Okay, back in the day, my momma used real starch. She mixed it with water to the strength she wanted and then rinsed the clothes in them, hung em on the line and then when it came time to iron, she used a spray capped coke bottle for a sprinkling bottle, sprinkled the clothes, rolled em up and stuck em in the fridge for a few hours before ironing. The clothes always ironed up so crisp and sharp. Why can't I find that old fashioned starch now. I have to buy that old magic sizing stuff and it doesn't make my fabric near as crisp.
Anybody know where I can buy the old fashioned kind of starch? Or even the old Niagara Spray Starch? All I can find is that Magic Sizing stuff.

http://ashleys.net/recipes/Starch.htm maybe this will help

I buy starch at the grocery store, Walmart, Dollar Tree... in the laundry item aisle :D:D:D

it should be right near the cans, you can get liquid or powder

Your memories are like mine, except we did not put them in refrigerator/ice box - it was very small.

I have a job getting the 'real' starch in in the UK too but then found an old recipe book from ggrandma and now do what she did. Use cornstarch mixed with water. about a teaspoon to 2pints. Just mix it in the cold water and either submerge fabric in it or spray it on from a hand spray bottle. Then iron immediately while still damp. Works a treat and cheap too. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Me also.

The ARGO starch runs about 1.29-1.49 per box here.

I use Sta-Flo and mix it strong in a spray bottle and iron away lol from Walmart

This is what I do.

My mother used a Pepsi bottle with the rubber cap and holes punched in it. She would sprinkle all her blouses and our dresses (6 little girls all aged 1-1&1/2 years apart..!). Then she would roll each one up tightly and place them all back in the clothes basket until later in the evening when we were watching tv. She made her own starch 'sprinkle' too until my parents got to the point in their marriage they could afford the Niagara Spray. Seemed to save her a lot of time. We weren't allowed to touch the ironing when we got older as this must have been her 'de-stressing' time.

I watched my mom go thru exactly the same process. I have bought starch in the grocery store here.

Argo as in Cornstarch that you use in cooking?

I can only get the liquid concentrate here( no dry in the box type) or spray , and the only place that carries the conentrate in my area is Walmart . So every once in a while I have to go and stock up.
I like the concentrate as I get do "custom" mixes or strenght depending on the project and the fabric.
The only company I know that makes the liquid concenrate is Stay Flo... come in a blue plastic jug.

I purchase the Niagra spray starch at my local Walmart but think I have also seen it in the grocery stores.

no this is in the laundry aisle, dark blue and white box. Might be made by the same company though.

So do you have to keep shaking up the Argo+water mix?

I remember when my mom use to do that also! Even in the pop bottle with the spray like top with holes and fold them up and put them in a basket and then we took them out and ironed them.

Me too....big savings :thumbup:

Yes, use the cornstarch that is used in cooking. That's all starch is, although I understand that the best quality starches are made with rice flour.

Remember that real starch is food. You shouldn't use it on any fabric that will be stored without washing, like your stash, because it will attract bugs.

I buy the Niagara Spray starch all the time for my blocks. To find out where to get it in your area, Call;1-866-794-0800.

OH! The old water bottle with the cork sprinkle top, that just takes me back to the good old days, and the damp clothes in the fridge. Things were less hectic, no cell phones, no internet, sometimes I wish for the GOOD OLD DAYS!

What I remember about the starch from when I was kid (60 years ago)

The starch in the blue and white box - mixed with a little cold water to dissolve it (the mixture looked cloudy) - then hot or boiling water was added to it - and it got uncloudy - then a little square of a blue substance (it was Satina) was added.

The clothes were dipped in this great big bowl (it was the bread mixing bowl) and then wrung out - hung on the line to dry - then sprinkled with water, rolled up, and ironed later after they were evenly damp. (If that didn't happen by the next day, the clothes went into the freezer)

What needed to be stiffest was dunked first, because the starch solution got "weaker" as it was used.

These posts made me smile as I, too, am from the old days and still do things the same way sometimes. Depending on what state I am in, sometimes it can be difficult to find the powdered starch or bluing. Cornstarch does work too. Whenever mixing the powdered variety, yes, you have to keep shaking or stirring it. Otherwise you will have a nice "glop" in the bottom of your bottle.

Even when using the liquid Sta Flo, I shake often. If using the Niagara, or other brand, of spray starch, I often shake it and starch the back side, waiting a moment or two for it to soak in and smoothing it out with my hand. This reduces the flakiness and shine and evens out the starch.

I just mentioned to my son the other day that I would love a glass pop bottle and the old sprinkler top that I used to have. He handed me a tiny coke bottle salt shaker and said, "Here you are." That brought a laugh to both of us.

I buy it at the grocery store. But if you can't find it you can always make it using cornstarch. I found it on www.ehow.com
just search homemade boiled starch. They have tips too. I have it taped in a cabinet in laundry room:
1 tsp. to 1 Tbsp. cornstarch, 2-3 Tbsp cold water. Dissolve in large measuring cup. Then add boiling water to make 1 cup , stirring constantly. Add cold water to make 2 cups & let cool

I think my mom used plain old corn starch.

I have to say that I've watched my Grandmother do the same thing and understand the principle. What I want to know is where do you get the little stopper deal with the holes that you put in the top of the RC/Coke Cola bottle to sprinkle with?

I guess that's a guy question.

I just use a glass jar with a metal screwtop lid. One that fits comfortably in my hand. I used a small nail to punch several holes in the lid. Very low tech but it works for me.

Sta-Flo is not expensive, is available in most grocery stores (and finally my local Walmart once again), and you can mix it up to whatever strength you want. I've used it for over a decade and LOVE it.

I found the sizing and regular starch spray cans at the dollar store. Try there.

Funny that this is here today...last week I ran out of the Spray starch I buy from Walmart and I tried the cornstarch! It worked and you do have to shake it alot while ironing. I like it and it is so cheap!

Me too.

My mother only put the sprinkled ironing in the fridge if she couldn't finish it that day, other wise it could mildew. I liked some things starched and still do but I haven't seen anything but spay starch in a long time. It is also a good craft item, used to mix liquid (or liquifed powder) starch and poster paint and let the kids fingerpaint.

I get Sav-Flo at the grocery store and walmart.

awe that does bring back memories !!!!! i see it at the grocery store and walmart all the time

I remember my mother using Argo starch. It came in a box. She also ate it, which a lot of women did in that day.

I bought these for sprinkling tiny seedlings without washing them away.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=120575093016

Or you could buy a real vintage cork bottle top sprinkler...

Or maybe a bottle shaped like a maid? :)

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=sprinkle*+vintage+laundry&_sacat=0&_odkw=sprinkle*+vintage &_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

The Argo brand corn starch is in the baking isle...I use it for gravy, puddings...and sometimes doilies.

What a sweet memory... I can even hear the sound of the starch in the bottle while momma was "sprinkling" everything. I've missed that crisp feel in shirts!! If I remember correctly, we went from that to polyester double knits... no wonder momma loved that stuff so much!!