How To Iron Without An Ironing Board

What are the alternatives when you don’t have an ironing board but you need to get your clothes ironed? Your ironing board may have broken a leg or you are out of town without an ironing board in your room but you need to get your crumpled clothes looking good. Well, if you are wondering how to iron without an ironing board, let’s just say you can easily do it by looking for a hard and flat surface as a substitute.

If you hardly do any ironing, you may be able to get by using this method when you absolutely need to iron that one piece of item. So, save your money and let’s try this out.

How To Iron Without An Ironing Board – A Table Works

If you have a wooden or stone table at home, this would be a good alternative to an ironing board. These materials are hard and can withstand a certain amount of heat. Tables that are made of plastic and other kinds of surface that are prone to melting when in contact with high heat should naturally be avoided.

Some people also use their kitchen countertop or the floor to do their ironing. It doesn’t matter as long as the surface is firm and can absorb a certain amount of heat.

Lay A Towel

Once you have identified a suitable surface, cover it with a thick towel. You can also get an ironing blanket or mat to help you out. An ironing blanket is foldable and easy to store. They are cheap compared to an ironing board and can withstand higher heat compared to a towel. This means you are less likely to damage your furniture, especially if you are using a high quality steam iron with a steam jet like many of the Rowenta irons.

An ironing blanket also tends to have an anti-skid bottom which helps to make it stay put while you move your iron. The problem with using a towel is that it tends to move and that can be frustrating. You can minimize the movement by using a damp towel instead of a dry one but it won’t beat having an ironing blanket or mat.

The other option is to use magnetic ironing pads that can be stuck onto metal surfaces like your dryer top. This means the pad won’t move and you get a place to iron your clothes without needing an ironing board.

Ironing Mat vs Board

So, is an ironing board really necessary? After all, you can iron by using a table or floor and laying it with an ironing mat. But to us, having the best ironing boards for the chore is definitely more convenient. If you choose the right ironing board, it can make ironing easier.

The main reason being the shape of an ironing board makes it easy to iron shirts and pants. For example, many people use the pointed end of the board to iron the shoulder area of a shirt. You cannot do this with a table which slows down your task.

An ironing board also tends to have an iron holder for you to place your iron. This means it is always in a safe and easy to reach location. The height is also adjustable which is less tiring compared to having to hunch over a table or sitting on the floor.

On the other hand, the advantage of having an ironing mat is that it saves space. If you live in an apartment with not much space to keep large items, an ironing board is a hassle to store. But a mat or blanket can be folded and easily tucked away. It is also easy to carry compared to an ironing board. This means it is possible to bring it along whenever you are traveling and need to do some ironing while you are away.

In terms of price, an ironing mat is also cheaper than a board. So, if you are on a tight budget, you don’t need to spend as much money to get your ironing done.

Should You Buy An Ironing Board?

Whether you should buy an ironing board or not really depends on how often you iron, how much is your workload, your ironing style and what you need to iron. If this is a task that you do often and you have many clothes that you need to get done, then investing in a good ironing board is best. After all, an ironing board can last you a long time. If it can make your chore easier to do and you can finish your ironing faster using it, it is already a good investment.

However, if you only have a shirt or two that you need to iron each week and you can get it done nicely with a table, then you probably don’t need to buy an ironing board. Similarly, if you are not ironing clothes but art and craft items or sheets, then having an ironing board may not make such a huge difference.

Lastly, if you are still unsure which way to go, try out how to iron without an ironing board first by using a table and towel. If you can get by doing it this way, then you can consider getting an ironing mat. Otherwise, you just have to shelve out the money for an ironing board instead.