Ironing boards

[live4ever]

Kind of a weird topic, but I know many here finish a lot of mudrooms, laundry rooms, closets, etc. 

What's the state-of-the-art for ironing board storage in small spaces nowadays?  I know that there's Iron-A-Way cabinets that can be mounted in between studs and let you plug in and store the iron.  But my parents had one in their 1990-built home and I always thought the mechanism was a little clunky, especially for something that costs $600.  Doesn't seem like it has changed in the last 30 years. 

Hafele has a few solutions...a drawer-based fold-out board and a simple wall-mount folding one.  Anyone else?  What have you used?

 

[grobkuschelig]

Uh. Interesting topic!
...unfortunately I can’t help, but am looking for something as well for an upcoming closet-remodel.

 

[macbob3]

I have the NuTone in my house and we are very pleased with it.  Looks good.  Works fine.  Iron is always handy.

 

[Rob-GB]

Back in the 90's I fitted one of those Hafele kitchen draw types in the kitchen of my apartment, it was very good as I recall.
25 odd years on they must be even better but that one was the only one I have fitted.

Rob.

 

[peter halle]

What's an iron? [big grin]

Peter

 

[Rob-GB]

What's an iron? [big grin]

Peter

It's what us proper blokes use to fix melamine edging tape onto melamine faced board edges [big grin]

(boy I had to think hard not to use the words iron and iron-on-edging in that)

Rob.

 

[peter halle]

So that's where mine is!

 

[Paul G]

What's an iron? [big grin]

Peter

It's one of the clubs use for shorter range shots.

As for ironing boards, interesting topic. We're still old school with no designated space for such activities.

 

[pixelated]

We have an antique ironing-board cabinet similar to the iron-a-way's (might be one, not sure), it's hardware looks to date it in the '40's or maybe '50's.
My plan has been to incorporate it into a pantry cabinet. We're a kind of unique situation though, it's a log house, so there are no stud bays in the exterior walls to install it, and no convenient partition walls where it could go.

 

[live4ever]

Thanks all - I guess Iron-A-Way is still the best option for commercially available ones.  The NuTone seems ok too depending on whether one needs electrical integrated into the cabinet (still undecided on that for our own remodel). 

I'm really surprised there's nothing slicker for the high-end market.  I can't imagine someone with a 300K high-tech remodel of their kitchen/laundry/bath involving an architect and a designer getting something no better than the aforementioned options.  Maybe there are custom solutions with gas pistons or something...just haven't come across anything in my search.  Or does everyone still drag a board out of the closet?

These "ironing centers" were very popular back in the 80s and 90s and then sort of stopped being used as much.  I wonder why? 

 

[live4ever]

So that's where mine is!

Maybe there's a market for the "shop-based ironing center."  Flip down MFT-style board in a cabinet with a small vise.

And a Conturo...
[tongue]

 

[Rob-GB]

I'm really surprised there's nothing slicker for the high-end market.  I can't imagine someone with a 300K high-tech remodel of their kitchen/laundry/bath involving an architect and a designer getting something no better than the aforementioned options. 

People that can afford 300k remodels probably out-source the laundry duties.  [big grin]

Rob

 

[waterloomarc]

These "ironing centers" were very popular back in the 80s and 90s and then sort of stopped being used as much.  I wonder why?

My guess is that in the intervening 2 decades people have shunned dressing nicely and seem to take pride in looking like slobs. The casual workplace and the “hoodie” generation have all but eliminated ironing for a large number of people. As you can probably tell from my verbiage I’m not a fan.

Back to your topic, I tried to find something while we were building our house a few years ago and was unsussful. We’re still using the same old school ironing board that I hang behind the closet door when we’re done.

Interesting topic. I’d still like to retrofit something if i could find something. But around here I’d say the vast majority either hire their laundry out or look like slobs. I’m too picky for the cleaners to press my shirts. They alway bigger up the cuffs.

 

[live4ever]

People that can afford 300k remodels probably out-source the laundry duties.  [big grin]

LOL, there's probably some truth to that.  Since I can't, I'll settle for a cleverly designed laundry room. 

