stand for iron and drawers for storing clothes

When buying, be sure to pay attention to the weight of the ironing board. The lighter the product, the easier it will carry and fold. Ideally, it should be a board weighing 4-7 kg.

To make the product weigh less, manufacturers use perforated metal sheets, plywood sheets or thin chipboard. However, be careful - too thin wooden countertops will quickly become unusable, and thin boards made of metal mesh will become deformed.

When buying, pay attention to the stand for the iron. New euro coasters on which you can put the iron in two positions, are not suitable for all irons. In addition, users note that in the steam mode and position at an angle condensate is collected and drips onto the floor. Classic horizontal coasters are suitable for any size of iron.

Some folding ironing boards are equipped with drawers or laundry baskets.They can fold newly ironed linen and thus save the time required for ironing.

In addition, ironing boards are often equipped with accessories and features such as:

1. Girlfriend;

2. Built-in socket and extension cord;

3. The holder for the wire - does not allow the cable to cling to the tabletop or clothing;

4. Supercharging - protects delicate fabrics (for example, velor) from damage;

5. Heating - things are ironed on both sides;

6. Vacuum - the fabric "sticks" to the working surface, does not slip and does not wrinkle under the iron. This facilitates the process of ironing and allows you to make the perfect folds or arrows on the clothes.

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a guide to purchase.