How often do you replace your Ironing Board Cover?
 

I love an ironing board cover with a pretty design. I don't have room to leave my ironing board up in my small sewing space, so it hangs on a hook on the wall. I like to keep an extra cover on hand for when the day comes that it needs replacing.

I change my cover when a stain won't wash out and becomes an eye sore. It makes me happy to see a pretty cover on my wall as well as when I am pressing.

Haven't used an ironing board in years now ... I do use the wool mats instead on thick plywood covered with cloth. But I do recall replacing the cover on the ironing board before getting this set up. So maybe every year so they don't get gunked up by starch?

When the mood strikes me. I’m using a big board now, over my ironing board and got some of that silver fabric to put over a couple layers of batting. It stays up mostly in my small sewing room. It doesn’t bother me. I can’t remember what the cover is on the ironing board underneath!

I do have room so leave it up all the time. I've now got the silver heat resistant fabric on mine so until it gets really nasty looking it will remain. I made up a board that's 24 x 48 to go over it so when I press large pieces of fabric, it doesn't take quite so long. I can still press a shirt or blouse, even a skirt and/or dress if needed without having to remove it. I have one of those narrow but long pressing pieces when I need to press sleeves. Also have what you call a "ham" for certain times when you need it.

Not nearly enough!!!

It is time now though after the reminder.

Well, I change mine when I can not stand it anymore! I have a small gallery kitchen and that is were I have my ironing board up. And it is up most of the time. I bought some of that "oil cloth" material at a local quilt shop, cut it down the middle so it just hangs about 4 inches over my ironing board and that is what it is covered with when I am not using it for ironing. As my kitchen is so small and I have limited counter top spaces, I use my iron as an extra working surface when cooking. It's working! I did buy a good wider ironing board that states it can support 150 pounds. It has a couple of wire racks on the bottom and I have a big tuperware bowl on one of them that I throw in my onions, sweet potatoe, and squash. I also use the rakes to hang dry things that should not go in the dryer. Yikes, I have been in a pandemic way too long in my little bubble.

Last time I needed a cover, I found out the hard way, there are all kinds of sizes of ironing boards, not just full size and table top. You need to measure your board.
My beef is with the very thin "foam" under the cover, it doesn't last. I put an old towel under the cover.

I have a big board "rack" (a large piece of covered plywood sitting on top of a set of wire drawers) and a small ironing board made from a tv table tray sitting next to my sewing machine. I have both covered with the silver ironing fabric stuff - and then I have a piece of white canvas that I lay on top. I use a LOT of starch so when the canvas gets full of starch and threads I just toss it into the wash. For me it's so much easier to wash the canvas than to recover my boards. I have to wash them every other week or so. I make a lot of quilts - about one a week. (I make samples for my local quilt shop.)

I have an old Mary Proctor ironing board which I love. Replacement covers are expensive so I keep mine on as long as possible. It's out of sight so I don't care if it isn't real pretty looking.

Here is a tip about ironing board covers. When you wash it put it on the board while still wet. It will dry tighter on the board and if the cover is form fitting it will be much easier to put back on the board while it is wet. We learned that in Home Ec class years ago. I'm surprised how many have never heard of this.

I bought an Ikea piece with drawers and cupboards and put a big ironing board cover on it. Just the other day I thought that I should have a backup as I may forget where I bought it. It's larger than a standard ironing board cover. Thanks for the reminder!

I change it when it looks too gross. I don’t have an ironing board in my sewing room. I use a workbench from Harbor Freight that I use as a big board. I have an old June Tailor padded ironing pad and then I cover that with a twin flat sheet.

I, too, have a Proctor ironing board that I love. I learned many years ago to make a covering out of CANVAS. It stays cleaner longer, doesn't scorch and lasts forever. When I do have to wash my cover, I put it back on while slightly damp and when it dries, it fits nice and snug. If you do decide to make a cover out of canvas, try to find the type of canvas that upholstering people use. It is a better and tighter quality.

I change it when I get totally sick and tired of it! My ironing board is 50 years old, heavy, metal, clunky and the drop edge is almost 3". But it is really sturdy. It used to collapse, but it refuses to slide anymore, so it stays up all the time. Unfortunately, because of that, it has to now stay in the basement. Upside is I get my exercise running up and down the steps to iron the bigger pieces. Because of its size, I've never found a replacement that will fit, so I make them. I too put it back on when damp for a nice tight fit.

Not often enough, I'm sure. I use a plain one. Buy them at Joann's pretty cheap. I wash as needed and replace as needed. No idea but not less than a few years for each one.

I still have my original cover. I just cover the cover with large pieces of flannel, which I wash when they get dirty. They aren't fitted, but they stay in place. If I'm pressing a long piece of yardage, I remove the flannel.

Thanks for the tip!
 

I must admit that I am another one that have not heard about placing the ironing board cover back on the stand while still wet.
I love a tight cover and if I find a crease or lump, I iron it flat! Thank you!

I'm with SewGood and have a board built to cover my ironing board. It's 18x49" and I covered it with layers of batting, foil, and heavy smooth fabric (I don't know what it is, but it's from the upholstery department). Everything is stapled to the back, so there's no washing or changing but I can wipe it down and it's held up for years. My husband fastened strips of wood to the back so it "holds on" to the ironing board. I love the ease of pressing yardage on it. My only complaint is that some of my iron cord is rusty red as it has picked up colour from rubbing against the board. I think I'll take a page from SewGood and look for a ham just in case I want to iron clothing.

I make my own covers so if I get tired of looking at it I change it or if I find a fabric that I absolutely love and want it on my ironing board then it gets a facelift. Mine is up all the time so I like it to be something I’m happy to look at.

I have two ironing boards. One for quillting and one for clothes. That solved my problem.