Starching Clothes
HOW TO
Starching Clothes
You can add starch to your clothes to make them smooth and crisp. Starch helps keep your clothes wrinkle free after ironing. Starching clothes can even keep them cleaner longer because it repels dirt and sweat.
Why Starch?
Starching has a long history, but it didn't really become in vogue until the 16th century. Thanks to Elizabethan high society, the rise of lace and ruff collars, and the demand for professionally-laundered clothing the benefits of starching clothes became obvious, and starching clothes became a staple in the laundry routine. While starching linen and other fabrics has ancient roots, at the Laundress, we know exactly how to starch clothes the modern way, and in this guide we’ll show you how. Customers want to know: "Can you starch rayon?", “Can you starch shirts?” or "Can you starch wool?" amongst other fabrics. To cut the confusion on starching your laundered items and to help you look more polished, we've put together the following guide. Discover how starching a shirt to keep wrinkles at bay longer, learn how starch acts as a stain-protective barrier, and much more. If you're looking for the best fabric starch solution for adding a crisp hold when ironing clothes, linens, and fabrics, look for a cornstarch-based, non-aerosol spray with a clean laundry scent that's safe for cottons, linens, and even synthetic fabrics. The best part? A dual-purpose spray will allow you add crisp finish while simultaneously freshening fabrics. Want even more starching tips? Keep reading. For general laundry and home cleaning tips visit our Clean Talk Blog.
Yes, starch makes clothes stiff by adding hold to clothing, creating a crisp, professional finish. Starch adds crispness and structure, providing body to cotton and linen items. It aids in ironing, easing the process and creating a higher resistance to wrinkling and soiling. Starching at home using a starching spray and an iron can achieve dry cleaning results without the actual trip to the cleaners, making it a more eco-conscious choice. Another one of the benefits of starching clothes is that it can help increase the stain resistance of fabrics, as stains tend to adhere more to the starch, than the fabric itself.
The best starching sprays are designed to add a light to medium hold on fabrics, avoiding the scratchy finish left by some grocery store brands and powdered starch. Unlike grocery store-brand spray starch, a fine starching spray won’t flake, coat, or damage fabrics.
After washing and drying fabrics, you can begin the starching process. Spray your starching solution evenly over the fabric from a few inches away and allow a moment for it to absorb into the fabric. Then, proceed with ironing the fabric as desired. Let garments fully dry before wearing. Scroll down for step by step instructions!
Starch is most commonly used on everyday fabrics like cotton and linen. Durable synthetics can also be "starched", but most cannot be treated with grocery store-brand spray starch. The best fine starching solutions are safe for everyday cotton and linen, and durable synthetic fabrics such as polyester. Uniforms, office attire, and formal wear can be starched to add a polished, professional look to garments. It can also be used to give a picture perfect, hotel-fresh finish to bedding and linens! Both light and dark-colored—even black!—clothes can be starched using a fine starching spray. If you’re wondering how to starch black clothes, start by lightly misting fabric with the starching solution before ironing. Most fine starching sprays are designed to fully absorb into fabrics, so you can rest assured your black clothing will maintain a firm hold without white, flaky residue.
Starch should not be used on delicate natural fibers like wool, cashmere, silk, and blends made from these fabrics. In general, knits and other very delicate items made from silky, thin fabrics should simply not be starched, and most cannot be ironed either. For a wrinkle-free finish on these heat-sensitive items, opt for steaming instead and refresh by misting with your favorite fabric freshening spray.
Fine starching sprays are designed to not leave heavy buildup in your fabrics, you can use them repeatedly without fear of fabric damage. They are specifically designed for use during the ironing process, as opposed to other starches that work in the washing machine. It’s important to note that after wearing a starched item, take care to launder it with the appropriate Laundress detergent according to fabric type to help preserve the garment and extend its longevity.
Want even more starching tips? Keep reading. For general laundry and home cleaning tips visit our Clean Talk Blog.
How To Starch
Wash and thoroughly dry the item. Yes, you should wash items before starching them! This will remove any dirt that could interfere with the properties of the starch that stiffen and protect fibers. Position the item on an ironing board with a heat reflective cover. Take care to ensure your ironing board surface is clean and free of debris. Apply a starch product evenly across the item. If using an aerosol product, wait a couple of seconds to allow the starch to seep in. Press lightly using an iron. Make sure the iron is set to the recommended heat level for the item's material. Hang the item after starching. It’s important to let your freshly starched item hang up to fully dry before wearing. Putting on the item before the starching spray has fully set into the fabric can cause unintended creasing.
What Not to Starch
Durable synthetics: While these fabrics can be "starched," they often cannot be treated with grocery spray starch or a powdered starch mixture without causing damage. We recommend using a fine starching spray that is safe for use on durable synthetic fabrics such as polyester. Silk, silk blends, silk-like, and delicate synthetics: Do not starch items made from these sensitive fabrics. Wool, cashmere, wool blends, and wool-like synthetics: Do not use starch on natural fiber items like wool, cashmere, and blends. In general, knits should never, ever be ironed as it can crush and ruin the yarns.