Maybe I should just steal the Iron-A-Way from my parents' house.  They don't use it.

My guess is that in the intervening 2 decades people have shunned dressing nicely and seem to take pride in looking like slobs. The casual workplace and the hoodie” generation have all but eliminated ironing for a large number of people. As you can probably tell from my verbiage I’m not a fan.

Back to your topic, I tried to find something while we were building our house a few years ago and was unsussful. We’re still using the same old school ironing board that I hang behind the closet door when we’re done.

Interesting topic. I’d still like to retrofit something if i could find something. But around here I’d say the vast majority either hire their laundry out or look like slobs. I’m too picky for the cleaners to press my shirts. They alway bigger up the cuffs.

Yeah, if I really think about it, our ironing center wouldn't even get daily/heavy use.  It's probably more about having a dedicated and out-of-the-way place for something that otherwise gets in the way and is cumbersome when it is needed.  Maybe I'd iron my clothes more often if it wasn't such a struggle currently.  Cordless Dyson changed our life...

 

[wkearney99]

People that can afford 300k remodels probably out-source the laundry duties.  [big grin]

Heh, you're right about that.  I gave up and now send my polo shirts out.  The modern Under Armor and similar synthetics are pretty wrinkle-free out of the dryer, but the cotton polos... those get 'hangers/no-starch' from the cleaners.

Downside to infrequent use of the clothes iron is remembering to purge it a good bit before using it again.  Had some mineral deposits or something left behind make a mess of some white material from an iron that probably hadn't been used here for at least 2 years (if not longer!)

I've just never had the opportunity to lay out a laundry room such that one of those fold-down or drawer-style boards would 'work'.
I've found the simplest solution is a regular ironing board and a wall hanger cradle.  In keeping with 'too much money' angle, The Container Store makes some hangers that hold it.

 

[aloysius]

I'm guessing most (all?) of you lads don't actually do much ironing.  Maybe you have no requirement or expectation of wrinkle-free shirts with less than crumpled collars & cuffs?

Ironing is a tiresome chore, like cooking or washing up.  But it can become less tiresome.  First, allow the "ironer" some interaction with the outside world.  Don't relegate them to a cold or damp laundry, utility or bathroom.  The warmth, familiarity, conversation & companionship of the rest of the household will make the task less irksome.

In regard to placing fixed boards into a folding cupboard or drawer (I've tried both) they're awkward, counter-intuitive in that they invariably tend to have a typological "handedness", & restrict the proper flow required of the task.

Just as food prep duties were moved from the scullery to the household proper a century or so ago (even earlier in more "civilised" climes), the opportunity for interaction with the household should no longer be withheld.  Slaves, servants, serfs & convicts are no longer the norm.  To expect a household member (partner, child or even onesself) to exile themselves is a bit anachronistic.

Similarly, anybody still using an iron is simply missing out.  Modern steam generators are powerful, quick & easy to perform this task in a mere fraction of the time previously required.

A simple 100 x 1500 x 600 cupboard will serve for simple board storage, with an appropriately sized ancillary shelf for the steam generator.  This can be located in the kitchen, or even incorporated into a broom cupboard, in the kitchen, living or maybe TV room.  Somewhere that the family aggregates.

As a side note, recycling of the distilled water from heat pump driers for charging the steam generator will prevent (or at least lessen) the risk of calcium deposits or mineralisation contamination.

Do your ironer a favour & reintroduce them back into the household.

 

[montyss]

Just finishing making some new laundry room cabinets and installing a Hafele (568.60.781) cabinet pull out ironing board. One thing is this is one heavy piece , could not believe how heavy and how well it is made .  It doesn't take up a lot of room in the cabinet.

 

[live4ever]

Just finishing making some new laundry room cabinets and installing a Hafele (568.60.781) cabinet pull out ironing board. One thing is this is one heavy piece , could not believe how heavy and how well it is made . One thing it doesn't take up a lot of room .

Nice job, thanks for sharing!  I didn't realize this model swiveled - thought it had to come straight out (perpendicular to the cabinetry).  Definitely worth considering...my only gripe with it is you have to locate it near an outlet and also no storage for the iron of course.