ironing: Line your ironing board with foil? The time-saving reason might surprise you

Ironing is one of the household chores that causes disagreements. Some people find it calming and satisfying, while others prefer to avoid it altogether. Whatever you think about it, wrinkled clothes eventually require attention. The good news is that a simple household item can help you get the job done faster.

According to an article from Everyday Cheapskate, placing foil under your ironing board cover can help make ironing more efficient. The reflective surface of the foil directs heat back to the fabric, allowing the garment to receive warmth from both sides when pressed.

How does the foil trick work?

Before replacing the ironing board cover, lay a flat sheet of aluminum foil over the ironing board. Once the cover is back in place, iron it as you usually do. While the iron heats the fabric, the foil reflects some of this heat upwards and also helps warm the bottom of the garment.

This means both sides of the fabric receive heat at the same time, which can help remove wrinkles more effectively. As a result, you may need to make fewer passes with the iron, saving you both time and effort.

Why are people using this hack?

Using aluminum foil under an ironing board cover can provide several practical benefits:

• It helps reflect heat back to the fabric.
• It accelerates the removal of wrinkles by heating both sides of the garment.
• Reduces the need to iron the same area over and over again.
• It can make ironing larger items such as shirts, trousers, bed sheets and tablecloths more efficient.

A few tips before you start

Before reattaching the ironing board cover, make sure the foil is laid flat without wrinkles. The lid must fit tightly so that the ironing surface remains smooth. If your ironing board already has a built-in heat-reflective layer, this trick may provide little additional benefit. While it might not take ironing off your to-do list, putting aluminum foil under the ironing board cover is a simple, low-cost hack that can help you get the chore done faster with less effort.

FAQ:

Q1. Why do people put aluminum foil under the ironing board cover?
The foil reflects heat back to the fabric during ironing. This can help remove wrinkles more effectively.
Q2. Does the foil come into contact with the laundry during ironing?
No. The foil remains under the ironing board cover. The fabric remains in contact with the cover only.