Ironing clothes can be a dreaded chore and many people simply hate it. But having the right tools can help to reduce the resistance to this task and stop the procrastination. And one of these tools is the ironing board. It is a must-have to provide a surface for pressing your clothes more easily and quickly. The tendency is to buy a full-sized ironing board as it is the most obvious choice. Although there are mini versions of the same out there, are tabletop ironing boards any good and do they work?
NB: This post contains affiliate links which will enable us to earn some commission if you click and buy.
What Size Is A Small Ironing Board?
A tabletop ironing board varies in size. The larger ones commonly go up to 36 inches in length while the smaller ones are slightly less than 24 inches. In terms of width, they typically range from 12 to 14 inches.
However, more and more foldable tabletop ironing boards are available on the market in recent years. Hence, the length is cut in half for storage. This means there is flexibility for those who want a slightly larger ironing board but still small enough to easily store away after use.
A larger ironing surface also means it is more practical for the task at hand. Consequently, this may make it worthwhile to ditch a full size standing ironing board for the tabletop one.
Do Tabletop Ironing Boards Work?
Yes, tabletop ironing boards do work. Just like their larger counterpart, some are flimsier than others and that depends on the price that you pay. Generally, the ones with better and sturdier construction will cost a bit more to buy. The thickness of the board and legs will play a part in its stability while in use.
If you get a good quality one, it will work just as well as a full size ironing board. However, since the size is smaller, the ironing surface is also smaller. A typical large size ironing board can go up to 54 inches in length or even longer. Therefore, if you have a smaller area to work with, you will have to adjust the garment a lot more as you iron.
For instance, a tabletop ironing board will not have enough space to accommodate a pair of long pants. You can only iron a section of it that fits onto the board surface and then move the pants to cover the section that has not been ironed. So, it works and your pants will still be ironed, but it will be more of a hassle and takes a bit longer since you will need to move the garments more frequently to fit into the smaller workable area.
Disadvantages Of A Small Ironing Board
As the section of the garment that you can iron with each adjustment is only as large as the surface area of the board, it follows that a larger ironing board will make the task quicker. Therefore, a big disadvantage of a tabletop ironing board compared to a full size one is the greater inconvenience and the longer time needed to iron your clothes.
If you have a light load to do, a tabletop ironing board is sufficient for the task. You don’t need to invest in a large one to iron a piece of garment or two. The time-saving will not be much in this case.
However, if you have a lot to iron each week, then a tabletop ironing board may not be the right model for you. It can get tiring and tedious if you need to spend a long time on the chore and having to keep adjusting the garments. Similarly, if the items that you commonly need to iron tend to be large, it would be much faster to do it with a full size ironing board.
On top of that, if you are using a steam generator or a large iron, it may not fit on such a small ironing board. As such, you will need to allocate space for the appliance on the table when you do your ironing.
Why Buy A Tabletop Ironing Board
With the obvious disadvantage of a tabletop ironing board, why still buy one then? Well, it also has its positives and it does work well for some people. Firstly, it is easy to store and saves space especially with the foldable versions now. You can hide it in the closet, hang it on the wall, or just leave it on a table. It doesn’t attract attention as much as a full size ironing board which can be an eyesore especially for those who just don’t have storage room for it.
Secondly, you can sit and iron with a tabletop ironing board. Sometimes, doing the task while standing can be backbreaking. Furthermore, not all full size ironing boards will come at the right height for everyone.
Finally, a tabletop ironing board is much cheaper than the large standing models of comparable quality. Thus, if you want to save money, it is a workable option.
Tabletop Ironing Boards Are Good If…
In conclusion, tabletop ironing boards are good if you have a light ironing load and/or the items that you usually iron are not too large in size. Different people have different ironing needs and the mini ironing boards will work well for some but not others.
If you are the fussy type who want perfectly ironed clothes with not even faint creases visible, it may also be harder to achieve with a small ironing board. The more you need to adjust the garment that you are ironing, the more chances that creases will appear on the parts that you have already ironed.
There are not much bells and whistles that can be incorporated into an ironing board design unlike electrical appliances like steamers and carpet cleaners. So, which one you should buy mainly boils down to the size and the quality of the board that you want. A tabletop ironing board can work if you have the right ironing load to go with it.
Leave a Reply