How To Iron Without An Ironing Board

Having your clothes ironed out after long hours of laundry could sometimes be very exhausting, especially when there’s no ironing board available to make work much easier.

You could have some good iron and a nice fabric but at the same time, you may find yourself in a pickle when you’ve got no board to iron on. Perhaps, your ironing board was broken or you are out of town without an ironing board in your room but you need to get your rumpled clothes straightened.

No worries at all as there are several better ways you can get your work done as long as you have furniture with flat surfaces. Think of your tables, mats, mattress, including your neatly cleaned floor, among many other flat surfaces you have in your home.

A must have, however, is the ironing blanket; a mat or blanket that can be folded and easily tucked away. It is also easy to carry whenever you are traveling and need to do some ironing while you are away, compared to an ironing board.

Why use an ironing blanket or bag?

We are used to using towels or cotton materials on either our iron board or its alternatives, but the Ironing Blanket or bag takes care of some of the worries as its silicone coated and perfect if you need to do a quick press on the floor, desk, or even your bed.

This small bag stores your iron when it’s not in use. When you want to iron, remove the iron and unfold the bag. It becomes a flat ironing pad that you can place anywhere: on top of a washing machine, on a table or board, even on the floor.

Available in several sizes, ironing blankets many ironing blankets are backed in non-slip foam so that ironing is made easier.

Ironing Board Alternatives & How to Use Them

Alternative Wrinkle-Removing Methods

How To Iron Clothes Without Ironing Board

Use A Non-Carpeted Floor (wood or tile):

Yes, your wood or tile floors can go a long way in serving as an ironing board. While the tile floor is heat resistant, the wooden floor can also be used with a controlled heat. You can just lay down two or three cotton towels that can cover enough surface that you want to iron on or your ironing blanket. What’s important is the number of layers between your iron and the floor. This method is free and easy to start in your home

The problem with using a towel is that it tends to move and that can be frustrating. You can minimize the movement by using a damp towel instead of a dry one.

However, for better protection of both your clothes and the floor, use an ironing blanket. The blanket is specifically designed to avoid heat and iron steam from damaging the floor.

Step-by-Step Guide

• Select a flat heat-resistant surface which can be a table, counter, washer or floor.
• Place a towel, ironing blanket or mat on the surface to protect it from damage.
• Place the garment flat and smooth out wrinkles with your hands.
• Use the iron as you normally would, moving it carefully, keeping it in an upright position when not in use.
• Ensure that the cloth has cooled down before you put it on or fold it.

Iron On Your Flat Wooden Or Stone Table:

These are good flat surfaces you can easily use to de-wrinkle your clothes. These two surfaces are preferable because they resist an amount of heat that’s generated during ironing. Using plastic tables is not a good idea as it is prone to melt when it comes in contact with much heat. This can as well spark fire outbreak in the home.

To achieve your desired ironing, choose a heat-resistant fabric, like linen, wool, or canvas which you will use to cover the surface before ironing. You could also use towels or even a flannel blankets for this purpose. Also, make sure your table is placed near a socket where your iron can be plugged. You can then begin your ironing

Iron On Your Bed:

Your bed can serve as an alternative to the iron board. Many may not be comfortable with this idea, but the truth remains that any surface can serve as an iron board. With your mat or blanket placed on the bed, you can have your clothes ironed in few minutes. It is not, however, recommendable to iron directly on top of a bedspread since many bedspreads are made of polyester, which can melt if exposed to high heat. You can, therefore, use your blanket on the bed with your iron plugged near the bed for a perfect ironing.

However, for a better option where there are no iron or iron boards, you can invest in a small clothes steamer. These steamers which range from commercial-grade models to home use size to travel steamers helps to remove wrinkles and freshen a garment in minutes.

Use Kitchen Countertops or Island Surfaces

Kitchen counters, particularly granite or stone surfaces, can withstand heat well. Place a towel or ironing pad on the surface of the countertop to protect both your clothes and the countertop. Ensure that you have cleared any spills or crumbs before you start

Using The Top of Your Washing Machine as Ironing Board

If you only need to iron one or two items such as shirts or children’s pants, you can simply place a towel over the top of your washing machine and start ironing straight away. While this may not be the best approach, it is perfectly fine for a quick job. Personally, I found that top-loaders provide just about the right height for me, not only do they come at a convenient height for ironing but they also do not cause back strain or pain that may arise from using bed or floor as an ironing surface

Consider The Use of Magnetic Ironing Mat

A magnetic ironing mat is a solution that can be used to convert any flat surface into an ironing board instantly, an updated version of an ironing blanket if you will. It is perfect for ironing on a metal surface, such as washing machine and dryer. They are specifically designed to use on top of these surfaces without worrying about it sliding across the surface.

Wrinkle Removal Methods

Use of a clothes steamer

The use of a garment steamer is one of the safest options for removing stubborn wrinkles with a natural look. It not only gets the wrinkles out of your garments quickly, but it is also gentle enough for use on delicate fabrics such as silk, and wool.

Use a Damp Towel With in a Dryer to Remove Wrinkles

If you are busy and in a situation where taking the time to iron your clothes one by one will not be feasible, all you need to do to get wrinkles out of your clothes is to simply pop them into the dryer with a damp bath towel and set the timer for five to ten minutes with medium heat. As the towel dries, steam will be produced, smoothing out the wrinkles in the cloth. In addition to coming out wrinkle-free, your clothes will have the cozy, new-from-the-dryer sensation. This is also an effective laundry hack that most people may not know about according to Scarlett Thompson of Clearlif. 

Use of Blow dryer

A hair dryer is not only used for blow drying, it has proven to be an effective tool for getting wrinkles out of clothes using the heat produced from it. You can sprinkle the clothes with water to soften the fabric before blow-drying. This method works best on cotton fabrics. However, it is important to keep some distance between the hair dryer and the clothing to avoid damage to the clothes.

Quick Facts

• Always use a heat-resistant barrier such as towel, ironing blanket, or mat) to protect surfaces
• Never iron plastic, glass or delicate surfaces because they can melt or crack
• White or light-colored towels produce the best results because they don’t allow color transfer
• A thin towel or ironing blanket produces better crease results than a thick puffy towel
• Always let your iron cool and store it in an upright position after use