How to Choose an Ironing Board
An ironing board is one of the handiest tools we can use at home. We all know what it's used for, but even then, sometimes we just rush to the store, get one and arrive home realizing we should have put more thought into the purchase.
There are generally two types of ironing boards, portable and built-in. Read more about it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DagdDTam68. Portable iron boards usually come in two subtypes, the standalone and the tabletop, while built-in iron boards are usually professionally installed in wall cabinets or drawers. Fixed boards are bought with kits for homeowners to attach boards to a special panel or the door of a closet. They are usually fastened at the top on one end with the body left to hang. If you buy a built-in board, make sure you know what tools are needed for mounting and if you are technically capable of doing it.
Another consideration you have to make is size. If you have enough space for a full-size iron board, get the widest you can - wider means more convenient and effective ironing. Full-size is also somewhere around four feet in length and some twelve to eight inches in width. For touch-ups or craft projects, you'll find a small tabletop board very useful - obviously not for linens and other bigger garments.
Of course, height is also important. A built-in ironing board must be installed at hip level relative to the person who mostly does the ironing. The problem is hip level may only work for those who iron standing up. A portable board is recommended for those who switch between standing and sitting since it's easier to adjust.
In terms of weight, iron boards of the past were constructed from wood, which made them quite sturdy but too heavy. Besides, wood is hardly ideal for ironing. What you'd like to get instead is a board that comes with a metal mesh on top through which the steam can pass. Lightweight ironing boards are easier to set up and store. Plus, they are also easier to carry around.
Then again, a lightweight ironing board from the site at www.bestironingboards.net is useless if its frame is not stable enough to keep it from tipping over or collapsing while you do the ironing. Stability is absolutely important for the prevention of accidents, as when the board folds over to little kids.
Finally, the cover. Find an ironing board cover that that good padding, although this is usually bought with the board. With some covers, you have a reflective or non-stick surface which basically keeps the clothes from adhering to the board. The reflective surface works by moving the heat back into the item being ironed, so that helps to make ironing easier.