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9 Best Ironing Board Alternatives – Beat Wrinkles Anywhere!

Ironing is one of the most tedious and time-consuming chores around the house. Plus, it takes a long while before you master how to iron out every wrinkle from your garments. 

This is especially true if you don’t have a full-sized ironing board in your home. Without it, it’s tough to get the correct leverage to press your clothes flat. 

If you don’t have a board because you’re low on funds or space in your laundry room, we can help. In this article, we’ll walk you through some of the best ironing board alternatives that can work in a pinch.

Keep an eye out for the surprising bonus alternative at the very end!

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9 Best to Ironing Board Alternatives

While ironing boards offer a convenient surface to press your garments, there are plenty of other alternatives that you can rely on. 

To make your life easier, we’ll cover nine substitutes with various space requirements to help you find one that suits your lifestyle. 

1. A Thick Towel

When a traditional ironing board is out of reach, try a thick, damp towel instead. If you don’t necessarily have a thick towel, you can use a kitchen towel or two. Not only is this makeshift ironing board easily accessible, but it also couldn’t be simpler to use. 

All you need is a hard surface – think kitchen counters, bathroom counters, a dining table, etc – and you’ll need to make sure the towel is large enough to accommodate the garment you want to iron. Otherwise, you’ll have to keep shifting your clothes to get all the wrinkles out. 

In this scenario, the towel plays two key roles. For starters, it’ll act as a barrier to protect your table from the heat released by the iron. 

Besides that, it’ll improve heat distribution. The thickness of the fabric will make it easier for the warmth to circulate and straighten out your garments uniformly. 

That’s not even the best part. With this ironing board alternative, you won’t need any extra space. 

As soon as you’re done ironing your garments, you can pack up the towel and use your table as it’s meant to be used. 

2. An Ironing Mat

Another excellent alternative to ironing boards is a wool ironing mat. This is a heat-resistant pad or blanket that can transform any flat surface into a pressing station.

That includes desks, tables, or countertops. Plus, thanks to the non-slip finish of the ironing pad, you can lay it on your bed and use that as an ironing surface. 

What sets wool ironing mats apart from the other options on our list is their portability. They’re usually only a few millimeters thick. That means you can pack them up with ease, making them the ideal choice for a travel-friendly pressing station. 

Aside from that, an ironing blanket won’t take up a lot of storage space. Their slim profile will allow you to stow them away anywhere, saving valuable living space that you can use for other purposes. 

This magnetic ironing mat is heat resistant and is the perfect size to fit on top of your washing machine! It’s also magnetic so it won’t move around while you’re trying to iron. 

3. Hang Up and Use a Handheld Steamer

While the previous options on our list are highly effective, they still require an open, flat surface. This can be a tall order if you’re short on space. 

So, rather than clearing out an area to iron, you can hang up your clothes using a garment holder and steam them in the air. 

With this method, you’ll be free to press your garments wherever you like. You can use a hanger, doorknobs, or a shower curtain rod as an anchor point.

However, you’ll need a handheld steam iron to use this method. If you’re worried about investing in the device, it’s a good idea to remember how useful it can be. 

These gadgets are compact and won’t take up much space. Besides that, steam is the ideal way to get wrinkles out of delicate fabric. 

The warm air will gently straighten out your garments without burning holes. Plus, it’s much more time-efficient than regular ironing. 

4. Iron on a Bed

If you’re on a budget and prefer a method that doesn’t require special tools, you can forget about an ironing board and use your bed instead. 

This is a practical and accessible way to press your clothes without new equipment. 

To get started, lay a clean bedsheet on the bed and smooth it with your hands. That’ll provide a protective surface for your mattress. 

Then, set your iron to medium heat and begin pressing. 

The most notable advantage of this method is the sheer size of your ironing surface. Your bed should provide ample space for smooth ironing. 

This makes it an ideal option for pressing linens, curtains, and coats. 

Yet, when using your bed as an ironing board, you have to be careful about how much pressure you use. Since the surface of your mattress is soft and malleable, you’ll need to pay attention to how you hold the iron and be sure not to press down too hard on your garments. 

