Choose the Right Ironing Board Cover

A good ironing board should last decades, or even a lifetime. However, a cover will need to be replaced every couple of years. You may also choose to upgrade the cover that came with your ironing board in order to improve the quality or efficiency of your ironing work. Find the best cover to match your board, your work and your hobbies.

Steps

Exploring Your Options for Covers

1. Reflect heat onto the fabric you are ironing with a metallic cover. Metallic covers are made of fabric, but the exposed surface is woven with copper. This allows the heat of the iron to be reflected back into the fabric you are ironing as opposed to the heat being absorbed by both the fabric of your garment and the fabric of the ironing board cover.
   • Reflecting the heat back onto your garment will speed up your ironing process. It can also be an energy saver as more heat is created using less electricity and time.
2. Ensure your item stays in place with a non-slip ironing board cover. The non-slip cover is especially useful for sewing and quilting projects. Making sure that your project stays in place on the board can be essential to creating straight seams.
3. Use natural unbleached cotton ironing board covers for everyday ironing. This is also a practical option for sewing and quilting. Your clothes and fabrics will stay put and not slide around or off of your ironing board. These are usually a thicker material like canvas or duck cloth, very durable and washable.
   • Cotton will scorch if you get your iron too hot or lay it down on the surface for a long period of time. Although scorch marks on your cover will not damage your clothes, they do not look nice and are almost impossible to wash out.
   • Some manufacturers have designed their heavy duty cotton covers with a steam repellent layer underneath the cover to give you the best of both styles - no slip surface, with reflected heat for ease of ironing.
4. Choose a cover with a heavy felt lining. Some ironing board covers are lined with a foam pad. The foam pad often loses its shape or becomes damaged easily. Felt lining is more durable and will maintain its shape.
   • Be sure that the lining is thick enough to create a buffer between your garment and the perforated ironing board so that the mesh of the board does not transfer to your garment. Most pads are between four and eight millimeters thick.
   • If you find the perfect cover, but do not like the padding, you can always add your own. Fabric stores sell upholstery foam and felt by the yard. You can cut this to fit on top of your board, then place your cover on top.
   • Some people keep the old cover as padding and place the new one on top.
   • Felt is an organic material and does not contain the chemicals which may be used in foam padding.
5. Get rid of any old ironing board covers which may be made with asbestos. Asbestos was widely used up until the 1960s. It was considered a miracle material in that it was fire-resistant and durable. For this reason, white chrysotile, a form of asbestos, was commonly used in the production of ironing board covers. Since the 60s, though, the dangers of exposure to asbestos and its link to disease, has made asbestos obsolete and dangerous.
   • If you are using a cover made after 1960, it likely does not contain asbestos.
   • If you are disposing of asbestos, you should contact your local council for instructions on specified disposal sites for hazardous materials.

Finding the Perfect Fit for Your Ironing Board

1. Measure the width of your ironing board. Using a measuring tape, measure the width of your ironing board. Be sure to measure the board at it’s widest point, which should be near the middle of the board.
   • Only measure the top of the board. Do not wrap your measuring tape around the sides of the board.
2. Find the length of your ironing board. Measure the board from nose to tail using a measuring tape. Do not include any accessories like an iron rest plate when you are measuring the length of your board.
   • Knowing the length of your board is going to be the most helpful. Some covers can fit various widths using elastic or drawstrings, but the cover must reach both ends of the board.
3. Determine the shape of the nose of your ironing board. Different ironing boards are created with a variety of noses for different purposes. You will want to know whether your board has a rounded, tapered, or blunt nose in order to find a cover with the correct fit.
4. Take your measurements to the store when you shop for a cover. Many covers come in a standard size which fits most ironing boards, but it is helpful to have your measurements handy to be sure your cover fits your board. This is especially useful for ironing boards which are an odd shape or size.
   • The size of the cover should be listed on the packaging. Match the size listed to your measurements.

Choosing Bonus Features for Your Cover

1. Attach the cover to your ironing board with a drawstring. If you have measured the board correctly and found a perfect fitting cover, it should fit snug on your board and not pucker. Some covers will also come with a drawstring to assist in cinching the cover perfectly to your board.
   • Drawstrings can be easier to use than an elastic cover if you have an iron rest attached to you ironing board. The drawstrings can be worked between the board and the iron rest more easily than elastic edging.
2. Slip the cover over your board easily with elastic edging. As opposed to drawstrings, which tie and hang off the bottom of the board, some covers are made with an elastic band around the edge. This ensures that the cover fits snug, while keeping the edges neat and clean.
   • If you have an iron rest, remove the iron rest before slipping the cover on, then reattach the iron rest with the cover in place.
3. Choose a cover which meets your aesthetic. Many cotton ironing board covers are coming in a variety of colors and design. This may appeal to you, especially if you use your ironing board regularly and leave it set up.
   • Some people find the designs distracting. They can make it more difficult to see seams in the garment or to determine if the wrinkles have been removed.

Tips

• If you are going to attempt to purchase one at a department store, take your measurements and a drawing along with you.
• Many on-line retailers of ironing board covers will show a tracing of how the board surface looks, along with the measurements of the cover. Try to match your board to one shown in the listing or call the seller and ask for help.
• If you are fortunate enough to know the manufacturer and model number of your board, you can call the manufacturer for help finding a replacement cover.

Related Articles

• Make an Ironing Board Cover
• Make an Ironing Board Cover from Scratch
• Pick an Ironing Board to Fit Your Ironing Style and Space
• Iron a Shirt

Sources and Citations

See also

• Steam Press a Sweater or Other Knit Garment
• Make a Portable Ironing Board
• Clean the Bottom of an Iron
• Iron a Shirt
• Heat Press a T‐Shirt
• Use an Iron
• Starch a Shirt
• Iron a Suit Jacket
• Use a Clothes Steamer
• Iron a Dress Shirt

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