What Are the Tops of Ironing Boards Made of?

Metal Frame

• Most ironing boards are made of metal, which can withstand heat from the iron. The bases of most ironing boards consist of scissor legs, affixed to the underside of the ironing board. The tops of most ironing boards are either perforated steel sheet or a meshwork of metal; the holes in the surface help cool the board and prevent it from warping. Not all ironing boards have holes in them, however. Some consist of a thin but solid layer of metal.

Foam Pads

• The metal top on an iron is covered with a layer of heat-resistant foam. This foam pads the ironing board to make ironing easier and more efficient. It puts a barrier between the hard surface and the cover so you don’t inadvertently iron mesh marks into clothes. Though the foam is heat-resistant, it will burn if you leave the hot iron on the ironing board surface for too long. This can cause house fires. so always practice extreme caution.

Natural Fabric

• Manufacturers cover the layer of foam with a layer of cotton fabric, because foam isn’t particularly pretty, and because it can pill and get easily nicked and scratched. This fabric tends to be natural, such as cotton, as natural fabrics wont melt like synthetic fabric will. Placing nylon on a ironing board and exposing it to too much heat from an iron would cause it to melt and perhaps ruin the bottom of the iron.

DIY Quilting Ironing Boards

• Quilters sometimes need a small ironing surface they can place on a table to iron small pieces of fabric. These simple ironing boards are often homemade and are small enough for quilters to carry in their quilting bags. They are made of a piece of thin medium-density fiberboard or wood. They are covered with an old towel for padding, then with a smooth piece of natural fabric such as cotton.