How to starch fabric at home

One easy way to give your clothes and linens a polished, new look is to starch the fabric. Learning how to starch at home can save you time and money, whether you’re getting ready for a special occasion or just want your tablecloth to lay flat.

There are several techniques for starching fabric, and each produces a distinct stiffness and finish. The most popular choices are homemade starch solutions, liquid starch, and spray starch. They’re all simple to use and adaptable to your requirements.

This tutorial will take you step-by-step through the entire process, from selecting the ideal kind of starch to correctly applying it. You won’t need to leave your house to get results that look professional with just a few common household items.

Why starch linen

Things are processed in order to give the material rigidity. After drying, the polysaccharides in starch create a thin yet durable, elastic film on the surface.

Benefits of fasting

  • adds rigidity: items retain their shape longer, wrinkle less;
  • protects against stains: the starch film prevents dirt from penetrating into the fibers, so laundry is easier to wash;
  • increases the whiteness of the fabric: starched items visually appear lighter and cleaner;
  • adds volume to clothes: petticoats and skirts become stiffer, hold their shape better;
  • extends the life of the underwear.

Regarding the drawbacks, they are not too numerous. The primary drawback is a reduction in the material’s air permeability. As a result, it is not advised to starch summer clothing or undergarments (just individual parts). Tight clothing will aggravate skin and obstruct natural breathing.

Adding a crisp, polished look to your clothes can be achieved easily and effectively at home by starching the fabric. You can easily control the stiffness of your fabric with a few common ingredients, which makes it ideal for a variety of tasks like crafting and shirt ironing. With the help of this guide, you can accomplish expert-level results in your own laundry room.

Recipes for adding rigidity

Several methods can be used at home to starch fabric and other items.

With starch

Potato starch, which is more readily available and less expensive, is frequently used to give the fabric more rigidity. Wheat, corn, and rice products work well too. The concentration of the solution and the kind of clothing determine how hardened an item is:

Type of starching Proportion (per 1 glass of water) Purpose
Soft 1 tea. l. Batiste, muslin, chiffon, cotton tulle, summer and children"s clothes.
Average 1 table. l. Lace, gauze, table linen (tablecloths, napkins), towels, shirts.
Hard 2 table. l. (you can add 1 teaspoon. l. borax or salt) Collars, cuffs, petticoats, napkins, tablecloths

Getting ready:

  1. Pour the required dosage of dry starch into cold water, stir.
  2. Boil 1 water in a separate container.
  3. Pour the diluted starch into boiling water in a thin stream, stirring constantly.
  4. Reduce heat, keep the mixture on the stove for about 5-7 minutes, without bringing to a boil.
  5. Remove from heat and leave to thicken for 40-60 minutes.

Mix the rinse water thoroughly with the starch until it becomes smooth. Soak cleaned clothes in the ready-made solution. Hold for 15 to 20 minutes, flipping the object occasionally to disperse the starch equally. Remove the items and wring them out after the allotted time has elapsed. Carefully straighten out the folds by placing on a flat surface to dry or hanging on a line.

Crucial! Things only require starching once they are clean. It is necessary to wash stale clothing and linens first.

With gelatin

Use this product instead of dark or black ones if you need to starch them. After drying, gelatin does not leave behind any white stains or spots.

How to brew and dilute:

  • Soak gelatin (1 table. l. – 200 ml cold water), leave to swell for 20-30 minutes.
  • Put the mixture on low heat. Stirring, bring to the disappearance of grains.
  • Remove from heat, let cool slightly.
  • Immerse the product in the solution for 10-15 minutes.
  • Remove the liquid, squeeze.
  • Hang on a rope for drying, giving the required shape.

PVA glue

In handicrafts, a water-glue mixture is used to create dolls, brooches, and appliques. It is preferable to use construction glue for fabrics instead of stationery PVA because it doesn’t leave behind yellow streaks. Dark, single-colored materials shouldn’t be treated with this product as it will cause whitish marks to appear on them after it dries.

  1. Mix 1 part glue with 2 parts water, stir. If you need to make the fabric very rigid, take equal parts of PVA and water.
  2. Immerse the item or fabric in the liquid, hold for 10 minutes.
  3. Remove from the solution, squeeze out, put on a flat surface, straighten the folds. If a knitted napkin is starched, pin the ends of the product to the backing.

Advice: You can use a brush to apply the solution if you need to treat a small patch or detail.

