Wide Ironing Boards Make Ironing Easier

Welcome to the 216th Metamorphosis Monday!

Recently I made an upgrade most folks would probably not get too excited about, but I’m actually pretty excited!  While out shopping a couple of weeks ago, I found myself in the ironing board isle of a local home product store. Guess what I discovered?  Ironing boards come in wider sizes! Did  you know this?  I had absolutely no idea.

I didn’t buy an ironing board right then.  Instead, I came home and searched on Amazon to check pricing.  Amazon’s pricing was less.

In the pic below, I’ve placed my old ironing board in front of the new ironing board so you can see the size difference.

Wide Ironing Board Makes Ironing Easier

The new one is by Better Homes and Gardens and it’s 18 inches wide.  That’s a full 4 inches wider than my old one.  The reason I was so excited about getting a wider ironing board (once I discovered they existed) is because I knew it would make ironing tablecloths a lot easier.  Also, I knew it would help when creating napkin folds since some folds require ironing while you’re making them.

Wide Ironing Board Makes Ironing Easier

In the past, the napkins always draped off the side which made the folding process a bit harder.  I got to test out the new board when I folded the Clover napkin fold for my recent St. Patrick’s Day table setting.  It worked great!  For the first time ever, the whole napkin fit onto the board. Awesome!

Clover-Napkin-Fold

This board below, minus the striped cover, is the closest to how the new board looks when open.  It has a shelf underneath which I doubt I’ll be using.  It also has a shelf for holding the iron, a feature I will definitely be using. (Photo is from Amazon.)

Wide Ironing Board Makes Ironing Easier

In the past when I finished ironing, the iron sat on the ironing board to cool.  Over the years gremlins have bumped into the ironing board, sending the iron crashing to the floor.  Not good for the floor and definitely not good for the iron as you can see in this pic below.  Now I can rest the iron in the little cradle and avoid future falls. Though my old iron still worked fine, it had become uncomfortable to hold.  The broken handle was really sharp to the hand.

Broken Iron

This seemed like a good time to replace the iron, too.  I went with a Black & Decker Digital Advantage.  I contemplated a cordless iron but decided against going that route.  So far, the B & D iron is working great.  It heats up quickly and I like how it beeps to let you know when it has reached the temp you’ve selected.

Black & Decker Digital Advantage Iron

 

So that’s my Before and After for this Met Monday.  It may not be the most exciting metamorphosis, but it has definitely made life a bit easier!   Do you have/use a wide ironing board?  If so, how do you like it?  Has it made ironing larger items easier?

Looking forward to the Before and Afters linked for this Metamorphosis Monday!

MM

Metamorphosis Monday:

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Comments

  1. I can’t believe I have never thought about the width of the ironing board, I also iron curtains and table cloths and am hating the harrow space, love the new width…I also like the holder and have never had one attached to the board, always just propped it up like you did…thanks for the heads up…

  2. I never knew this option existed either! I’ve had my board for ages and never thought about replacing it till I saw this. I used to iron my tablecloths on our old dining table but since replacing that with a brand new one, I’ve been struggling with the skinny ironing board again. I’m going to look into the new ones. Thanks for sharing and hosting MM!

    DD

  3. This is the first time I’ve joined one of your linky parties! Thank you so much for hosting!

    Tara
    http://www.suburble.com

  4. I have ironing board issues myself. Clearly the person that designed mine never ever ironed. Thank you for letting me join your party.

  5. Susan, I had no clue about the wider ironing board! I must say, if it would shorten the ironing time, I really need it. It’s one of my least favorite things to do around the house. I know, I don’t think many love it. I would love to have the rest for the iron, too. Thanks for Metamorph0sis Monday, Helen

  6. Thanks for hosting. I’ve been thinking of changing by Ironing board for ever…

  7. Susan, Thanks so much for hosting! Life to the full, Melissa

  8. Sandi Lee says

    Thanks so much for the ironing board tip. A wider board is a great idea. Believe it or not I have an old automatic ironer from the 50’s that I found at a thrift shop for $25- still brand new in the box!! It’s great for ironing tablecloths too! We had one when I was growing up so I was really excited to find this gem! And now to have a wider regular one-died and gone to heaven. Thanks for ALL your shopping tips.

