apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I used a travel one (narrower) for six years. When I finally bought a board, couldn't remember what took me so long. These are better than a towel on a bed if it comes to that, though.

Ironing Blanket, where have you been all my life?
If only it was large enough to be useful.

How would you iron the yoke of a shirt without the narrow end of the board?

i just use a folded towel if I don't feel like opening up the ironing board.

I have a futon so I just iron on there. Well, I do when I actually do some ironing. Which hasn't been for about eight months now because I have such outdated electrical sockets that my iron won't plug in.
That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

How is this an improvement to using a towel?

DKinNY, I think the silicone acts as a heat distributor...I think

Why would you use a towel? - how do you get anything crisp and smooth by ironing it on a textured surface?? - Use a blanket covered with a sheet on a table for better smoothness - you need something solid underneath to be able to press the iron down onto - ironing something on a soft surface like a bed is not worth the effort!!

I think Violetsrose is right. One problem I've had with the silicone blanket thing is that you usually store it folded, and those folds become impossible to smooth out, and then you've got an inferior ironing surface.

I use a regular ironing board, and since I also sew I have a tailor's ham and a sleeve board -- more to store, but it makes ironing almost sexy when you have so many gadgets!