First impression is the last impression. Whether you are a student who is getting ready for his presentation, a professional who is getting dressed for work or a homemaker who has to iron her family’s clean laundry, you need a strong and sturdy ironing board to help you press your clothes seamlessly.
Materials like cotton, satin, silk, polyester and nylon require ironing as the wrinkles on the clothes can affect the beauty and comfort of the dress. Wrinkled clothes have an overall adverse effect on your personality and can make you look shabby and unclean, especially if you are dressed for a formal event. It can give people an impression that you’re unorganized, irresponsible, undisciplined, and therefore, should not be considered for important tasks like leading the new project or submission of a report/ assignment.
Imagine wearing an unironed cotton shirt on your first date. It will leave a really bad impression on your potential partner because they may perceive that you are not serious about the occasion and took it so lightly that you didn’t even bother to spend 5 minutes to iron your shirt.
Ironing clothes without an ironing board can be a challenge. Dining tables and beds may be turned into a substitute for iron boards, but their low height level will make it inconvenient for you to press the clothes comfortably. Moreover, you will have to place an extra sheet of cloth to save your dining table and bedsheets from getting burnt by the irons.
Small ironing folding boards are an ideal solution for homes that have limited space. You can fold back the small iron board after you are done and store it under a bed or in a storage cabinet to keep it out of the way. Its small size ensures that the ironing board can easily fit in close-packed spaces like cupboards and cabinets and at the same time serve its optimal function once it’s unfolded and used for ironing clothes.
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Things to Consider When Purchasing a Small Ironing Board:
However, there are several things one should consider before the purchase:
Size
The size of an ironing board is usually determined by its length. Standard-sized ones have a length of 54 inches and are 15 inches in width. Professional ironing boards such as the ones used by laundry services have a length of 63 inches and are 19 inches in width. Longer and wider area ensure that there is more surface area for you to spread the clothes and iron them in one go.
But if you have limited space in your home, then you need a small ironing board that has a length of 30 inches or less and is around 10 inches wide. Small-sized ones are foldable and can become compact so that you can easily store them in a cabinet or under the bed once you are done ironing your clothes.
Material
Before purchasing your compact ironing board, you must always consider its make and material. The frame is usually manufactured from rolled steel. The steel sheets are rolled and cooled down to provide compact strength and sturdiness. Using cold rolled steel for building the frame of the ironing board makes sure that the stand doesn’t move, break or collapse when pressure is applied on it and at the same time, it is so lightweight that it can easily be picked up, folded and stored away from the main living spaces.
The frame also includes rivets made out of plastic or metal, metal locks and rubber tips. The rivets are used to connect the joints in the frame so that the ironing board can be folded or its height can be adjusted. The metal locks ensure that once it has been unfolded, it does not collapse under pressure or when it is knocked over. At the same time, the rubber tips on the compact ironing board are used to prevent scratches on the floor.
Design
The design of your small ironing folding board should be of prime importance. The design includes its color, style, and features that will allow you to determine whether this board is the right choice of ironing equipment for you. For example, standard ironing boards usually fold up in a criss-cross manner. But some, like the tabletop iron boards, are designed in a way that in order to unfold them, you have to flip open the thin stands underneath the board.
Features such as a rack underneath to hold your clean and folded laundry or metal locks to prevent the board from collapse will be the ultimate deciding factor while purchasing your new board.
They are also available in a variety of colors to ensure that you get the one that blends beautifully with the rest of your interior décor. The frame usually comes with a power finish coating to prevent rust and damage. This coating can be done in vibrant colors such as blue, red, purple, green, yellow or neutral colors such as ash grey, white, black, brown to meet your individual taste.
The design and size of your small ironing board should support portability; therefore, always make sure that your compact ironing board is lightweight.
Adjustable Height
A compact board should have an adjustable height. The ironing board with the right height will prevent you from bending low while ironing your clothes. This, in turn, will ensure that you always maintain the right posture when ironing your clothes.
Some small ironing folding boards also allow you to use the stand while sitting on the floor. You can also use these boards over a table. A compact ironing board with adjustable height will help you to apply the right pressure without hurting your body, and you will not find the task to be tiring or inconvenient.
Iron Holder
While selecting the best board for your home, be sure to check if it has an iron holder on one end to allow you to place the hot iron on it once you have finished pressing your clothes. The iron holder has raised rods on the ends to prevent the hot iron from falling over. It saves you and your family from injuries and burns and makes your house look organized and clutter-free.
Some small ironing boards have a well-designed iron holder at one end, so even after you have folded it, the iron can still be placed on it and kept out of reach of children.
Padding and Cover
The padding and cover should support its functionality. Some ironing boards have three-layered padding that includes the topmost layer of heat-resistant cotton cloth, the first inner layer of aluminum and the bottom-most layer of sponge to ensure that you are able to iron your clothes and smooth out the wrinkles seamlessly.
It is to be noted that the layer of aluminum that is stitched together with the cover of your small ironing board helps to reflect 300% heat back to your fabric, warming it from the bottom for perfect pressing.
The padding and cover of the small iron board should be washable and long-lasting so that you may use it for years. The board itself is usually made of wood or steel mesh to provide the firm and sturdy base that you need to iron your clothes.
Some compact boards come with covers that have a stretchable hem so that you can remove the cloth cover for washing or replacing without damaging the padded base of the board.
You can also make your own over, here is a good video on this very topic:
Price
You must make sure that the price of your small ironing folding board is within your budget. However, you should not compromise on the quality of your board, because this is a one-time investment. The average price of a compact ironing board is anywhere between $20 to $50 depending on the quality, design and features. The manufacturer’s reputation and guarantee will also have an impact on the price.
