Stiff Starch Shirts: The Japanese Method

[Mid-fogey]

My bubble...

Hate to burst your bubble, but it is not what an average Japanese housewife will actually do. And I can guarantee, no Japanese man--who is married, at least--will ever touch the laundry. Even if he had done it in his bachelor days, once he is married, all the housework goes to the wife, whether she works as well or not. So, the shirts will either go to the cleaners, or if they are to be washed at home, they will be made of those new fangled shape memory fabrics.

...remains unburst. I was really referring to the washing machine, line hanging, products used, etc. I didn't suppose that this was a common practice.

 

[LaMedicine]

...remains unburst. I was really referring to the washing machine, line hanging, products used, etc. I didn't suppose that this was a common practice.

Ahhh, that you will see plenty of for sure. I have a washer/dryer machine, but the dryer rarely gets used with the exception of the direst of emergencies in the middle of our infamous rainy season. Otherwise, out the laundry goes, to flutter in the wind in our apartment balcony.lol lol lol

 

[ideaguy]

gotta be kidding me with that stupid, arrogant, insensitive remark just
for a chuckle? It's the kind of thing that starts serious arguments about
why someone's head smacked into my hand. gravity, or something; eh?
and this place is supposed to be aware of the diversity of culture-based
on sharing information gleaned through the world. What do you say about those Italian hats? English shoes? get the drift-barkeep?
this is where you kids learn some history about the term "ugly American".

 

[Jovan]

However, as most of the Japanese men I've met who aren't married by the age of 30 or so still live with their parents; their mothers usually still do their cooking, laundry and other household duties for them so they usually don't have any domestic skills at all other than general skills such as taking out the garbage or weeding the garden. [huh]

They could learn a thing or two from Keitaro Urashima.

 

[Choeki]

Well, now that I've been back in the US for eight months I seem to be getting over my reverse culture shock and settling back into a few habits I started in Japan - one of those being dressing vintage once more. I have noticed though that time seems to be quite a bit more compressed in the US for some reason, so I've turned to the jamespowers method of shirt ironing (that is, dropping them off at the cleaners).

Nevertheless, for a little while I adapted the materials used to what was available domestically. Since I currently live in a semi-rural area in Elgin, Illinois at the moment my shopping options are limited unless I drive to areas fifteen minutes away. I have found that while the local Target doesn't seem to have what I'm looking for, a nearby super mercado carries "StaFlo" (a good substitue for "Keeping") and even carries a version of "Ariel" liquid detergent. I have noticed however, that irons in the US seem to run a bit hotter than the ones I am used to in Japan. Since I still iron my own suits, I have on one occasion accidentally scorched one of the "Full Mark" brand wool suits I brought with me from Japan, so I am extra careful to use a lower setting than normally recommended. I was a bit surprised though that there are no such things as "ironing mesh" (a plastic mesh that keeps irons from making those shiny marks on wool and polyester clothing) available, so friend of mine still in Japan sent me a care package of 10 shortly after I arrived...

 

[LaMedicine]

I was a bit surprised though that there are no such things as "ironing mesh" (a plastic mesh that keeps irons from making those shiny marks on wool and polyester clothing) available, so friend of mine still in Japan sent me a care package of 10 shortly after I arrived...

The standard/traditional method the average Japanese housewives use are Japanese "tenugui" towel, not the pile type towels the average Americans/Europeans are familar with, but plain weave cotton towels. This is moistend, then tightly wrung, lain over the clothing and ironed. The moisture provides steam and protects the material from being heated too much. This method helps iron out the wrinkles easily. With polyester, no need of moisture, just the protective layer helps.