  9. Hi Susan! I didn’t even know such a thing existed! You are so right…this would make ironing tablecloths so much easier! Thanks for hosting!…hugs…Debbie

  10. Very cool Susan, I could use one of those.
    Thanks for hostessing too.
    Cindy

  11. I had no idea about wider ironing boards! Thanks! Thank you for hosting! Wishing you a pretty week. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

  12. Susan,
    Thanks so much for hosting each week!!

    Hugs,
    Debbie

  13. I love your post today and I know exactly what you mean about ironing tablecloths. I have an older ironing board but I am from the old school of having freshly pressed clothing and lines. Thanks for sharing this.

  14. Well done…..U found a good M/M!! Maybe not exciting but very
    Practical. Having the right tools always makes
    The job easier! !!!!

  15. Thanks so much for hosting Susan!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

  16. Ah, ironing. One of my least favorite chores. I will go to great lengths to avoid it, however that may have something to do with the fact that both my iron and board are old and barely functional. I love the idea of a wider ironing board. Thanks for the idea! And as always, thanks for hosting!

  17. Thanks so much for hosting, have a great week!

  18. My bed has turned into my ironing board! I guess I’m too lazy to haul out and set up the board. LOL. Thanks for hosting, Susan!

  19. Your new ironing board does look nice for pressing large items but I have to mention that I noticed the harvest gold legs on your old ironing board, sneaking out. I had to smile at that because I might have the very same one. It’s been such a good sturdy ironing board & anytime that I looked at new ones in the stores, they were so light weight that I never replaced it. I have never looked at the wider ones like you bought though, so I’ll check that out. That’s great how the whole St. Patrick’s Day napkin fit without draping over the side. Having a place on the side for the iron will be nice when pressing something really large, like a tablecloth or drapery panels. Looks like a good purchase!

    • And I’m still using my avocado green one for the past 43 years! Still works like a charm! Bought an ironing board for our second home (call me crazy but I iron most everything) and can’t believe how flimsy it is – literally all holes! Have finally resorted to putting aluminum foil between the old cover and the new cover so that every time I steam I wouldn’t collect a puddle of water in the edge and then have it spill all over the floor. Believe it or not, it not only worked but my ironing goes more quickly. Wish I could find another “vintage” board!!

    • lol Yeah, I don’t remember now when I bought this one…been a long time ago, though. You might like the one I bought…don’t think there are holes underneath but I haven’t lifted the pad to see.

  20. Molly Tilson says

    I had NO idea that there were wider ironing boards!! I definitely need to get one. I LOVE ironing
    the sheets for our bed and that would help tremendously! It can be a bugaboo to do!
    However, there is nothing like fresh, clean, starched & ironed sheets to climb into bed to….. ahhhh!

    • Molly, I’ve never ironed the sheets. So you starch them, too? Does sound like a wider board would help you, too.

      • Molly Tilson says

        Yes, Susan, I do starch. I read an article in Southern Living about how to make a great bed and the writer said to starch the sheets. So I did…. Yes it is a pain, but really it is fabulous to crawl into starched, pressed sheets after
        a long day. The percale sheets at L.L.Bean are the best!!

  21. The new wider ironing board sounds like a linen lover’s dream-come-true! I’ll have to check it out. I’ve had my current one “forever” and it’s getting close to time to replace. As for my Rowenta iron, I’ve had it “forever” … and it’s still going strong!

  22. Aren’t those boards great? I’ve seen those quite often advertised in some of my quilting magazines, but I didn’t know Walmart carried them. My board (which I just made a new cover for) is wider than the average, but it’s certainly not as fancy as yours — I really like the attachment to rest the iron on. I have a Rowenta iron and love it! Thanks so much for hosting, Susan! I’m really enjoying your newsletter, too!

