When domestic ironers were first being introduced housekeeping manuals advised housewives to obtain the largest size to suit the household ironing, including flatwork without folding. If folds must be made then one was best. At that time you could get ironers with rollers/shoes nearly 45" give or take. Such a large unit would take small sheets and table cloths unfolded and larger sheets(the most common size then would have been "full/queen") and table cloths folded once.
Problem all domestic ironers have is they use a single roll, as opposed to commercial units that can and often do have multiples.
Because of the single roll the single pass must smooth and dry the items. If they are too moist things must be sent back and perhaps repeated. It takes a very fine balance to know the proper level of moisture required for each type of textile versus chances of scorching.
Also because of single rolls the thing must turn slower to ensure proper results. Many vintage and modern ironers do have speed controls, but the Ironrite doesn't neither did a few others.
Unless one is willing to iron large items folded and thus creating creases (and often cat whiskers) I find a large ironing table and several hot irons faster and give better results. OTOH if all you care about is having ironed items and not bothered by creases and lines then the ironer wins.
Shirts can be done on an ironer but it is best if they are of the flat/nearly square variety. Shirts with lots of gathers, pleats and so forth especially at the back are a pain. Have recently begun to teach myself how to iron shirts flat on an ironing table the way laundresses did for ages, and most "hand" shirt laundries do today sitll. Tip, if your shirt comes back with creases across the shoulders and down the sides, it was ironed flat.
