My ironing board was so stiff when I took it off I was afraid it would crack
. I first soaked it in the bath tub to soften it then put it in the washer with a couple of towels and oxiclean.. several rinses to make sure the starch was all out. It wasn't as pristine as the day I bought it but it was softer and clean..I had never washed a cover before and it's hard to find a cover for the board I have.