Speaking of shirts ... starch?

[GregNYC]

I like starched shirts. It's that Army in my background. Anyone have a recommendation for a good spray starch that doesn't leave white flakes on the fabric? I don't have time to do my own laundry, to ironing would be for touch-ups and when my shirt cleaner doesn't get it right. Thanks to all!

--Greg

 

[FedoraGent]

I like starch too

I have come from a Navy family and we always liked starch. Recently, Magneto introduced me to the spray on starch called Niagara. It's rather cheap and works quite well.

http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100759&navAction=jump&navCount=1&id=prod4161

It works quite well.

FG.

 

[Brad Bowers]

I'll second that. I use Niagara on my shirts, and it works great. Haven't seen any flaking.

One time the local store was out of it, and I had to pick up another brand - Peerless, I think it was. I couldn't stand the smell of it. Niagara is pleasant to the nose when it goes on.

Brad

 

[Tomasso]

Anyone have a recommendation for a good spray starch that doesn't leave white flakes on the fabric?

I don't use starch but I've been told that the secret to avoiding the flakes is to allow enough time for the starch to penetrate and soak into the material. In commercial laundries, starch infused water is added to the shirts during the rinse cycle.

 

[dr greg]

collared

I read that starch was originally used on collars, so that the dirt would stick to the starch and wash out without being ingrained in the fibre, I've also heardthat starch will gradually destroy cotton fibres through its absoprtion breaking them up.

 

[adamgottschalk]

I get my shirts laundered with "light starch." Just that touch makes a big difference, the difference between so-so and stand-out. On my mother's recommendation (as with so many things in life it seems)...

 

[FedoraGent]

Cardboard

I get my shirts laundered with "light starch." Just that touch makes a big difference, the difference between so-so and stand-out. On my mother's recommendation (as with so many things in life it seems)...

Adam,

Well of course, you don't quite want cardboard...so yeah..me too.

FG.

 

[Flitcraft]

Of all the brands I've tried, Niagara is tops.
It is true that all starches eventually break down the integrity of the fibers- but then so does ironing and general wear- so the starch is the trade off you make for improved apearance.

 

[BegintheBeguine]

When I worked at the busiest dry cleaners in Atlanta some years ago, we had laundry tickets marked for starch: no, light, medium, heavy. In reality it was no starch or starch. It a customer wanted "extra heavy" starch, we would mark XXX on the ticket and the shirt was run through the starch load, then extra starch (Niagara, the best) actually sprayed onto the shirt before pressing. The one and only time I explained about the non-existence of light starch to a customer he refused to believe me. Ok. Customer stayed happy and I didn't lie.

 

[The Wingnut]

The Air Force introduced me to Sta-Flo and I won't ever use aerosol starch again. Comes in a 1 qt. bottle, mix 1:1 in a platic spray bottle, soak the item to be starched completely and let dry overnight. Iron the next day and it'll be better than anything you'd get from a dry cleaner, and without the press marks.

 

[Harp]

Starch

Niagara spray starch, a sufficiently warm iron, and a water spray
mist just before the starch.

 

[FedoraGent]

The Air Force introduced me to Sta-Flo and I won't ever use aerosol starch again. Comes in a 1 qt. bottle, mix 1:1 in a platic spray bottle, soak the item to be starched completely and let dry overnight. Iron the next day and it'll be better than anything you'd get from a dry cleaner, and without the press marks.

Where does one get Sta-flo?

FG.

 

[BigSleep]

While we're on the subject, anyone ever use spray "Sizing"? What was the result and what is the difference between that and starch?

Side note: Before they had spray starch it was liquid. Probably like Sta-Flo. My mom always had a sprinkle stopper floating around our junk drawer. It was metal with a slender cork lined stem that went down in the bottle (probably an old pop bottle) and the top flattened out and had sprikle holes like the end of a garden watering can about the size of a half dollar. this it what she used to starch my dads shirts with.

 

[The Wingnut]

Where does one get Sta-flo?

FG.

That might be an issue for civilians. I pick up a bottle at the BX whenever I'm on a UTA. You might be able to find it online. As for commercial retail, I'd try a well-stocked drug store, along with the other starches. It's definitely a commercial product, it's just one of those products that's found use and demand within the military and as such can be found on almost any installation.

I've got a BDU hanging in the shower to dry right now in preparation for this weekend. I had to move it this morning to shower and just stood it up in the corner(it had dried mostly overnight).

 

[jamespowers]

Gee, I have no idea about starch. I'll ask my dry cleaner.
Heavy starch please. Cardboard collars, cuffs and the front button panel. :eusa_clap

Regards,

J

 

[The Wingnut]

Okay, dug around a little...Sta-Flo can be had at Wal Mart. Surprise, surprise.

 

[jamespowers]

Okay, dug around a little...Sta-Flo can be had at Wal Mart. Surprise, surprise.

Probably cheaper than you have been buying it too.

Regards,

J

 

[FedoraGent]

Okay, dug around a little...Sta-Flo can be had at Wal Mart. Surprise, surprise.

Awesome! I think it's time to goto WallyWorld!

 

[The Wingnut]

Probably cheaper than you have been buying it too.

Regards,

J

I doubt that. I don't pay sales tax at the BX. Not sure on the price, but I think as a rule it's a bit cheaper than most retail.

 

[The Wingnut]

...and I wasn't kidding when I said I stood it in the corner.