11 Best Ironing Board Alternatives

Nothing is worse than realizing your much-need shirt is wrinkled right before it’s time to get dressed. That is where ironing boards typically come into play, but not all homeowners have ironing boards. So what is someone supposed to do if they don’t have an ironing board, but they need to remove their wrinkles?

You can use an ironing mat, a garment steamer, a hot shower, durable flooring, and the tops of your washer and dryer as an alternative. Cover your table with an ironing mat, a sheet, or a blanket, and you can iron directly onto it without scorching. Otherwise, you can use your mattress as an ironing board, or avoid wrinkles in the first place by air-drying your clothes.

You don’t need an ironing board to successfully remove wrinkles from your clothes. Follow along as we dive into the best ironing board alternatives.

Ironing boards can be cumbersome and get in the way, but that’s not a problem with ironing mats. They are easy to use, portable, and affordable, and that makes ironing mats the perfect alternative to a board. You can find great ironing mats that cost between $15 and $25, and that’s much cheaper than ironing boards.

Most ironing mats come rolled up or folded for easy access when it’s time for you to iron something. This makes ironing mats just as useful for traveling as it they are for use at home. You can simply lay an ironing mat down on your bed, table, flooring, or plastic surfaces and it’s ready to use.

Some ironing mats feature magnets which makes them ideal for placing on top of the laundry machine. Look into ironing mats if you want an ironing board alternative with portability and easy storage.

It may not be obvious, but one of the best ironing board alternatives is right inside your bedroom. That’s right, you can use your mattress as an ironing board, and it’s a great substitute. Mattresses are ideal ironing boards because of their width and smooth surface, and you can even iron with the sheets on.

However, if you have a ruffled mattress with divots, it will be hard for you to iron directly on your mattress. Work in sections just like with a regular ironing board and you’ll have no trouble ironing large items and materials. This is one of the best alternatives because you can go straight from your closet to your bed and get the wrinkles out immediately.

It also doesn’t hurt that this ironing board alternative is free assuming that you already have a mattress. If your bed has a smooth surface, you won’t need to purchase any other ironing board alternative.

Your ironing board alternative solution might just be right under your feet with your flooring. Make sure that you have wooden, carpeted, or stone floors as those are the only safe flooring materials to iron on. All that you need is a blanket, towel, or ironing mat, and you can lay it directly on the floor.

Flooring is a great alternative to ironing boards because they are flat, even, and don’t require further purchases. Never iron on vinyl flooring as that can be dangerous and lead to scorching and permanent damage. The top alternative, ironing mats, is perfect for laying on wooden or carpeted flooring to iron on.

It can be exhausting to bend down to the floor to iron, and that’s the main drawback. Use your floor as an alternative to ironing boards if you want to avoid spending money and are looking for a quick solution.

Both your washer and dryer have the potential to be the best ironing board alternative possible. Check to make sure that your washer or dryer has a flat surface, and if so, it’s perfect for ironing. You don’t even necessarily need to cover the washer or dryer before you iron on it, and that’s a bonus.

You can iron directly onto the washer and dryer, but you can cover it with a towel or blanket to be safe. Metal surfaces are great to iron on in general, and they can help speed up the process as a whole. Washers and dryers are also the perfect height for you to comfortably stand and iron clothes.

Never touch the washer or dryer for an extended period after ironing as it will stay hot. Use your washer or dryer as an ironing board alternative if the surface is flat.

Garment steamers are incredibly easy to use, and they yield results similar to an ironing board. You can find garment steamers for as little as $20, and they require no learning curve. Many garment steamers are portable and use water to remove the wrinkles from your clothing.

That makes garment steamers ideal for traveling and treating your clothes at home. Garment steamers use hot steam to smooth your clothes out, and it’s easier than using an ironing board. Ironing boards can struggle to remove wrinkles at times, but that’s never really an issue with garment steamers.

Garment steamers work quickly and can get your clothes wrinkle-free in less time than an ironing board. Look for a portable garment steamer if you travel often or want one that doesn’t take up much space.