With the addition of sugar

Any fabric can be treated with sweetened water or syrup, but delicate materials respond better to it. Two methods exist for starching:

  • Sugar and water. Dissolve 6 tablespoons. . sugar in 1 liter of hot water. Place the product in the solution, wait 1-3 minutes for the sugar to soak into the fibers. When the item is starched, wring it out. Hang or lay it out to dry, smoothing out the folds.
  • Sugar, starch, water. Dilute 3 tablespoons. l. sugar in 150 ml of water. Separately dissolve 0.5 teaspoons. l starch in 100 ml water. Combine both compositions, add water to a volume of 1 l. Soak the product for 2-3 minutes. Then squeeze out lightly, hang to dry.

Instructions for different wardrobe items

The product can be starched in its entirety or in its component parts. Everything is dependent on the type of garment or undergarment.

Shirt and collar

Typically, a semi-hard or soft approach is employed. The decision is based on the type of fabric and individual preferences:

  1. thin linen, cotton, gauze: medium starching;
  2. cambric, cotton veil, chiffon: soft.

Starch is rarely the whole thing; it’s usually just used for processing collars, plastron, and handcuffs. Alternately, apply a combination approach where a medium or mild solution is applied to the shelf, back, and sleeves. Use a paste that is as hard as possible to starch the collar and cuffs.

How to starch a shirt using various methods:

  • Prepare two types of starch: medium and strong concentration.
  • Soak the shirt entirely in a less saturated liquid. Hold for 10-15 minutes.
  • Put the cuffs and/or collar in a container with highly concentrated starch.
  • Squeeze out the finished shirt, hang it up to dry, straightening out the folds.

You can use a specific spray to starch clothes in addition to using at-home remedies. Shake the can to achieve this, and treat the item right away before ironing. Spray the fabric from a distance of 20 cm away.

Dresses and skirts

First, wash the clothes, and then thoroughly moisten them if they are clean.

Method for starching a dress or skirt:

  1. Prepare a solution in the required concentration.
  2. Pour into a basin of water, stir.
  3. Immerse the washed skirt or dress in the starch solution, trying not to wrinkle it.
  4. Leave for 10-20 minutes (depending on the density of the material).
  5. Remove from the solution, straighten, hang to dry.

Ribbons and bows

Delicate fabrics are used to make gymnastics ribbons and hair accessories. Use a medium- or soft-concentration starch solution to add stiffness. Once it is poured into a bowl or basin, drop the product into it. After 20 minutes of starching, set the accessory down on a level surface, use your hands to smooth out the folds, and then let it dry.

Counseling! It is preferable to soak wet objects in starch. The solution will then be dispersed more fairly.

Caps and gowns

A cook’s work clothes and medical uniforms must always be immaculate, and this requires that the items be properly starched:

  • Prepare a paste of medium or hard concentration.
  • Soak items for 10-20 minutes.
  • Dry the gown on a hanger, the cap – on a jar of the appropriate size.

Tablecloths and linen

It is preferable to use a machine to starch linens and dishes. Additionally, you must use specific tools, for which the machine has a permit on the packaging. In the amount recommended by the manufacturer, starch is added during the final rinse step.

Crucial! Using homemade recipes is not advised because the ingredients may harm the machine’s components.

Step Description
1 Mix starch with cold water
2 Boil water and add the starch mixture
3 Let it cool
4 Soak the fabric in the starch solution
5 Wring out excess liquid
6 Iron the fabric while it’s still damp

An easy and efficient way to give your clothes a polished and clean look is to starch the fabric at home. All it takes to get the desired stiffness is a few basic ingredients and careful application.

When it comes to taking charge of the look of your wardrobe, knowing how to starch fabric lets you do things like make a shirt for a formal event or give your sewing projects more structure. It’s a practical ability that can help your clothes last longer by maintaining their crisp, new appearance.

Keep in mind that you can modify the procedure to suit your needs, so feel free to change the amount of starch. You will eventually find the ideal balance that suits you with a little practice.

Video on the topic

How to starch and iron home textiles

How to starch fabric, linen, clothes at home. Starching with gelatin. Tips from the USSR

How to STARCH things, linen ❓ RECIPE of the solution in this video – in detail

What fabric do you most often choose for home textiles?
Share to friends
Maria Vlasova

Fabric researcher and collector. My passion is finding rare and unique materials that can inspire me to create something special. I travel a lot to find new fabrics and learn about the traditions of their production. On this site I share my discoveries and talk about how to choose and use fabrics in different areas of life.

Rate author
Tkani-Furnitura.com
Add a comment