    Carol

  23. Thanks once again for a bright start to the week with your party!
    Liz

  24. I’m one of those people who gets excited about irons, ironing boards, sewing machines, and even a new pack of pins! The correct tools are so important. Thank you for sharing about this board. I just got a new iron so it’s time to upgrade the ironing board too! Lovely party…thanks for hosting! ~Ann

  25. Susan, I am in agreement with you on these ironing boards. Years ago before we had children and I was quilting every night after work on a tiny ironing board, my husband surprised me for my birthday with a very nice, wide, big board. My friends thought he was crazy to give me an ironing board for my BD, but it was actually a very thoughtful gift I loved because he saw the need in my creating and thought of it on his own. I still don’t iron clothes much (!) but I love that board for all my sewing projects!
    Thanks for another great party!

  26. I didn’t know they had a bigger ironing board on the market. That would make ironing easier! Thanks for hosting. Have a great week.
    Blessings,
    Nici

  27. Julie (Lilacs and Longorns) says

    I don’t like irnong, but it can’t be avoided when sewing or using cloth napkins so i love this wider ironing board!! It will make ironing large items so much easier… Thanks for the tip!

  28. Good morning Susan,
    My ironing board is 20+ years old and with the amount of use that it gets will probable last another 20 years. I never even knew that they were made in different widths, I can see where a wider one would be handy for ironing napkins, sheets and such. Speaking of sheets…my husband talks of when he was a child, his mother always ironed the sheets. I can’t even imagine what a chore that must of been. (10 children) She would have really liked a wider ironing board I’m sure.
    I might have to think about an up-grade, I like the caddy on the side for holding the iron. Now that would come in handy.
    Thanks for hosting and have a grand week!

    • I bet sheets came out really wrinkled back then. Mine are pretty wrinkle free if I take them out of the dryer as soon as they are finished. That’s amazing that she ironed the sheets. I bet she could get it done fast, too.

  29. First of all, many thanks for hosting yet another great Met Monday! What a great idea for a wider ironing boarding – certainly it’s time has come. I will definitely be looking into one – I still have my standard size board from 31 years ago that was a wedding shower gift!!! Have a great day. Jane

  30. Thank you for hosting! Little Bit

  31. Susan, This ironing board may cause me to enjoy ironing. Really neat board, I had seen a couple before but never knew where to purchase one.
    Thanks for hosting,
    Blessings, Ginger

  32. I’d like to have a wider ironing board too. They would be great for ironing pillow cases too. Not many of my friends iron any more. Thanks for hosting, Laura

  33. Linda Page says

    Well, aren’t you little Miss Smarty!!! I never knew there was a wider ironing board! A wider board would make all the difference on so many things! Thanks for being our investigative sleuth. I bet there will be a lot of wide ironing boards bought in the next few weeks because of you! What would we do without you!

  34. Well this news quite excites me. Don’t judge me, but I actually quite enjoy ironing. There is just something about the solitary task of smoothing out the wrinkles that I find so soothing. I wish it were as easy to smooth out the wrinkles in life (or on my face!).

  35. Hi, Susan!
    I have always hated ironing pants, tablecloths or bed sheets and long curtains on a narrow ironing board! So, I know, you did a great buy… (And – of course – the first thought that crossed your mind was how easier it would be to iron tablecloths and to fold napkins on the wider ironing board! No wonder you are the Queen of tablescapes! :-))
    However, Susan, I solved my ironing board issues by using a large “ironing mat”/”iron blanket pad” that you can use on any heat and scorch resistant, flat surface. No board is needed. And when you are done you can roll it up, so storage also is a non issue.
    ~Hugs to you~
    Cecilia

    ~Hugs to you~

  36. Hi Susan…for some reason I can’t enter my link even though I have linked back to your site …do you know why this is happening? Thank You
    Lizy

    • Lizy, right-click on your link and copy and paste it into the address bar of your browser and take a look at it. Is it by any chance for the old blogspot address? If so, just change it to the .net address and InLinkz should let you link up. If that’s not the problem, are you by any chance using the newer “dynamic” themes at Blogger? InLinkz has told me that the new “dynamic” themes don’t work quite right with InLinkz and folks have trouble linking up. If that’s the case, reply back and let me know. InLinkz knows a “workaround” so if you’re having trouble linking up, I can put you in touch with them and they can tell you what to do for it to work. Hope this helps.

