If you invest in a solid ironing board then it can easily last for a few decades and possibly might last for the rest of your life. However, if you are a frequent ironer then the ironing board cover will not likely be as lucky. Before heading out to a buy a new ironing board cover however you need to think about a few simple things to make sure that you get the best ironing board cover for your board.
Practicability
The very first thing you need to do is make sure that you are actually looking at ironing board covers that are going to work with your ironing board. To do this you need to get out a tape measure and actually measure how wide and long your board is. Make sure you account for whether or not the nose of the board is blunt, rounded, or tapered because even if you buy the best cover on the market it will be the worst for you if it does not fit.
Aesthetic Value
Of course, you also want to think about what appeals to you. There are many different patterns and materials so you need to choose what is going to fit best for you. You also need to think about what you frequently iron with, steam or non-steam because there are different surfaces that are better fits for some types then others. For instance, reflective ironing board covers are great because they send the heat back to the garment to increase the speed of ironing. They are also stain resistant, but can cause the fabric to slide around a bit so for people that sew they may not be an excellent choice. These are some of the considerations you need to make when matching a pattern you like with a cover that will work for you.
Functional Value
Finally, you need to look at how functional the ironing board cover is going to be when used on your ironing board. In order to determine this you need to take a look at the padding thickness and the way that the cover attaches to your ironing board. Most ironing boards are made from foam or felt, but generally foam is the better choice because it is stronger. You want to make sure that the padding is at least 4mm thick under it and even thicker if you can because it needs to cover the ironing board mesh marks so that they do not end up being pressed into your clothes.