Today, many housewives do not know how to starch a thing correctly. But some 10 years ago it was impossible to imagine a strict suit without a shirt with a starched collar. Modern women use special chemicals in their arsenal that help give clothing the right stiffness. However, many forget that starch is a natural substance that does not harm health. In addition, with its help you can save a lot.
Why starch things at all?
Clothing, bedding or lace is dipped in water in which starch was previously diluted. When the fabric dries, an invisible film remains on its surface, giving rigidity. Clothing looks better and does not wrinkle. In addition, starched items are much better washable. After all, the film does not allow dirt to be absorbed into the fibers of the fabric.
There is a drawback. Before starching things at home, it is worth considering how they will be operated. The fact is that starch does not let air through. Therefore, summer wardrobe items are not amenable to complete processing. Stiffen collar or cuffs. Bed linen can be fully starched.
Basic principles
Every housewife should know how to starch things correctly. The main thing is to be able to properly prepare a solution that consists of only two ingredients: water and powder. There are many varieties of starch on sale. Most often, you can find powder that is extracted from potatoes, rice or corn. Starch from different products has some differences. They are essential for cooks and culinary specialists. But for those who do not know how to starch a thing, it does not matter which powder to choose.
Most housewives most often use
potato starch. This powder has a slight bluish tint and quickly thickens when diluted with water. Corn starch can also be used. But it thickens much worse, which means it gives less rigidity to things.
Before starching a thing, it should be washed thoroughly. Fabric softeners are undesirable. They will only repel starch. In order for a solution to saturate matter, it is worthwhile to lower a dry or slightly wet thing into it.
Soft starch
This option is suitable for light dresses, underwear and snow-white blouses. These things should not be too tough, otherwise they will simply be uncomfortable to use. Before starching a thing, you need to prepare a weak solution. One teaspoon of powder will be enough for a liter of water. The solution can be prepared using cold water. The powder is stirred until all lumps disappear. Next, a small portion of the water is heated to a boiling state. Starch solution is poured into dishes with hot liquid, stirring constantly.
It is necessary to wait until the mixture has cooled. As soon as it becomes room temperature, a thing can be lowered into it. A cloudy liquid should be obtained, the density of which will be slightly higher than that of plain water. The clothes are rinsed in the resulting liquid or soaked for several minutes. This time will be enough to ensure that all fibers are well saturated with starch. Strongly squeezing clothes is not necessary. Starch gives the fabric rigidity. In order to smooth it, you will have to make more efforts.
Medium starch
This method is used to stiffen men's shirts, tablecloths, furniture covers, as well as lace. How to starch things right? You will have to use a little more powder. Two teaspoons of starch per liter of water will suffice. The method of preparing the mixture is the same. First, the powder is diluted with cold water, and then hot liquid is added.
A mixture is considered correct if it is translucent and has the consistency of liquid sour cream. Dry or slightly damp things fall into the solution for five minutes. Clothing is better not to squeeze. In order to not get ugly creases, you need to let the solution drain itself.
Hard starch
This option is most often applied to various decorative elements, as well as the petticoats of wedding dresses. For cuffs and collars, this treatment option is used less often. How to starch a thing with potato starch? Additionally, you will have to use a borax. A teaspoon of this substance is diluted in a glass of hot boiled water. Two tablespoons of starch are bred to a homogeneous consistency in a liter of cold water. Additionally, another liter of water is heated to a boiling state and poured into a starch solution. Last of all, borax is added to the mixture. All ingredients are mixed and left for two hours.
The hard starch solution should have a thick consistency. If you need to give rigidity to overall things, the number of ingredients increases proportionally. Fluids should be as much as necessary to completely cover the vesh. The fabric is soaked in the solution for 20-30 minutes. Then the thing is taken out, and the mixture is allowed to drain.
Features of the procedure with some tissues
How to starch tulle stuff? This material is often used for sewing wedding dresses and ballet tutus. The skirt will be more magnificent if you give it rigidity. The material is starch in a weak or medium solution. It all depends on the result that the hostess wants to get. The material is soaked in liquid for several minutes, then squeezed. It is possible to stroke a tulle only in a wet state at an average temperature. We must not forget that this material quickly melts.
With caution, it is worth starching knitted things. The problem is that such products can be deformed during processing. You can starch a
knitted thing in a weak solution. Then do not squeeze the material. Caps can be dried on a jar, which in size corresponds to the volume of the head. It is worth remembering that in the process of drying a thing can stretch or lose shape.
Popular today are summer knitted boots. After each wash, they also have to be starchy. To keep the shoes in good shape, a medium solution of starch is suitable. The boots are lowered into a container of liquid for several minutes. Next, the shoes are hung upside down.
To summarize
Starch gives things a well-groomed appearance. There is no need to purchase expensive new items that increase the rigidity of things. Powder of natural origin will cope with a simple task. Therefore, about how to properly starch things, every girl should know!