5. Use a Tabletop Ironing Board

For people struggling with small spaces and hesitant to commit to a traditional ironing board, the solution is simple. You can invest in a compact tabletop version as a substitute.  

These are a halfway point between a standard ironing board and an ironing mat. They combine the functionality of the former with the portability of the latter. 

As the name suggests, a tabletop ironing board is designed to sit on top of any flat surface. This offers a stable, durable platform for efficient pressing. 

The only issue with this option is that it doesn’t provide much space for ironing. Your tabletop board will be large enough for small garments like t-shirts but not much else. 

Sadly, this may increase the amount of ironing time you need to put in. 

6. Use a Wrinkle Remover Spray

We all know how tedious and dull ironing can be. Luckily, there’s a simple alternative that doesn’t involve physical pressing. 

You can invest in a wrinkle remover spray that’ll zap out any creases or folds in a flash. 

Begin by hanging your garments up or laying them flat on an even surface. Next, stretch out your clothes as far as they’ll go without tugging at the seams. 

After that, apply a generous amount of the spray and allow it to absorb into the fabric. This should take between 10 and 15 minutes, depending on the temperature of your room and the material of your clothing. 

The spray will gently relax the fibers of the fabric and eliminate wrinkles on the surface. Not only is this method quick, but it also takes all the hassle out of ironing. 

However, with the spray, your clothes won’t stay wrinkle-free for long. You may have to reapply the product after a few hours go by. 

7. Install a Wall Mounted Ironing Board

If you want a dedicated ironing board but don’t want to give up floor space, a wall-mounted option may be just the ticket. This will give you a pressing surface that’ll hide away with easy storage when not in use. 

It’ll function like a traditional board while taking up less than half the space. 

Plus, when you mount the device on the wall, you’ll have complete control over the height. So, you can install the board at an elevation that will ensure your back stays straight while you iron. 

This will do wonders to prevent aches you may experience after a long session of pressing garments. 

However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows with this option. 

Mounting the board on your walls will need a little technical know-how. So, if you don’t have any DIY experience, installing the device may prove challenging. 

8. Iron on the Floor or a Table

While this is an obvious solution, many people tend to forget that they can turn their floors and tables into make-shift ironing boards. 

Start by cleaning the surface and clearing out any dust or debris. Then, lay your clothes flat, grab your handy iron, and go to town to get rid of wrinkles. 

This will provide the perfect platform for ironing larger items like bedsheets or linens. However, you have to be careful not to touch the floor or table with your hot iron. 

The excess heat can damage the surface and cause discoloration. 

On top of that, you’ll want to be mindful of your posture. Since you’ll be low to the ground, most people have the instinct to hunch down. 

This can wreak havoc on your back. So, keep your core tight and your back straight. 

9. Hang Clothes in the Bathroom With a Hot Shower Running

If you’re away from home and don’t have access to your usual ironing setup, you can use the steam coming off your shower. 

Simply hang your clothes on the hooks, towel bars, or any other fixture in your bathroom. Next, close the bathroom door, turn on your shower heat, and let the steam do its magic. 

By the time you’re done rinsing off, your garments should be wrinkle-free. 

Bonus Ironing Board Alternative

If you have a flat iron for your hair, you can also use it to iron your garments from any flat surface or hanging up. It’s makes for the perfect iron alternative! This is particularly handy if you’re travelling – of course you’ll have your hair straightener with your, but you may not always have the use of an iron in your hotel room. 

This also works for delicate fabrics that may be damaged by a traditional iron. 

Just make sure your flat iron is clean before using it on clothing, as any product buildup could transfer onto your clothes.

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Wrapping Up

If you’re looking for the best alternative ironing boards, there are plenty of options to choose from. For starters, you can rely on a thick towel or an ironing mat. 

Besides that, your bed, floor, and tables can double as pressing platforms in a pinch. 

Not to mention, you can steam your clothes using a handheld clothes steamer or even your shower! Finally, a wrinkle remover spray will flatten out your clothes and get rid of creases if you find yourself in a wrinkle jam.

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