 

[jamespowers]

Well, now that I've been back in the US for eight months I seem to be getting over my reverse culture shock and settling back into a few habits I started in Japan - one of those being dressing vintage once more. I have noticed though that time seems to be quite a bit more compressed in the US for some reason, so I've turned to the jamespowers method of shirt ironing (that is, dropping them off at the cleaners).
Nevertheless, for a little while I adapted the materials used to what was available domestically. Since I currently live in a semi-rural area in Elgin, Illinois at the moment my shopping options are limited unless I drive to areas fifteen minutes away. I have found that while the local Target doesn't seem to have what I'm looking for, a nearby super mercado carries "StaFlo" (a good substitue for "Keeping") and even carries a version of "Ariel" liquid detergent. I have noticed however, that irons in the US seem to run a bit hotter than the ones I am used to in Japan. Since I still iron my own suits, I have on one occasion accidentally scorched one of the "Full Mark" brand wool suits I brought with me from Japan, so I am extra careful to use a lower setting than normally recommended. I was a bit surprised though that there are no such things as "ironing mesh" (a plastic mesh that keeps irons from making those shiny marks on wool and polyester clothing) available, so friend of mine still in Japan sent me a care package of 10 shortly after I arrived...

Welcome to the US. Glad to have you here.
Now you are getting the shirt done the easy way.
Maybe having the suits pressed at the same place might be easier on your suits. It certainly would be easier on your suit budget.

 

[jamespowers]

The standard/traditional method the average Japanese housewives use are Japanese "tenugui" towel, not the pile type towels the average Americans/Europeans are familar with, but plain weave cotton towels. This is moistend, then tightly wrung, lain over the clothing and ironed. The moisture provides steam and protects the material from being heated too much. This method helps iron out the wrinkles easily. With polyester, no need of moisture, just the protective layer helps.

Would that be the same as a tea towel or cotton flower sack type dish towel we might be familar with over here? Sounds about the same and might be cheaper for Choeki than sending for mesh.

 

[Subvet642]

I prefer to do my own laundry, because I don't just sort, I micro sort! As for my dress shirts, First, I buy Enro brand no iron white (mostly) shirts. Then, I'll wash them in cold water with Tide HE in the Duet (Clorox 2, if needed), dry on extra low. I'll still press it, but no starch, as Enro shirts seem to have a bit of body as is.

 

[LaMedicine]

Would that be the same as a tea towel or cotton flower sack type dish towel we might be familar with over here? Sounds about the same and might be cheaper for Choeki than sending for mesh.

The mesh of a tea towel or flower sack would be too rough. It has to be a fine plain weave, so the towel doesn't leave any marks on the clothes being ironed.
Japanese tenugui look like this. (Disregard the color, we use white ones for ironing.)

Very plain smooth weave.

 

[Choeki]

I prefer to do my own laundry, because I don't just sort, I micro sort! As for my dress shirts, First, I buy Enro brand no iron white (mostly) shirts. Then, I'll wash them in cold water with Tide HE in the Duet (Clorox 2, if needed), dry on extra low. I'll still press it, but no starch, as Enro shirts seem to have a bit of body as is.

I only send my dress shirts in, and I only wear white 100% cotton dress shirts now that I'm not the one pressing them. lol
I do notice that I have to do a little pre-treating myself with a hard laundry soap rubbing on the collar and cuffs as the cleaners seem to have some trouble with the French cuffs. In once case they keep accidentally putting a crease through the center of the cuff (parallel with the arm) on a couple of them. I suppose I shouldn't complain though, as I get the "ethnic discount" at the local cleaners.

Anyway, I continue to press and alter my own suits because I've noticed it's ridiculously expensive to have someone else do it - plus I've noticed that the quality of tailoring is spotty one the few samples I've had done (that is, outside of the straight refusals I've had for things like hem adjustments or waist suppression on suit jackets). I've done the tenugui/cheese cloth thing before, but I don't like it because cotton is too floppy and opaque for me to iron properly with them - plus after a little bit they tend to disintegrate from the heat and leave lint pressed into the fabric (which looks awful).

