Facts about Irons and Ironing boards

When did people start ironing? According to the folks at Old and Interesting, no one knows exactly when or who but the Chinese were using hot metal pans filled with hot coals that they moved over fabric over a thousand years ago.

When were irons made of iron? In the middle ages blacksmiths started making sad and flat irons which weighed between 5 and 9 pounds.

What are "sad" irons? It is from the Old English for solid, these original irons were very heavy with heavy iron handles. As they go lighter, the name changed to flat iron.

Who thought of making the handles wooden? A woman, of course! Mrs. Potts created a sad iron with a detachable walnut handle in 1871. No more burnt fingers!

Who invented the first electric iron? The French did in 1880 but they didn't become popular until 1903 when Earl H. Richardson made them smaller and lighter. His company was eventually named Hotpoint.

What were early ironing boards like? They were just that, boards on a table or balanced between two chairs and a blanket to protect it.

Who is cited as being the inventor of the modern ironing board? Another woman! Sarah Boone's 1892 patent was not the first for an ironing board but the first with a narrow end for ironing sleeves.

What else is nifty about Sarah Boone? She was one of the very first African American women to receive a patentSarah-Boone in the United States.

What are most ironing boards made of? Most are made of rolled steel and some rubber or plastic for feet plus paint.

How many companies manufacture ironing boards in the United States? Only one, Home Products International which does so with support from the Federal Government. Most are manufactured in China.