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#1 2008-08-19 12:37:00
- EPS-NYC
- New member
- Posts: 4
Starch for shirts
Hello,
I am a new member here but have been happily reading FNB for the past 2 years from the recommendation of a helpful gentleman at J-Press.
I'm not sure if this is the correct forum to post my question here, if not please let me know and I will re-post in another section.
I have been searching for a good cleaners that understands starch, I just want my shirts cleaned (not dry cleaned) with nice heavy starched collar and cuffs. Now I'm not looking to get them as stiff as my 1890s detachable formal shirt collars, but I keep getting disappointed when I pick my shirts. When I try to explain that I want my cuffs and collar stiffer, like "cardboard" most think I must be joking.
I have a guy out of state who does a great job, but I need someone local (preferably Manhattan or Brooklyn)
Any thoughts or info would be greatly appreciated?
Truly
EPS
#2 2008-08-19 14:05:46
- Film Noir Buff
- Dandy Nightmare
- From: Devil's Island
- Posts: 9345
Re: Starch for shirts
Cant you buy a can of spray starch and stiffen them to your hearts delight? A form of Shirtagra?
#3 2008-08-19 14:55:53
- EPS-NYC
- New member
- Posts: 4
Re: Starch for shirts
I've used spray starch, but the stuff in the can isn't the same as having someone who really knows what they're doing do it for you (and you don't get the same result), because the cleaner can adjust the starch mixture before hand, and they use a liquid starch that they add to the wash water. If I recall correctly the cleaner will have separate washers for "starched" items, since its added to the water.
What I would get before was a medium starch that was quite a bit stiffer than Brooks Bros. non-iron shirt, so the cuffs and collar stayed stiff all day and then after about 3 years or so of wear it gets nice and built up, and it wont wear the fabric as fast as starting off with a real heavy starch.
#4 2008-08-19 15:30:25
- Marc Grayson
- Member
- Posts: 8860
Re: Starch for shirts
Starch breaks down the fabric fibers and accelerates wear and tear on the shirt, so the use of starch is really not advisable.
"‘The sense of being perfectly well dressed gives a feeling of inner tranquility which even religion is powerless to bestow." Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Looking good and dressing well is a necessity. Having a purpose in life is not." Oscar Wilde
#6 2008-08-19 15:58:01
- Film Noir Buff
- Dandy Nightmare
- From: Devil's Island
- Posts: 9345
Re: Starch for shirts
I always considered it something of a victory to get my laundry to leave starch out of my shirts.
#7 2008-08-19 16:04:51
- Marc Grayson
- Member
- Posts: 8860
Re: Starch for shirts
"‘The sense of being perfectly well dressed gives a feeling of inner tranquility which even religion is powerless to bestow." Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Looking good and dressing well is a necessity. Having a purpose in life is not." Oscar Wilde
#8 2008-08-19 16:34:36
- EPS-NYC
- New member
- Posts: 4
Re: Starch for shirts
None taken. The shirt quality is not in question, I do prefer taller collars not Tom Wolfe tall, but taller than average.
One instance where the starch helps is on some OTR PINK shirts with taller than the typical OTR collars the heavy starch helps to hold it up on my my long thin neck, ( I'm 6'5 and all of 160lbs soaking wet) and keeps the cuffs stiff too.
So if anyone knows of good place to get heavy starch in the city, any info would be appreciated.
Thanks again
#9 2008-08-19 19:48:28
- Skink
- Member
- Posts: 143
Re: Starch for shirts
Welcome, EPS
Think like a man of action, and act like a man of thought.