Anyway, I'll continue using the iron mesh since I have plenty to last me until the next time I go to Japan (hopefully less than ten years from now). If not, I've got a good friend who lives near Yasukuni Jinjya who can help me if I run out. After all, he's the guy who taught me how to properly size out out suit - a real eye opener considering I was wearing "regular" and "long" sizes mixed before then as I was completely oblivious to the fact that I should have been wearing "short." :eusa_doh:

 

[jamespowers]

The mesh of a tea towel or flower sack would be too rough. It has to be a fine plain weave, so the towel doesn't leave any marks on the clothes being ironed.
Japanese tenugui look like this. (Disregard the color, we use white ones for ironing.)

Very plain smooth weave.

Makes sense to me. I have no experience with ironing so......

 

[jamespowers]

I only send my dress shirts in, and I only wear white 100% cotton dress shirts now that I'm not the one pressing them. lol
I do notice that I have to do a little pre-treating myself with a hard laundry soap rubbing on the collar and cuffs as the cleaners seem to have some trouble with the French cuffs. In once case they keep accidentally putting a crease through the center of the cuff (parallel with the arm) on a couple of them. I suppose I shouldn't complain though, as I get the "ethnic discount" at the local cleaners.

Anyway, I continue to press and alter my own suits because I've noticed it's ridiculously expensive to have someone else do it - plus I've noticed that the quality of tailoring is spotty one the few samples I've had done (that is, outside of the straight refusals I've had for things like hem adjustments or waist suppression on suit jackets). I've done the tenugui/cheese cloth thing before, but I don't like it because cotton is too floppy and opaque for me to iron properly with them - plus after a little bit they tend to disintegrate from the heat and leave lint pressed into the fabric (which looks awful).

Anyway, I'll continue using the iron mesh since I have plenty to last me until the next time I go to Japan (hopefully less than ten years from now). If not, I've got a good friend who lives near Yasukuni Jinjya who can help me if I run out. After all, he's the guy who taught me how to properly size out out suit - a real eye opener considering I was wearing "regular" and "long" sizes mixed before then as I was completely oblivious to the fact that I should have been wearing "short." :eusa_doh:

100% cotton is the way to go. Nothing is quite like them.

 

[filfoster]

Is that a collar stay or just happy to see me?

I used to launder, starch and press my own shirts. Finally, and for the past 30 years, my means ( and a spouse who refuses) have allowed me to have them laundered. My laundry kept advising me to stop the heavy and medium starch but I ignored them. Finally, my curiosity got the best of me and I took their advice, first for light starch now no starch. Voila! I dont' have to throw away fraying collar and cuff shirts after a few months and the shirts look fine and actually don't wrinkle as badly.
Yes, I still want to enjoy the self flagellating pleasure of cardboard stiff shirts but I can fully amortize a modestly expensive shirt (no, we're not talking Turnbull & Asser here, just Brooks Brothers) while I yearn for those days.

 

[jamespowers]

I used to launder, starch and press my own shirts. Finally, and for the past 30 years, my means ( and a spouse who refuses) have allowed me to have them laundered. My laundry kept advising me to stop the heavy and medium starch but I ignored them. Finally, my curiosity got the best of me and I took their advice, first for light starch now no starch. Voila! I dont' have to throw away fraying collar and cuff shirts after a few months and the shirts look fine and actually don't wrinkle as badly.
Yes, I still want to enjoy the self flagellating pleasure of cardboard stiff shirts but I can fully amortize a modestly expensive shirt (no, we're not talking Turnbull & Asser here, just Brooks Brothers) while I yearn for those days.

Having quite an affinity for heavy starch, my experience has been different. They have not frayed or worn out on me much at all and that is considering heavy starch for at least five years. My experience has been that they get less stained and the starch actually protects the cloth from wear since it is more or less sealed by the starch. [huh] Maybe the laudry uses too much heat in the process or really washes the heck out of them. [huh]
I even have my silk Hawaiian shirts starched by the laundry without having them fall apart.