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How to Starch Jeans: 2 Easy Methods to Get the Job Done [Video]

Usually, the heavier the jeans, the smoother and stiffer they become, but to rock that appearance, you need first to learn how to starch jeans.

Jeans are like most of our other clothes – they get soft and wrinkled once we put them through the laundry. And while most people don’t mind that loose and casual look, others like their jeans, stiff, straight, and full of grace and can be worn with amazing leather boots like Dr martens or Redwings.

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If you are among this group of individuals, then learning how to starch jeans is of utmost important. Of course, you may always take it to the professional laundry man every time, but doing it yourself will save you money and some disappointment.

You must have heard tales about laundry workers who failed to deliver as promised and made people wear what they didn’t intend to wear initially.

Therefore, learning how to starch jeans is a skill every jean lover should have, and in this guide, we will walk you through two easy methods, whether you are using a spray, powder, or liquid starch.

How to Starch Jeans

How to Starch Jeans
How to Starch Jeans

There are three different options for starching your jeans – powder, spray, and liquid starch forms – however, it is often advisable to use liquid or spray starch as they are quicker to use and give the best results.

During Laundry Using Liquid Starch

If you are looking for how to starch jeans quickly and easily, using the washing machine is a great choice.

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However, you can only add the liquid starch after initial washing and during the final rinse cycle of washing.

Step 1: Set the washing machine

To start the process, prepare your washing machine to cool or warm water. Then pour an appropriate amount of liquid starch into the fabric softener dispenser found on the machine.

To do this second part correctly, you may need to consult with the instructions on the liquid starch as all brands have different instructions for use according to the size of your wash load.

Step 2: Put the washed jeans inside

Turn the jeans inside out before dropping them into the washing machine. Next, start the machine and allow the rinsing to commence and end.

The machine should have rinsed and starched your jeans in a single process.

Step 3: Remove the jeans and dry

Once the final rinsing is complete, please take out the jeans and turn them back correctly. Then dry using a clothesline or an electric dryer.

Allow the jeans to fully dry for a few hours before removing them from the sun or dryer. Leaving for too long may cause the jeans to fade faster.

During Ironing Using Spray Starch

It is also easy to starch clothes that have been washed already. You can use a spray bottle also to starch your jeans if you have skipped starching during laundry or simply want to starch clean jeans.

Step 1: Fill the bottle

For this to work, you will need a spray bottle. Get a spray bottle and pour in the liquid starch until it is filled halfway. Leaving it at that level will prevent spillage when you face the bottle down to spray. Use undiluted liquid starch for best results, especially since you will fill the bottle with water later.

Add cool water to the liquid starch until it reaches the bottle’s lid, then cover the bottle and shake vigorously to mix properly.

Step 2: Prepare the iron.

First, arrange the ironing board with as many clothes as comfortable. The heat up the iron to a medium or high temperature and set it by the board.

Step 3: Spread the jeans

Take your dry jeans and lay them on the ironing board, depending on the fashion style you want to see on your jeans after ironing.

You can arrange the center front of the legs to lay straight on top of each other or lay the jeans with both legs spread apart if you don’t want any styles on them.

Step 4: Spray the starch

First, shake the bottle vigorously, then spray the mixture in the bottle over the spread-out jeans holding it about 10 inches away. Spray on a particular section and iron until it appears stiff and crisp. Then move to an area next to that section and continue until you have ironed the entire jeans.

Step 5: Hang the ironed jeans

Upon completing the ironing, hang the jeans on a cloth hanger and allow them in a place where they can adequately get aired before wearing.

While waiting for the jeans to air out, remove the iron from the board and clean the work area. Then discard the remaining starch if you don’t intend to use it again or store it in a cool, dry place if you intend to use it later.

This option of how to starch jeans works even if you can’t use a washing machine for any reason.

How Do You Starch Press Jeans?

How to Starch Jeans
How to Starch Jeans

You can easily employ any of the methods described above to starch press jeans because directly applying the starch to the fabric is how you get the best appearance.

As earlier explained, it is best to use a liquid or starch instead of powdery starch. Hence, you may need tips on making liquid and spray starch with some household items.

How to Make Liquid Starch for Clothes

Starching your clothes isn’t done solely to leave you with attractive crispy jeans, but it can also help protect your clothes from dirt and sweat by having these particles stick to the starch instead of your clothes; this helps your clothes last longer.

Hence, we can see why starching your jeans is a necessity. But what if you want to starch those jeans but find out you are out of liquid starch and you can’t drive to the supermarket at that time?

Below we have described how to make liquid starch at home using cornstarch (since most industrial products are made from the same ingredient).

What You Will Need:

  • Cornstarch
  • Clean cold water
  • Bowl or container
  • Measuring cup
  • Spray bottle (possibly a new one)
  • Essential oil (optional)
  • Black tea
  • Funnel

The Procedure

Step 1: Mix the cornstarch and water

Pour a tablespoon into the bowl and add two cups of clean cold water. Using a tiny amount of starch is critical as starch can quickly get overwhelming. Also, it is essential to use this amount of water to avoid ending up with an overly watery product.

Step 2: Stir the mixture

Once you have added a sufficient amount of water, the next task is to continue to stir until all the cornstarch dissolves. Dissolved cornstarch should look milky in color and smooth in appearance.

Dissolving it properly is necessary to avoid finding those whitish spots on your jeans later. And if you are having difficulties dissolving it this way, you may want to use boiling water to create the mixture instead.

Step 3: Add the black tea

This step is optional and done only if you intend to use the spray starch for darker clothes. This is because regular cornstarch is whitish and often makes darker clothes appear to be covered in some white film.

Therefore, you will need to add some tea to the mixture if you use it in dark clothes.

Step 4: Throw some essential oil into the mix

If you decide you want some fragrance inside your liquid starch, then the next step is to add a drop or two of essential oil into the bowl. Then stir again until adequately mixed.

Step 5: Fill up the bottle

Once all the mixing is done, tip the spray bottle and carefully pour the mixture into it. You can use a small funnel if you think you may spill too much. Now your liquid starch is ready for use.

Step 6: Store the spray bottle

If you don’t intend to use the starch immediately or can’t finish using it all at once, store it in a dark, cool, dry place or preserve it in a refrigerator. This will make it usable for a few weeks.

What is the Point of Starching Jeans?

How to Starch Jeans
How to Starch Jeans

Different people starch their jeans for several reasons, but two of the most common reasons include resisting stains and dirt from penetrating the jeans and helping them last even longer.

Regular jeans wearers can tell of the difficulty required to clean their pants. But once these are starched, the starch impregnates the jeans fiber creating a stiff seal that causes dirt to stick to them and even fall off.

The dirt and stains that do not fall off are also easier to remove during laundry as they are only attached to the starch and not the jeans themselves.

Secondly, starching jeans also guarantee their durability, and the starch protects the fiber from the elements.

Aside from the above reasons, some people starch their jeans because of their appearance after starching. Starched jeans are stiffer than those that are not starch as they often appear very loose.

Depending on the occasion, stiff jeans can appear more professional and make one look more attractive.

If you also like ironing your clothes very often, you can view starch as a conventional aid for ironing as it makes them easier and faster to iron. The starch also makes the clothes come out looking smoother after ironing.

Finally, clothes that have been starched tend to retain the ironing longer than those that haven’t. This means you can wear them more than once without ironing them again.

Can You Still Buy Spray Starch?

How to Starch Jeans
How to Starch Jeans

Yes, you can buy spray starch in aerosol containers easily from the store at very affordable rates. The price of spray starch can be as low as $6 or as high as $41, depending on the size and brand.

However, aside from the ordinary cornstarch, many industrially manufactured spray starches also contain flammable alcohol that may be added to act as propellants. These fuels can also be easily explosive.

Most branded spray starch contains additives and preservatives that keep the product from degrading and diluting. Sometimes, these preservatives may be made with formaldehyde or other harmful chemicals that can result in severe health problems when you inhale them.

Lastly, the chemicals added to many store-bought starch products can easily trigger allergies and cause you to sneeze frequently or even have a headache every time you use them.

Summarily, most of the ingredients in these manufactured spray starch are not necessarily there to make the starching more efficient but to prolong the shelf-life and stability of the products.

Accordingly, it is often advisable to pick the product you purchase very carefully or make your liquid and spray starch as described above.

Following the steps we have provided will help you easily make your spray starch and for almost close to nothing.

This is a great way to save cost and ensure your safety as you starch your jeans regularly.

How Do You Keep Starch From Sticking To Iron?

How to Starch Jeans
How to Starch Jeans

The best ways to avoid having starch stick to your iron are to choose the right temperature setting and to allow the starch to soak into the fabric before ironing.

To select the right temperature, carefully examine the label on the clothes. Different clothes have different requirements for ironing. Also, while some fabrics can withstand heat, others burn even at the slightest rise in temperature. You will need to be careful not to ruin your clothes.

Letting the fabric soak up the spray starch is also an integral step in preventing the starch from sticking to the iron. To do this, spray the clothes with the starch, then fold and allow standing for about 15 minutes before you commence ironing.

Lastly, every time you finish ironing starched clothes, wait for the iron to fully cool down, then use a wet sponge or cloth to wipe the metal plate clean. This removes starch residue and prevents build-up that may cause sticking in the future.

Conclusion

Once a tradition left solely to cowboys, today, anyone who loves to wear jeans needs to have the basic knowledge on how to starch jeans.

Starching jeans have been great for the aesthetics and protection of the jeans for a very long time. Hence, this guide teaches you not only how to starch jeans but how to make your spray starch, too, as it is more beneficial pennywise and health-wise.

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