Paraffin mixed into starch ???
#1
This is an interesting, brief article I was reading in an old booklet put out by Gulfwax back in what looks like the 1960s. It was about decorative candle making.
"Starching: For a smooth finish, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of Gulfwax to each quart of hot starch (depending on finish desired), and boil for five minutes."
"Ironing: Rub hot iron over a piece of Gulfwax, wrapped in a cloth, to make it smooth and bright."
QUESTION: What, exactly, does paraffin wax have to do with starching/ironing, and why would someone want to introduce a potentially flammable product into something that would end up on clothes or quilts?
Any thoughts on this?
Terry -- in Northern Delaware
"Starching: For a smooth finish, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of Gulfwax to each quart of hot starch (depending on finish desired), and boil for five minutes."
"Ironing: Rub hot iron over a piece of Gulfwax, wrapped in a cloth, to make it smooth and bright."
QUESTION: What, exactly, does paraffin wax have to do with starching/ironing, and why would someone want to introduce a potentially flammable product into something that would end up on clothes or quilts?
Any thoughts on this?
Terry -- in Northern Delaware
#2
NOt sure unless to make something stiffer. In the 60's we wore stiffly starched cotton shirts -- UGH. Remember my boyfriends mother ironing his shirts -- it was quite a process back then. Don't think there was even non-flammable fabric then for clothing. I was still at university so I wasn't in the least domestic.
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,771
..that's funny. I remember my mom putting paraffin wax in a cotton towel and running it across the bottom of her iron. she said it removed all the gunk on the bottom of the iron.
I tried it once and it didn't do anything for me.
I tried it once and it didn't do anything for me.
#5
Don't you think it's because we have such different surfaces on our irons now?
Originally Posted by frugalfabrics
..that's funny. I remember my mom putting paraffin wax in a cotton towel and running it across the bottom of her iron. she said it removed all the gunk on the bottom of the iron.
I tried it once and it didn't do anything for me.
I tried it once and it didn't do anything for me.
#7
First of all folks didn't worry about potentially flamable things back then.
In addition people starched a lot of things besides clothes. I remember doing the ironing as a kid and starching a lot of household linens with lacy edges. They were starched to a very stiff finish, so maybe having some wax in there would help, but can't really think it would be much stiffer than starch. I do remember the rubbing wax on the bottom of the iron thing. Later on my mom would run the iron over a piece of waxed paper.
I guess you should take into consideration who the info came from, they were just trying to sell more parafin.
In addition people starched a lot of things besides clothes. I remember doing the ironing as a kid and starching a lot of household linens with lacy edges. They were starched to a very stiff finish, so maybe having some wax in there would help, but can't really think it would be much stiffer than starch. I do remember the rubbing wax on the bottom of the iron thing. Later on my mom would run the iron over a piece of waxed paper.
I guess you should take into consideration who the info came from, they were just trying to sell more parafin.
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04-02-2011 02:02 AM