Originally Posted by
citruscountyquilter
One of the problems that many have with starch is they spray too heavily (get the fabric too wet) and press too quickly so the starch doesn't have time to absorb into the fibers of the fabric. You are more likely to get distortion this way in addition to flakes and gunk on your iron.
When I starch I spray lightly and gently roll the pieces up and put them in a plastic bag to mellow out a bit. This is much like was done back in the day when clothes were sprinkled and then ironed. Anyone remember putting sprinkled clothes in the fridge if you couldn't get to them right away? When the starch has fully absorbed into the fabric it won't be wet but will be some damp. Gently press, not iron, to set the starch. Pressing is putting the dry iron down and then picking it up to move it rather than sliding it over the fabric which is ironing. I find if I do it this way fabric doesn't stretch and my iron and board stays much cleaner.
If your iron gets gunky from the starch use a moist magic eraser (like Mr Clean brand but any brand will do) on a cold iron. Works great to get the gunk off. I have a shiny sole plate on my iron and it's not teflon coated so don't know how the eraser would work on that. Perhaps someone who has that type of iron could advise on this.
Back in the day - 1950s - my Mom made a starch mixture in the bread mixing bowl - white starch mixed with cold water, hot water added to that, and then a little rectangle of blue Satina was added to that.
The clothes were dipped in this huge bowl - I don't remember if they were wrung out by hand, or went through the wringer again - and then line dried.
Then they were sprinkled, rolled up, and "let set" for a day or two. I think some things went in the freezer (more room) instead of the refrigerator when one could not get them to right away. Some things took a long time to "get to".
Even the overalls got starched - at the end of the run - Mom felt that the starch helped release the grime that accumulated on them. We were a farm family - the overalls usually were worn until they got very dirty.
What went in the starch? Aprons, dresses, overalls, tablecloths (most of the time the table was covered with oilcloth - wonder why it was called that) blouses, skirts. There was an order - what needed the most stiffening went in first.
What did not go in the starch? Sheets, handkerchiefs, underwear, socks, towels
Don't remember: bedding, man's work shirts,
There were several things I despised ironing: A couple of aprons with ruffles on the shoulders, and the puffed sleeves on my much younger sisters' dresses.