The use of starch has become a norm for most people such that a single wash and dry action could not take place without the application of starch. The major benefit it offers to fabrics is the strengthening and hardening of the linings of the fabrics, besides that, some brands could be a source of perfume to the cloth.
There are many types of starch and each can be classified according to their source of raw material and mode of application. However, to narrow it down to the main aim of this post, the major starch broad classification could be either hot water starch or cold water starch.
The cold water starch seems to be the most commonly used against hot water starch. Almost all the already made starch sold in the markets are cold water starch. Except those made locally from cassava flour and raw material. Another exception is the direct spray starch already stored in a pressurized can for quick and direct application without the addition of any liquid either hot or cold.
Hot water starch is obtained directly from cassava, yam, potatoes, or cocoa yam, etc. these types can be applied to fabrics using hot water. The advantage of this type of starch is the hardness they offer to fabrics which is usually higher than that offered by cold water starch. However, the hot water starch uses to face some criticisms for causing a slippery feel on the fabric whenever rain falls on it. Besides the major criticism, some criticize it also for being a source of any offensive smell from their fabrics.
The cold water starch, on the other hand, consists of all the instant starch sold in the market. The problem when it comes to using such type is the source of the raw material. Some cold water starch can cause spot stains on colored fabrics while others may not. A good example is the sachet type used commonly because of its lowest price in the market.
Some users make the mistake of using the starch wrongly leading to clogging of the starch particle on some areas of the cloth. While this problem is common, it seems to be very unnoticeable on white clothes. Meanwhile, when applied on colored clothes, the clogged areas will look different from the entire color of the clothes.
cold water instant starch
Another serious issue is the small white spots found on the surface of the cloth after applying the sachet water starch. This is very common on colored fabrics while those of the white color may be invisible or unnoticeable based on the color match of the stain.
This publication will focus on how to apply the sachet starch so that such spots wouldn’t appear on the cloth surface irrespective of the color. The following procedure can be used when applying sachet instant cold water starch:
Ensure that the sachet was not broken or had been open for a long time otherwise the starch may not dissolve in water.
Pour about 1.5 liters of water into a well-spaced bowl.
Make a small opening on the edge of the sachet such that the pouring of the starch particles could be slow.
Slowing and randomly empty the sachet into the water in the bowl by moving your hand randomly across all the areas of the bowl to ensure a uniform drop of all the starch particles.
At this point, you will notice that some of the particles are floating on the surface of the water inside the bowl.
Allow it to stay for about 10 minutes. It will help the water to absorb all the particles.
After the 10 minutes, stir the water thoroughly using a sponge, palms, or small handkerchief, squeezing every water content that enters your palm.
After that, insert the cloth you want to starch into the water and gently remove it. In the case you did not follow the process properly, squeeze the cloth and re-insert into the water repeatedly before spraying to sunlight.
Ensure that you turn the inner surface of the cloth to the outer surface such as the original outer surface is hidden inside while the back will have direct contact with the starch in the water. This idea helps to keep the main outer surface free from stain.