Which ironing boards

By Rachel Sanoff September 02, Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. Credit: Courtesy of Amazon. Rowenta Pro Compact Ironing Board. Credit: Courtesy of William Sonoma. Credit: Courtesy of Wayfair. Household Essentials. Grandin Road Owen Ironing Cabinet. Credit: Courtesy of Grandin Road. Grandin Road. Credit: Courtesy of Bed Bath and Beyond.

Credit: Courtesy of Urban Outfitters. Urban Outfitters. Iron racks, which attach to the end of the board so you can set down a hot iron, are pretty standard on high-quality boards. But some people like to use the squared-off end of the board to iron dress shirts, and therefore they find the racks frustrating.

Surface area: A standard ironing board surface is about 14 inches by 48 inches, which is plenty of space for most ironing jobs. And even though bigger boards are tough to store in small apartments or houses, some people—especially quilters—prefer the extra board space. Big boards are also helpful for tackling large items like curtains or sheets.

In I conducted my third round of ironing board tests. As always, I ironed on each model, checking how much a board wobbled and whether the ironing surface was level. I also noted how much pressure it took to feel the surface of the board through the cover. I checked underneath each board to see how much steam came through, because good ventilation keeps the board—and your clothes—from getting too damp. I compared the quality of the cover materials, joints, and iron holders if included , and compared height adjustability.

I also checked for ease of opening and closing including noise , and I measured the ironing surface of each board and mat, noting its best use case small items, extra-large items and how easy it was to store. I recommend it to everyone who wants to make a tedious chore almost delightful. The options are more colorful than the simple pattern on the Homz Durabilt or the utilitarian stripes and solids on many other boards.

Brabantia also sells replacement covers in additional designs. I recommend this board to everyone, even my mom bought one. I'm long-term testing Brabantia B from our testing, and in , I compared it with a brand-new board with the same cover.

The original has been subjected to the weight of king-size quilts and blankets, several bumps into walls, a cross-country trip in a moving crate, and countless openings and closings. The cover has seen its fair share of scorched polyesters Halloween costumes , iron-on transfers more Halloween costumes , spray starch, and a couple of melted sewing pins.

I could not tell the difference between the two boards when I compared them side by side. The original is my everyday choice for clothes and linens. Brabantia offers a year warranty for its ironing boards, compared with five years for the Homz Durabilt.

That version of the board also costs about 50 percent more than the one I tested. One of our senior editors who lives in a small apartment has been long-term testing the Durabilt for a few years and loves it for sewing, but she says it does take up space.

This is a favorite in the Cleaning Lab because it has just about everything you could want in an ironing board. There is also a built-in child safety lock to prevent it from collapsing while in use. This ironing board includes a lot of the features of higher-end ironing boards, but at a fraction of the price. It has an iron rest to set the iron on when not in use and a handy garment shelf underneath the board to hold folded freshly-pressed garments.

The vented mesh top helps provide optimal steam flow and the legs are made of lightweight sturdy metal with non-skid rubber feet. Save some space with this small but mighty ironing board. It has foldable legs so it can be set on top of a table or any flat surface to iron.

Take note though, this isn't the best board to iron long sleeves on because the end of the ironing board is rounded rather than tapered. For those looking to save some floor space, this ironing board hangs over a door. The ironing board folds down when needed and can be locked in place to lay flat against the door when not in use. It also has over 3, reviews and a 4. It weighs approximately 7. If you need a tabletop ironing board, this one from Home Essentials is a great choice.

Our Home Appliances and Cleaning Products Lab Director, Carolyn Forte , likes this one since it sits higher off the table which means your clothes will wrinkle less. It also has a retractable iron rest to keep your iron handy while working. It's perfect for touch-up ironing or when you're in a hurry and don't have time to fuss with pulling out a full-size board. Here in the lab, we have been impressed with many Homz products for how well made they are.

This ironing blanket makes it easy to iron on any flat surface , like the bed, a table or the countertop — however, just e sure the ironing surface underneath the blanket can safely handle some heat and moisture. It's perfect for travel, touching up one item on-the-go or for those without any space to store an ironing board.

When finished, it rolls up and stays closed with a hook and loop fastener. This all-in-one ironing center was installed in our Cleaning Lab years ago as a space saver and we've found it is a great way to keep your ironing board out of sight and your laundry area in order.

The cabinet — which is mounted onto or recessed into the wall — holds an ironing board that folds down and pivots. There's also a built-in minute timer, a light and an electrical outlet. It also has enough room to store your iron and the door has a rod to hang clothes up after ironing. Forte says she was amazed by the Miele FashionMaster after testing it in the lab. For anyone who does a lot of ironing, like professional sewers or quilters, the Miele FashionMaster is an ironer's dream.

The ultra padded adjustable ironing board works with fans to inflate delicate garments for more gentle pressing or suction thicker materials, like jeans, to the board to help intensify the steam for better wrinkle removal.

It pumps out professional level steam pressure to penetrate thicker clothing like blazers.