Parchment paper, ironing paper, ironing cloths, wax paper... oh my!

B

BigBrother

Registered Guest
I'm learning how to properly starch and press my white tie components (shirt bib, collars, cuffs, etc.), as well as just pressing in general for sharp creases and the like.

I'm baffled by the array of options on the ironing board here :). Are there advantages and disadvantages to all these methods for protecting fabrics from the metal? Not sure here which I should be using.

Thanks!
 
I use a pressing cloth sometimes - a tea towel works just fine for that. Not sure about ironing heavily starched items like bibs, collars and cuffs. It used to be that professional laundries did that for you, but I am guessing they don't really exist anymore. There are some tutorials I found online about starching collars and cuffs and that info was gleaned from Victorian housekeeping manuals - so I would try googling some of those online and see what they say.
 
I have a silk organza pressing cloth by Dritz. Not sure if that brand is available outside Europe.

It sounds like it'd be too delicate but it isn't somehow. The great thing about it is that it's sheer, and so, unlike with a tea towel, you can see garment through the cloth as you iron, which is surprisingly useful. I think there are other types of sheer pressing cloth, they don't have to be silk.
 
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Retro Ruth said:
I have a silk organza pressing cloth by Dritz. Not sure if that brand is available outside Europe.

It sounds like it'd be too delicate but it isn't somehow. The great thing about it is that it's sheer, and so, unlike with a tea towel, you can see garment through the cloth as you iron, which is surprising useful. I think there are other types of sheer pressing cloth, they don't have to be silk.
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This?

https://www.amazon.com/Dritz-594-Sheer-Press-30-Inch/dp/B0051EONNU/
 
I'm not sure if wax paper would be a problem because you want a lustrous surface, and the starching is a combination of starch and soap flakes, so it already has an oil content from the soap in it... I'm not suggesting you use wax paper without checking first, but it may be okay... And like it was pointed out, you use a low heat for ironing, otherwise you will cook the starch and it will turn brown.
 
@Retro Ruth , just tried it for the first time. It's going right back! Two garments, both got scorch marks on them while using it. I don't get it. Iron set to wool. I'm really, really disappointed.
 
Retro Ruth said:
Strange, and sorry to hear this. Works really well for me.

I hope they weren't too badly damaged?
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Nah, not too badly. I could fix with vinegar. In both cases it was when there was an underlying bump, like with a tie whose internal stitching/folds makes it impossible to avoid. I would’ve thought the barrier would still protect against that. :\
 
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