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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Does anyone starch their bedding?

24 replies

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 06/02/2016 11:55

Also, should I be worried I am asking that given that I have several degrees and used to have an interesting job?

Do you use laundry starch or spray on? And sheets or just duvet covers?

It just feels so nice when you buy new bedding and it's all crisp and smooth, or in a hotel.

Or should I step away from the laundry and get a life?

#conflicted

OP posts:
wonkylegs · 06/02/2016 12:05

I don't but I don't even iron ours, my dad does though and uses starch. I think he has a bit of a starch obsession though and uses it for just about everything.
I don't have the time nor the inclination to iron bedding, I like fresh sheets but the smell and feeling of new ones is enough.

Original poster
TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 06/02/2016 18:00

I don't usually iron it, it just looks so nice when I do...

OP posts:
Goandplay · 06/02/2016 18:15

Now this is also very interesting to me to...

I have used the spray on starch but did not get the results I wanted. If I used the laundry starch do I still need to iron or will they be crispy anyway? Also can I still tumble dry them?

Goandplay · 06/02/2016 18:22

I just Googled this and read reviews on Amazon, starch can make the washing machine gunky.

sphinxster · 06/02/2016 18:28

I can't believe I'm typing this... Our cleaning lady uses spray on starch and it's lovely. I love her ironing. She irons EVERYTHING, I've told her not to bother but she's proud of her ironing prowess.

If I didn't have a cleaning lady, I'd happily go to bed in un-ironed, creased bedsheets.

iMatter · 06/02/2016 18:32

I think a high thread count can make sheets feel starchy. I just bought a new fitted bottom sheet with a 400 thread count and it feels v starchy (in a good way), especially when ironed.

stayathomegardener · 06/02/2016 18:33

My Mum DD's Granny used to starch all bed sheets.
DD used to say it was like sleeping in planks Grin

Bunbaker · 06/02/2016 18:33

No. I have never used starch on anything. I didn't know people still used it.

Original poster
TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 06/02/2016 19:11

IMatter, what make? Has it been through many washes since you got it? I need new bottom sheets as it happens.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 06/02/2016 19:14

Goandplay, you do still need to iron with starch, but the flatness lasts longer.
I use spray starch for shirts. Very satisfying. It is also supposed to stop the dirt penetrating into the fabric so they wash cleaner.

OP posts:
Gobbolinothewitchscat · 06/02/2016 19:15

I always have sheets ironed but don't starch them. I hate the feeling. I only starch collars and cuffs on shirts.

Original poster
TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 06/02/2016 19:15

But I don't want a gunky washing machine...

OP posts:
WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 06/02/2016 19:55

I bought Dylon spray starch to stiffen crochet snowflakes, it didn't work at all and had a really unpleasant fragrance. Do you use fabric conditioner? Maybe ditch that.

Original poster
TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 06/02/2016 20:35

I am too old fashioned to have ever used fabric conditioner Grin

OP posts:
iMatter · 06/02/2016 20:43

I got a couple of 400 count fitted sheets from John Lewis.

Have had them since the beginning of December and change the sheets every week and they are still starchy (early days though).

Original poster
TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 06/02/2016 21:22

Thanks IMatter.

OP posts:
Goandplay · 07/02/2016 08:06

I bought really high thread count from House of Fraser (something ridiculous) and I am not getting the feeling I want.

I do used fabric conditioner so maybe i'll leave that out.

The washing machine starch also need making up to a recipe!

Hmm.. I'm not very good at ironing.

Original poster
TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 07/02/2016 08:10

I recently read an article about how thread count isn't always what it seems and some apparently high thread count are actually 4ply, made with shorter fibres and hence less strong, and they've counted each of the plys as a separate thread. It's a minefield... Who to trust...? I think I would probably trust John Lewis over House of Fraser but still not sure.

OP posts:
Goandplay · 07/02/2016 09:43

That makes complete sense - the tread count was very high.

Ahh me too. I like John Lewis. Maybe I'll invest in John Lewis ones next time.

MaybeDoctor · 07/02/2016 10:10

A few years ago I did no ironing whatsoever. However, in the last year I have begun ironing my own tops, some school uniform and even bedding.

What I find is that, although it takes a bit of time, I am much more happy with how smoothly the bedding folds up and fits in the cupboard - I hated the look of the sheets before and never felt 100% certain they were dry or 'safe' to put away. Now I know for sure! They are also brilliant to get into on the first night, although that feeling doesn't last long.

What I do is iron as I fold, so fold duvet cover in half lengthways and iron it on one side. Turn it over, fold, iron the previously non-ironed section; fold again, iron the previously non-ironed section....

No starch though. Used it once when I was ironing an item at someone else's house and hated it.

llhj · 07/02/2016 10:16

What exactly is starch?

llhj · 07/02/2016 10:19

Had a Google, think I'm clearer. I've actually never seen anyone do this in real life, thought it was a 1930s thing.

iMatter · 07/02/2016 14:49

I don't think you would get a starchy feel with fabric conditioner. To me they are polar opposites.

I don't use fabric conditioner at all so I may be wrong but I would have thought it would make things soft rather than starchy.

Snog · 16/02/2016 19:25

My mum and her sis starch their sheets with old fashioned starch. The trick is to iron before starch solution has dried I think

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