Something to add: A wool blanket folded to the right size, covered with drill cloth or something else suitable. The wool is great for pressing and something I wouldn't leave out. You can usually find old wool blankets at second hand shops priced reasonably. When the top gets dirty on mine, I add another layer of fabric without taking off the old one. You can also cover an area you use a lot with freezer paper and just replace that when it gets dirty.