Laundry Starch

[EcclesCake]

I use a liquid laundry starch and regardless of how much I use it seems to be incredibly ineffective.

Assuming there is someone else out there who uses starch any recommendations for one that actually works?

[woofgang]

spray starch.

[EcclesCake]

I've never got on with spray starch, seem to spend longer cleaning the foot plate of my iron than I do ironing!

[Prudie]

I see they still sell the old fashioned powder starch on Amazon.

[Old_Geezer]

How are you using it ? No expert but I think starch is usually used after washing and before ironing, so could end up on your iron anyway.

[EcclesCake]

Thanks Prudie, I'll take a look.

Old Geezer, the stuff I'm using at the moment goes in the washing machine where you'd normally put the fabric conditioner. I've never had problems with my iron getting cruddy, just limp laundry :-(

[RATTER15]

I tried that spray starch once, it worked ok but like Eccles says, it cakes onto the iron, never used it again.

[Old_Geezer]

Hmmm I'd have thought one would need a LOT of starch added at that point to have much affect. Not that I know for sure. Maybe the lack of starch deposited then is why your iron has remained crudless.

[woofgang]

I used to use spray starch on my DH's dinner jacket shirts, never found the iron got particularly cruddy but I used the iron on steam. I did keep an old linen tea towel to hand to iron over if the iron did get bitty. I agree with OG, have you tried dip starching?

[EcclesCake]

I think I might have to try the old methods as the in machine method doesn't seem to work despite me following the instructions on the bottle.

[Robinia]

Are you removing the clothes to drip dry or having the machine do a spin? In ye olden dayes when we used Robin starch we had mangles or, at best, a spin drier but starch works best on drip dried clothes. I'm guessing the speed of modern machines removes most of the starch.

The secret to spray starch is to leave it to soak in a minute or two, and as woofy said, use steam to iron.

[EcclesCake]

That's a good point Robinia's, I'll experiment.

[EcclesCake]

Well that didn't come out as planned!

I'll experiment with the drip dry, I just use a normal wash as the guidance on the starch bottle doesn't suggest otherwise.

When I have used spray starch I have left it to soak in but still get a sticky footplate.

[boxtops]

Out of interest, what do you starch, eccles? I haven't starched anything for years!

[paddywak]

Don't know if you can still get it but my old mum used to use Robin Starch

[EcclesCake]

Boxtops, it's my linen napkins.

Not much sees an iron in this house but I do like a crisp linen napkin.

[boxtops]

I'd agree with that, eccles, if I used them - I also like to iron pillowcases. Not much else!

[wired]

Cold water starch works best,dip/immerse clean items in a cold water starch solution, don't wring out just leave to drip dry but iron before completely dry.

[EcclesCake]

It looks like I need to abandon my easy wash starch option and revert to the old fashioned methods then :-(

ho hum.....