This is sorta related to quilting. I wash my ironing board covers when they get dirty or starchy (from spray starch), and I was wondering if this washes off any heat protection from them. I was thinking of sewing several of the tops and pads together to make a large ironing cover to use on my wood table to press my quilts with. Does anyone know if this would be ok?

My hubby made me an ironing table. He used heat resistant (sp?) wood then I covered it with batting then I covered that with either muslin or decorator lining fabric. He made long enough to press all fabrics, 60 inches.

Don't make your ironing surface soft, if fabric pieces sinks into the cover, you will distort the shape or the pieced block. One layer of cotton batting covered with duck cotton or cotton canvas on a solid surface is all that is needed.

I have never made one, but sounds like a good idea.

Years ago I was told to use lots of padding...and then when I started quilting I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong. I was enlightened by a board member and I removed the extra, it really does make a big difference :D:D:D

Unless you are ironing applique pieces and then you want a little extra padding. ;)

I don't believe the heat resistance washes out but I'm not certain. I find that today's irons don't get as hot as the old fashioned ones so I'm not sure it matters a whole lot. If I'm wrong, someone correct me please.

When I'm recovering my board I always add a little batting because over time it flattens out really nicely. For the first week or so it's a little akward but it smooths out...at least it does for me.

Personally, I wouldn't iron on my wood table even with padding and a heat resistant cover. As stated previously, it would depend on the temp of the iron and that the newer irons aren't as hot as the old ones.
I'm only guessing but I would think that anything that gets washed will eventually loose some of it's original coating.