JanieH

I remember my mother starching and then rolling and refrigerating the clothes but never thought to ask why she put them in the refrigerator. I have done the same as an adult, I guess because that is the way it was always done. It is interesting to find out as an adult why that was done. I think I thought she just needed someplace to put them until she was ready to iron them or have my sister and me iron them when we got old enough.

bearisgray

refrigerating ( or freezing) " the ironing" was to prevent the items from mildewing.

coopah

As a military wife in government housing, I was told I could adhere patterned sheets to the walls using starch instead of wallpaper. Never tried it, but your post brought back memories.

svenskaflicka1

we "old" nurses know that the key to a good, stiff cap, back in the day, was to dip it in a thick starch solution, and flatten it on a shower wall, or mirror, "ironing" it with our fingers. it would be a little difficult to do that with backing fabric, i'll grant you...

svenskaflicka1

mom would put them in the fridge, starched, or not, because they would develop mold or mildew if they sat longer than a single day.

bkay

Mother didn't refrigerate until the second day, in case she didn't get the ironing done. She said they would "sour" if not refrigerated. I find that if I forget clothes in the washer, they will "sour" (stink). Mold and mildew take several days to develop.

bkay