Longevity
The end goal of your purchase should always be the longevity of your small ironing folding board. As we have mentioned above that, it is a one-time investment because even if you change houses, the small ironing boards are so lightweight and portable that you can always carry them with you. Therefore, you must purchase one that guarantees long-term usage. Materials used to manufacture the frame and board should be durable, strong and sturdy, and the fabric used for its cover should be heat and tear-resistant and washable.
3 Best Small Ironing Boards on the Market
1) Household Essentials 131210 Small Steel Table Top Ironing Board
This small steel tabletop ironing board is made from a steel mesh that makes it extremely strong, sturdy and heat-resistant. Its collapsible design makes it ideal small ironing folding board and makes it easy for you to store it away under the bed or in a storage cabinet.
- This compact tabletop ironing board allows anyone to achieve...
- Features a high-quality cotton and fiber pad cover,...
- Use on a tabletop, dresser, countertop, desktop, washer or...
- Hang on the back of a door or stow away easily with this...
- OPEN: 5” H x 12” W x 36.5” L (with iron rest out),...
- Replacement cover (#1209) sold separately
Its over-the-hook feature makes it really easy for you to take it out from the storage space and set it up on the table with a single swift motion. The metal hooks prevent the ironing board from collapsing while you are using it.
The cover of the iron board is made of 100% cotton fabric that is heat resistant and comes with a 5mm thick padding of fiber and matt.
You will also receive a free replacement cover,, so when the old one gets dirty and faded, you can simply remove it and replace it with a new one.
Household Essentials 131210 Small Steel Table Top is ideal for small homes, dorm rooms and offices/ studios.
Product Dimension: 31.8 x 12 x 8 inches
- Lightweight (weighs 5.3 pounds)
- Portable
- Small size
- Collapsible design
- Strong, sturdy, durable
- Heat-resistant batting
- 100% cotton cover
- Steel mesh surface
- 5mm thick padding
- Over the door hook for storage
- Comes with a replacement cover
- Has an iron holder for the hot iron
- Fixed height
- Is a table top ironing board and not an ironing stand
- The iron holder can be a little flimsy
2) Honey-Can-Do B001F51A2Q Small Table Top Ironing Board
The Honey Can Do small table top ironing board is completely foldable. The surface of the small ironing folding board can be folded into two, making it extremely easy for you to store it in areas as compact as luggage bags and chest drawers.
- Portable ironing board is easy to use and store
- Fits conveniently in a laundry room or suitcase for...
- Sturdy tabletop ironing board with ample ironing surface
- Includes metal iron rest to prevent scorching
- Maximizes ironing board storage ideas
- Dimensions: 32” L x 12” W
Its sturdy top surface is made from durable and heat-resistant plastic, while the stand is made from lightweight aluminum and has rubber pads at the tip to prevent your table top from scratches.
The Honey-Can-Do compact ironing board has a metal iron rest/ holder so that you can place the iron on the rest as you adjust and align the clothes. The iron holder saves you from scorching the cover.
Its blue and white striped cover is made from 100% cotton and is heat and tear-resistant.
Product Dimensions: 32” L x 12” W
- Small, compact and foldable
- Can be stowed in a chest drawer or carried in a traveling bag
- Lightweight
- Portable
- Plastic top
- Aluminum frame
- 100% cotton cover
- Perfect for traveling or really tiny apartments/ dorm rooms
- Limited lifetime warranty
- The cotton cover and padding are non-removable and not washable.
- The foldable design affects its longevity and sturdiness
- The small surface area makes it hard to press long dresses or clothes
3) Household Essentials 122101 Small Tabletop Ironing Board with Folding Legs
This small ironing folding board has received Amazon’s Choice label because of its high demand and 4.5-star rating.
- Stable steel top ironing board with cover and pad for...
- Board has a swivel hook feature that hangs over commercial...
- Iron smoothly with the steel legs that fold away for storage
- 100% Cotton cover is safe for use with steam irons
- 4.75"H x 12"W x 30"D
It has a strong, sturdy and stable steel top for ironing and its thick cover and padding make it heat-resistant, smooth and convenient.
It has steel legs with rubber padding that can be folded for easy storage and maximum portability.
Its 100% cotton cover makes this small ironing board safe for steam ironing. There is a swivel hook at the back of the small ironing folding board, which makes it easy for you to hand this lightweight, compact ironing board on doors or walls.
Product Dimensions: 0.75 x 12.5 x 29 inches
- Lightweight (weighs only 2.99 pounds)
- Portable
- Foldable
- Sturdy and stable steel top
- Steel legs with rubber pads prevent scratches on the surface
- Floral patterned, 100% cotton cover that is heat resistant
- Thick padding
- Swivel hook for hanging behind doors or walls
- Ideal for small houses, rooms, offices
- Can be very small for pressing long or big clothes
- Is not an ironing stand but just a table top ironing board
- Does not have manufacturer’s warranty
Conclusion
Tiny homes, dorm rooms and office spaces have limited storage space and are not ideal for keeping a standard-sized ironing board. To help solve this problem and allow you to carry your board for traveling, manufacturers have designed small ironing boards that are compact, foldable and portable. They can be your best roommate or travel partner as long as you know the perfect small ironing folding board for your needs.
Ideally, compact ironing boards should not be longer than 30 inches, should not weigh more than 10 pounds and come with heat-resistant, thick cotton cover and padding to provide you with seamless ironing.
We hope that with the examples that we have mentioned above, you will be able to find the one that suits your needs.