  37. I would love anything that would make me want to iron my clothes. I loathe ironing. Some days what I wear to work is decided by whether or not something needs ironing.
    We too have had the iron hit the floor twice in one month…by accident…really I didn’t throw it.

    • Lori when I’ve done the same thing, choose what I’m wearing by what isn’t in need of ironing. It’s my summertime clothes that always need it…wear a lot of cotton and linen come summer. Awful feeling when the iron takes a nose dive!

  38. That’s neat, Susan! I don’t own an ironing board. I use a standing steam iron and if I have to lay something to iron it, I use the bed for the board, lol…Christine

  39. “Shsssh”….I luv to iron…I know, I know. franki

  40. It might not be the most exciting thing, but a new iron and ironing board sure can make things easier and nicer. I have a digital iron similar to that one and I love it. I hate ironing…so having an iron I like at least makes it a little nicer. I will have to look into a wider ironing board. I have had my board since college…it works and I can’t see spending the money to replace it…but maybe now that I know there are wider boards…maybe.
    Thanks so much for hosting!
    KC

  41. I am going to have to pin that ironing board for whenever I get to replace mine. That little holder at the end is something I really need with little kids running around. I am always so afraid they will bump into the ironing board and send a hot iron crashing down. My mother actually did that once at my house and, even though she picked it up quickly, the iron melted the berber carpet in the home we were renting. Fortunately, the landlord was very forgiving and didn’t charge us for the iron mark in her carpet.

  42. Wow, I had no idea that ironing boards came in wider widths! I’m off to find one now! This will definitely make ironing sooo much easier!

    Lauren

  43. Thank you so much for all your hard work with these fab parties every week….
    Appreciate you!

    hugs x
    Crystelle

  44. I hate ironing, so anything to make it go quicker is wonderful. I didn’t realize there were wider boards- thanks for the info. OH, and thanks so much for hosting your awesome party every week. 🙂

  45. What a great idea!!! Who knew??? Now I have to find one……great for tablecloths, linens and when quilting!!! Thanks for this………

  46. Isn’t it neat when the littlest things make us happy? I, too, did not know all ironing boards are not created equal!!

  47. I’m glad someone else irons. I actually iron almost everything, including my jeans and pjs. I don’t like wrinkles in my stuff. Tablecloths are so hard as they tend to wrinkle as they hit the floor…this would help a bit. Good to know!

    • Sue, you’re amazing! Do you watch TV while you iron? If I have a lot of ironing to do, I have to watch TV or something. Listening to a podcast or book would be fun while ironing.

  48. I completely understand your enthusiasm for your new, wider board AND the new iron. Things go much more smoothly (no pun intended!) when we have the right tools. I have an ironing business, so the wide board is a must. And if you ever really want to treat yourself to an awesome ironing experience, get a steam generator – woo-hoo! (Just got one a month or so ago. )
    By the way, thank you for hosting such a nice linky party, too!
    Resa ~ Pitcher and Plate

  49. Thank you so much for having the party. I can’t wait to read everyones’ posts.
    Have a wonderful week.
    Betty

  50. I think that ironing board might motivate me to like ironing more! 🙂 Thank you so much for hosting an awesome party each week.
    Kathy

  51. Thanks for hosting this linky party! It’s my first time linking!
    I wish I had known about wider ironing boards last summer when I was ironing over 20 tablecloth overlays for my daughter’s wedding!

  52. Thank you so much for hosting Susan, I am loving your fabulous ironing board!

    xo, Tanya
    twelveOeight

  53. Love this! I know you are enjoying this great ironing board. I live in an old house with the pull out ironing board in the wall. I like it a lot, but do miss a wider ironing board, especially when doing something like a tablecloth.

