I know that everyone has worn out the subject of Starching Fabric.....
But here is another question/problem.

I read about starching fabric before cutting it helps with keeping your fabric from warping & makes it cut easier...

After going through many cans of spray starch, I purchased a bottle of liquid starch (STA-GO)- I mixed it to medium strength - 6 c starch to 1 cup water. It's in a plastic spray bottle - which I shake before using so..

Why am I getting (1) white flakes showing up on my fabric, (2) is the starch sticking to my iron & (3) and messy teflon ironing board cover.

I went to Joann's and purchased the iron cleaner (worked great) - have scrubbed off the starch from the ironing board cover, but what am I doing wrong??

I used tap water to mix the starch, should I have used dis-stilled water? I know the ironing god (please note small "g") hates me, because he knows I hate ironing but...

Please help -

I let the starch completely dry before ironing, and never have trouble with flaking :D:D:D

Do you mean Stay Flo?
Medium mixture is one half cup of Stay Flo to 4 cups of water, I think..are you sure you are making the right combo of starch and water?

I was going to say the same- you are using way too much starch and not enough water. I mix about 4 parts water to 1 part starch for stiff, and a about half that for medium. Also, I let it sink into the fabric for about 30 seconds or so before ironing. (You can also add a few drops of lavender essential oil to the mix and your fabric will smell heavenly as you iron and sew.)

I can not help you with starch because just use the Magic Sizing already to use in a spray can. Good Luck in getting it all removed from your iron.

You need to let it fully saturate the fabric. If you can not let it sit and dry completely , then at least let it sit for 15 minutes. The problem is that the starch is not "in" your fabric it is just sitting on top , hence the flaking. I get the best results by letting it dry completely, it stiffer, no flakes and none on the iron.

Yup, starch too thick and let it soak in for 10 to 15 minutes. I'm impatient so 5 minutes for me. Lol. And don't worry, the flakes will wash out after you are all done. I did the same thing when I first started. Scary, but this board is a life saver! :)

I would also suggest that you cover your ironing surface with an old (or ugly) piece of cotton fabric that you can take off and wash after a rigorous starching session. I serged the edges of mine (an old piece of muslin) but you can easily pink or run a quick simple hem to prevent raveling when you wash it. I use mine over and over. This saves you the trouble of having to scrub your ironing board in the future.

When using spray starch, 'heat' the fabric with the iron and then apply the starch. Warm fabric absorbs starch more readily.

I recommend spraying the wrong side of the fabric if you get white flakes. I avoid white flakes because I use an old, dry (not steam) iron that gets HOT HOT HOT.

This web page has some of my starch thoughts. It's not for everyone but for machine piecers to consider.
http://www.marcusbrothers.com/featur...ossman_solomon

For the iron, I have found that straight vinegar works pretty good for cleaning off the burnt starch.

way too much starch to water ratio. then a light misting, let it soak in and then iron

Spray starch can just sit on the surface of the fabric (especially if the fabric has not been pre-washed). If you iron the fabric before the spray starch has been absorbed, you get the problems you describe.

Ways to avoid this, as others have mentioned, are to (1) preheat the fabric so the starch absorbs faster, (2) spray the wrong side of the fabric, (3) spray and then wait for the starch to be absorbed before starting to iron, and/or (4) spray and dry the fabric completely before starting to iron (steam will activate the starch). Your ratio of starch and water would work fine for this method.

What I like to do for fabric is mix up my solution of Sta-Flo and water and "paint" it on the fabric with a large wall painting brush, then toss the fabric in the dryer. After it comes out of the dryer, I iron with lots of steam. Can't do this with pieced tops, but it's much faster than spraying for starching yardage.

I mix my starch 50/50, spray the fabric and let it "soak" for a minimum of 2 hours, then either put in the dryer for a few minutes or air dry, then iron, I don't have a problem with the flaking then.

Wow, Sta Flo is concentrate. You are mixing it way way to heavy. It will end up like a board. I use 1 part sta flo 1 part water and 1 part Fabreeze to make it smell good. you should be able to make about a gallon with your mixture.

all the suggestions so far are on point.

however, i'll throw in my own just for the heck of it.

don't worry about the flakes. what doesn't fall off or rub off very shortly will wash away.

ignore them. :-)

I'll just add I use MaryEllen's Best Press. The best starch I've ever used. It comes in a spray bottle and lasts a long time.

I like Patrice's advice. I honestly don't have time to wait for my starched fabric to dry most of the time. Or patience. And I won't put it in the dryer-my dh and dd have sensitive skin so if starch got on the dryer and then on their clothes, that might cause problems.

My mother used to clean the iron by sprinkling salt on waxed paper then ironing over it with a warm iron.

Oops! I misread your starch:water ratio as 6 c. water to 1 c. starch. If it's the other way around, I'm not sure how you could even spray it!

The heaviest starch mixture I use is a 1:1 ratio of Sta-Flo to water.

