When I was in college, I did laundry as seldom as possible. However, there were always those items that really needed to be ironed to look nice. Luckily, I had a tabletop ironing board that fit neatly under my single bed and didn’t further cramp my tiny dorm room.
These mini ironing boards give you a good hard, flat surface upon which to iron and yet take up very little space. On this page, you’ll learn just a bit more about their advantages and disadvantages and find a few tips for picking out the best one.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of a Tabletop Ironing Board
A tabletop ironing board is significantly smaller than a traditional ironing board. If you don’t do a great deal of ironing, then these smaller boards simply make sense. They can also be handy if you sew or craft and just need something small that sits at the ready as you work.
Of course, the biggest advantage to these mini ironing boards is that they don’t take up much space. For anyone who lives in a dorm room, small apartment, or condominium they fit perfectly. They can be tucked away under the bed, in a closet, hung over the door, or even stored on a shelf.
You also don’t need a lot of room to set them up. If you lack floor space, that’s not a problem. Any flat surface will work for setting up a tabletop ironing board. Many will balance well even on a bed.
If you do a lot of ironing, of course, these smaller boards may not be a good choice. Or, if you tend to iron large items. They’re generally fine for T-shirts, shirts, shorts, and pants, but ironing a table cloth or floor-length dress isn’t convenient with these boards.
More About Tabletop Ironing Boards
When choosing a tabletop ironing board there are a few things you might want to consider:
Size
Look at the dimensions, you want it small enough to fit into whatever storage space you have and yet large enough to accommodate the clothes you want to iron. A length of 30-32 inches and a width around 12″ is generally sufficient.
If space is really tight, there are some models that not only collapse but will also fold in half.
In situations where space is really limited or portability is a prime concern, then an ironing blanket can be considered. These are especially useful when travelling as they can fold up and be placed in your luggage.
There are also specialized tabletop ironing boards that are made specifically for ironing sleeves. They are narrow and allow you to easily slip a sleeve over the end and down the length of the board. These are great for anyone who sews.
Storage
Some units will have a hook to allow you to hang it on the back of a door. If you want to be able to do this however, and the ironing board you want doesn’t have this feature, you can buy a hook separately.
Pad and Cover
Like any ironing board, you’ll need a good pad and cover. Some of these tabletop models come with the pad and cover, others require you to purchase them separately.
Construction
Clearly you want something that is sturdy and durable. Most of these boards are metal, some are chrome, and some provide a wood top. Metal and chrome tend to be the most durable and lightweight.
Other features
Having a built-in tray for your iron is very handy. Such a tray helps protect surfaces from a hot iron and makes your work more streamlined as well.
Another nice feature on a tabletop ironing board are legs that have rubber feet. This helps assure the board won’t slip as you’re ironing and will also help protect the surface where you set the board.
