How to Clean an Ironing Board Cover

Like most people who use an ironing board as a sort of second counter, my ironing board cover gets rather stained and dirty. Some of the grime comes from dust and grease particles that float in the air while other stains come from kids setting a Popsicle on the surface, then walking away.

The function of a ironing board cover is to provide a clean, flat surface for ironing clothing and to blot excess moisture caused by steam ironing. Ironing board covers come in two styles, a one piece unit typically made of heat resistant Telfon coated cotton or a two piece unit with a separate cotton shell topper and thick felt pad for beneath.

When these ironing board covers becomes stained and dirty, most people toss just toss them out and buy a new one. Ironing board covers are actually washable and can be made to look like new in no time at all.

Removing the pad and cover

Most ironing board covers are attached to the frame by means of a drawstring. They can be removed from the frame by untying the knot holding the drawstring in place. If the drawstring is tightly knotted, try using the end of an opened safety pin to gently pull the knot the apart. If you cut the drawstring, the cover can no longer be used.

Once the cover has been removed, the pad can be lifted off as well.

How to wash

While some covers and pads are advertised as being 100% machine washable, the edging tends to unravel when agitated. To keep the fabric from unraveling, it really is best to hand wash the cover and pad in the bath tub or wide sink.

To wash, fill a bath tub or wide sink with three inches of hot water and then add half a scoop of detergent. Drop the cover into the tub and gently agitated by hand until clean. For stubborn stains, scrub the stain with either a toothbrush or nail brush applied in a circular motion. To remove dark scorch marks, you may have to add a cup of borax or half a cup of bleach to the water.

After washing the cover, it should be rinsed twice in clean water.

Drying

After the cover and pad has been rinsed, gently squeeze (not wring) excess water from the material. Place both the cover and pad on a open beach towel, and then gently roll up the towel into a tube. Walk on the rolled tube to squeeze out the remaining water, then hang the cover from the shower bar to drip dry overnight.

Replacing the cover

Once the cover and pad have completely dried, they can be replaced on the board. This is done by placing down the pad first and then centering the cover over the entire framework. Adjust the drawstring by pulling tightly towards the "point" of the board. Tie the string in a loose slipknot to hold in place.

With this type of care, an ironing board cover and pad will last for many years.