Actually she did say 6 cups starch to 1 cup water.

Prism99 thought she posted 6 cups water and 1 cup starch but I have a feeling that the OP misposted. That is not a medium solution.

6 cups of starch to one cup of water sounds really thick to me... are you sure thats right ?

6 cups is alot of starch.. I make my own using

1cup Sta-flo
1cup water
1cup of febreeze

shake well and spray.. as for the flakes.. the starch is not penetrating the fabric and the water/starch droplets form flakes when you run your iron over the droplets..

I agree with many of the comments above - let it soak in and apply to the wrong side of the fabric.

Get yourself some Best Press and you won't have this problem. Also it comes in a lovely lavender scent.

Sharon Schamber uses Faultless Heavy spray starch. Spray on one side, turn fabric over and iron with a hot dry iron. Spray turn fabric over and iron. Spray, turn fabric over and iron. So 3 times total. Ironing from the other side will force the starch into the fabric and you won't get flakes.
Also to clean your iron either hot or cold, she says to dampen a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponge, place on a towel on your ironing board and drag the iron across the sponge. The gunk will come off rather easily. In her tute, it looked like it worked better with the iron being cold. I was amazed at that, but have used the Magic Eraser on other things and been amazed at how well it cleans things.

I like to use StaFlo also, and yes if you don't wait for the starch to 'set' you'll get flakes. I lilke to spray the starch on damp fabric, it seems to absorb it faster. Distilled water is best, if you mix it with tap water, you should dispose of the unused portion after you're done for the day; if not, it'll grow mold, which is almost impossible to totally get out of your spray bottle. Guess how I found that out....As far as cleanning your iron goes , use a wet towel, hot iron, and iron the towel changing to a clean area as needed untill the iron is clean.
I only starch on a small ironing board w/ a cotton covering. You could use a towel w/ muslin cover to starch, easy clean up.

I agree with everyone else, your starch is too heavy. And there have been a lot of hints about the flakes, I can't help you with the iron or the board cover, but I can with the flakes. The fast way to keep from getting flakes is before you iron, just take your hand and run it over the surface you just sprayed. It will eliminate the flakes on the fabric. quick fix. The iron if I have a problem I clean before I put it away that way it doesn't build up and the cover its buy a new one lol... Problem solved aren't I good lol....

A fabric softener sheet to do a quick iron over it works just as well as any iron cleaner. I put it on a paper towel then iron a clean paper towel when done to get any residue off the iron.

I recently read somewhere that bugs love to eat starch! Not sure if they were selling the expensive quilt store spray stuff or telling the truth, but I quit using starch!

Ohhhh, I like the idea of adding essential oil. I'll have to try it.

I read somewhere that you should put your unused starch/water solution in the refrigerator or it gets musty. Is this true? I usually make a small amount every time I make a batch, usually just enough to do my project. I like the idea of adding Febreze to the solution. You guys are SOOOOOO SMART!!!!!!!

Use spray starch in the can. No mess no fuss. Roz

I have had starch mixtures (Sta-Flo mixed with water) get moldy. Storing them in the frig makes them last longer but, even in the frig, they will develop mold sooner than I think they should!

Oh, Anita, I love your stuff! I am enamored with your two red irons...never saw them ever in red (my favorite color). It's nice to know you are a member of this wonderful Board.


:P :P

Amen!!! I wish I could buy this stuff at Costco... right now i'm running out so I'll have to get a web order in as the craft stores don't carry it, you'll usually only find it in an indie sewing/craft shop if you can track it down on foot at all.

Seriously everyone, this is the bestest product ever and using it will avoid all the drama with your irons. IT"S WONDERFUL!!!! The have everything from scented to unscented, and "Linen" is my favorite scent. It is by far the best product I ever used, and makes my life sooooooo much easier when I do need to starch. Plus let me tell you, ladies if you've got blouses and men if you've got your button-down business workshirts, let me tell you - it never fails to make your clothes look like you just pulled them off the rack brand spanking new.

I grew up in a family who only used "Niagra" Starch - and now after having heard about "MaryEllen's Best Press" on a Youtube Video and then getting a full sized sample when I brought my Accuquilt Go! I will never be the same. Try It! You won't regret it!

Happy Holidays!

Explosive blessings, abundance and inspiration to you all!
- The Creative Seamstress

I recently found the following recipe for starch which has worked great.

1 Cup StayFlo Starch

I have found the following recipe for starching fabric and it works great.

1 Cup StaFlo Starch
1 Cup Water
1 Cup Febreeze
Mix well and put in spray bottle.

I haven't mixed starch in a long time but when I did, I use distilled water. It probably wouldn't mold as fast or easily as tap water.

Thanks for all the advise. I never use to be much of a starcher until reading the starch posts. Now I starch starch starch.
Love it. I am going to try and make my own from some of the recipes seen here. Thanks :thumbup: