Cotton clothes that look crisp and just-came-from-the-tailor are often best friends with laundry starch. We are talking about the perfect-looking shalwar kurtas you see men rocking on Fridays. That crisp look comes from laundry starch.
But does the fabric crispness comes at a cost? We receive numerous requests for starching cotton clothes every day, followed by a bunch of concerns about the life of clothes if regularly starched.
Let’s put the debate at rest!
What is Laundry Starch?
Laundry starch is made from different ingredients, mainly wheat, rice, or corn. It is great for cotton blends, 100% cotton, and linen for that added crispiness. Treating cotton clothes with starch means easier ironing and higher soil resistance.
Laundry starch is available in different forms and can be made at home too. Don’t be surprised if you start getting ads on DIY recipes for starch after reading this article.
How to Use Starch for Cotton Clothes?
Pro Tip: Let Washup do it! Ha-Ha
Wash your clothes and get rid of all the stains. If you want next-gen crispiness, dip the clothes in the diluted starch solution and for a few minutes, and hang it until it’s almost dry. Iron the shirt while it’s a little damp.
Do You Really Need to Starch Your Clothes?
That’s one of the most common questions we get at Washup. It is fair to say that it is a matter of personal preference. The crispness does come at a cost.
Let’s talk about some of the benefits and drawbacks of starching your cotton clothes so that you can make an informed choice.
The Benefits of Using Starch on Your Cotton Clothes
- Your clothes will look crisp and smooth
- The clothes are easier to clean because the sweat and dirt stick to the starch, not directly to the clothing
- Starched cotton clothes are easier to iron
- Your clothes are less likely to wrinkle when starched
- You can wear your clothes thrice before sending them for wash
The Drawbacks of Starching Your Clothes
- Starch makes the clothes stiffer and can result in shorter lifespan of clothes
- It minimizes the flexibility of clothes, causing wear and tear in some places, such as the elbows
- The crispiness can cause the fabric to break down if the clothes are starched every time you wash them
- The starch residue often settles into the clothes, leading the threads to fray
- Starch can cause irritation to the skin
- Starch leaves a residue on dark clothes
Our Experience of Starching Cotton Clothes
As an experienced laundry service, Washup regularly receives requests for starching clothes. With the drawbacks of starching in mind, we assess the laundry before accepting it for starching.
For example, if a cotton shirt is already worn out and starched regularly, we recommend not to starch it. Older cotton clothes, when starched, can tear off easily.
We suggest that you starch your cotton clothes only for special events. Starching them with every wash means a massive reduction in the lifespan.
Washup is ready to assist you. Let’s get on a call to schedule a starching session for your clothes.