You may think of flat irons as being exclusively useful for hair, but it’s also an ironing board alternative. Flat irons are one of the easiest-to-use ironing board alternatives, and they’re readily available. Flat irons start at $11, but you’ll want to spend between $25 and $40 for one that is ideal for clothing.

Luckily, many homeowners already have a flat iron in the house so it won’t require additional purchase. You can only use flat irons for spot treatment on wrinkles as they aren’t big enough to cover much space. That makes flat irons the ultimate quick fix for wrinkles, especially on sleeves and cuffs.

Make sure to clean the flat iron before you use it on your clothes to remove hair products. Only use a flat iron if you have small garments or simple wrinkles to work out of the clothing. Consider a flat iron if you want a quick, simple, and convenient ironing board alternative.

That’s right, you can avoid needing to use an ironing board altogether if you simply air-dry your clothes. Air drying is also beneficial because it helps to prevent shrinking and damage to your clothes. This alternative requires you to purchase a drying rack, or you can clear some space in your closet to hang damp clothes.

Make sure that your clothes aren’t soaking wet, and that it is instead only somewhat damp before you hang it up. Otherwise, you run the risk of delaying your dry time or causing the clothes to hold a mildew smell. You can even throw the clothes in the dryer for 10 minutes on low or normal dry before you hang them.

Air drying your clothes is a good practice to get in the habit of, and it will help ward off wrinkles. Try to air-dry your clothes as often as possible and you won’t need to iron them nearly as often. This ironing board alternative is not immediate, but it pays off in the long term.

If you have a marble, quartz, or granite countertop, then you have a great ironing board alternative. Granite, quartz, and marble are highly resistant to heat which means they can withstand a hot iron. You still should be wary of ironing directly onto a countertop, but it’s an excellent option.

Simply lay a tablecloth, sheet, or blanket down on your countertop, and you can iron on it. This is another case of an ironing board alternative that won’t cost you a dime. Countertops are especially convenient if your laundry room is adjacent to your kitchen.

You can go straight from the laundry room or closet to your kitchen and iron your clothes with no problem. Pair an ironing mat with your countertops if you want to ensure that you do not harm the surface.

Every home has at least a handful of tables, and they’re great ironing board alternatives. Tables are usually at the perfect height so that you won’t strain your back as you iron. Besides that, they are generally flat, even, and large enough to accommodate big clothing items.

Avoid ironing on a table unless you’ve laid down a cloth, sheet, blanket, or mat to protect. Wooden tables are susceptible to scorching and damage, in particular, so avoid direct contact to protect the surface. There is enough space on tables that you don’t have to worry about what you can or cannot iron.

It can be annoying to clear your table to iron on it, but it’s worth it if you don’t have an ironing board. Take special care, especially if your table is made of wood, and you’ll have no trouble ironing on your kitchen table.

Look no further than your hairdryer if you want a low-budget ironing board alternative that you probably already have. Hairdryers are great because they are handheld, convenient, and easy to use for any homeowner. Simply wet the clothes or fabric that you want to iron, then go over it thoroughly with a hairdryer for 5-10 minutes.

Dry it long enough so that it’s still mildly damp to allow it to air dry if you want to play it extra safe. However, you can give it extra time with the hairdryer if you need the clothes to be free of wrinkles quickly. This method is ideal if you are in a pinch and need a quick solution to smooth your clothes out.

You can find hair dryers for as low as $10, and they’re worthwhile if you want a budget ironing board alternative. Consider using a hairdryer if you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on removing wrinkles.

Yes, believe it or not, running a hot shower provides enough steam to help treat wrinkles in clothing. All that you need to do is run a shower with steaming hot water and hang your clothes up in the bathroom. Try to keep your clothes far apart if so that they don’t block one another from soaking up steam.

The hot steam will act like a garment cleaner and quickly remove wrinkles from the clothes. With that said, this option is only ideal for small ruffles and wrinkles in the material. The hot steam from a shower is not enough to treat severely wrinkled clothing, so it’s not ideal for everyone.

It is common practice for business people and vacationers to remove wrinkles with the hot shower method. Take advantage of your shower and let the hot steam make your clothes as smooth and comfortable as they should be.