  54. I’m totally late to the party! Thank you for hosting!

  55. Whoda thunk an ironing board could give me a case of the “I-wants”? But it’s true, I like ironing. I even blogged about it last week. (BTW, Tuesday is ironing day! So don’t be “bored”, go get steamy!) And here’s another “irony”, Ann over at “On Sutton Place” just blogged about her new iron. Could ironing be the next”hot” bloggy trend?

    BTW, thanks for the Phoebe link –we’ve kept this website up on the monitor and check on her and the babies frequently!

  56. Oh Susan, this was great, I will be getting one, I just said last week I wish ironing boards came in a double ironing board would be great for table cloths, but large for storing. lol

  57. How did I miss this post? Haven’t purchased an ironing board in years (I have two) as haven’t the need to; but appreciate the heads-up that they now come in wider widths.

    Regarding the iron rest, do know you can purchase them separately. (I believe I got mine at The Linen Chest but chances are Bed & Bath Beyond probably carries them as well.) For an iron I use a Dressmaker one that is a little heavier in weight than most conventional ones which I love (and protect ☺) and do use the most, however for lighter jobs I use just a regular one and for tiny jobs (great for pressing children’s clothing etc.) I use a travel iron that has a steam feature setting. -Brenda-

    • Brenda, I bet the heavier iron really comes in handy for drapes and for heavier fabrics. I wish I had know about the wider ironing boards before now…when I think about all those linen tablecloths I’ve ironed over the years. I ended up putting my old one upstairs for ironing normal stuff (shirts, etc…) and I’m keeping the wide one downstairs where I always iron tablecloths and fold napkins, etc…

  58. I AM 71 AND MAYBE I AM JUST UNINFORMED BUT ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO I BOUGHT A NEW IRONING BOARD. I THOUGHT AN IRONING BOARD IS AN IRONING BOARD. TO ME IT SEEMED JUST LIKE MY OLD ONE. NOW I NEED A NEW COVER AND I PURCHASED ONE FROM LOWES WHEN I WAS THERE ONE DAY. BUT IT DID NOT FIT. SO I MEASURED IT AND ORDERED ONE FROM AMAZON THAT IS THE SAME SIZE AS MY IRONING BOARD. HOWEVER, NOW THERE IS NO FABRIC TO GO OVER AND UNDER THE EDGE. I FOUND ONE THAT SAID “WIDE” BUT IT’S MEASURMENTS ARE 3 INCHES NARROWER THAN MY IRONING BOARD. IN ALL MY YEARS WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD, THIS IS ONE THAT I HAVE NOT HAD AND NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE. I NOW HAVE SEEN IRONING BOARD COVERS FOR” C” IRONING BOARDS AND ” E” IRONING BOARDS BUT HOW DO YOU FIND OUT THE WIDTH OF A” C OR E”? I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND ASKED THAT QUESTION. I GOT A LOT OF SKEMATICS AND DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO BUILD BOARS, AND CABINETS, BUT NOTHING THAT HELPED ME. I AM NOW CUTTING UP SOME TOWELS AND SHEETS TO MAKE MY OWN COVER, BUT BUYING AN IRONING BOARD COVER SHOULD NOT BE THIS DIFFICULT. WHAT IS IT THAT I DON’T KNOW ABOUT OWNING A 20″ IRONING BOARD ? CAN ANYONE EDUCATE ME ON WHERE TO OBTAIN AN IRONING BOAR COVER THAT WILL FIT MY BOARD. AND JUST IN CASE I LIVE ANOTHER 10 OR 20 YEARS I MAY NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT BUYING AN IRONING BOARD.

  59. My husband and I are on a hunt for a wide ironing board as well. One that is stable, not rickety, and one that is not $200! I totally understand your enthusiasm! I have this on my Christmas list!

  60. My mother gave me a wide board for a shower gift more than 40 years ago. I looked for one for my son when he went to collage he wanted a wide board (yes he ironed his clothes) I could only find them for over $175. I didn’t get him one. I have the cordless iron but would not recommend it. I make new covers from sheets. I have never been able to find a cover to fit.
    PS I like to iron

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