Starching Jeans

Ok, so I get how starching dry denim over the course of the break in can help maintain rigidity and get more defined creasing and etc....

Question, when starching do I just spray on the starch and leave it to dry? I presume that I should not iron the jeans while starching as this would flatten the creases that I want to preserve.

And also, I have noticed that when trying to heavily starch something you can get a dried flacky residue from the starch. (at least if you are ironing it) This would be very pronounced on dark denim wouldnt it? Or does it now become a problem if I am not ironing it?

K

Spray it with starch, put the jeans on, then leave the creases to set and starch to dry.

I'm off starch------almost 3 months now. I starched my RRDS regularly, but having learned about how much damage starch has wreaked on otherwise healthy denims (cracking, overly contrasty combs, et al), I'm not going to do that anymore. Reading that the japanese soak all their jeans (even O/W) to rid them of starches and other chemicals from the manufacturing process, it makes me ill to think that I was putting starch back on. I hereby apologize to all the jeans I've starched before and I apologize to the future for the damage to the ozone that is a result of my selfish behaviour. I will do better...

Originally Posted by denimdestroyedmylife

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I'm off starch------almost 3 months now. I starched my RRDS regularly, but having learned about how much damage starch has wreaked on otherwise healthy denims (cracking, overly contrasty combs, et al), I'm not going to do that anymore. Reading that the japanese soak all their jeans (even O/W) to rid them of starches and other chemicals from the manufacturing process, it makes me ill to think that I was putting starch back on. I hereby apologize to all the jeans I've starched before and I apologize to the future for the damage to the ozone that is a result of my selfish behaviour. I will do better...


AGREED!! hear hear!

im off of it too. i was starching my jeans untill this weekednd, but realised that it made them look and smell horrible. that plus sweat made me wash my jeans. of course they were white from salt deposits so they probably needed a wash anyways, but less than a month is too soon. i think the starch did its job tho, as after the wash i still had creases.

my jeans are thanking me now. they smell and feel much better, and all my creases are still where they shoud be. some good wear coming in too.

Though the starch I used to use didn't smell, I haven't used any for a good 4 or so months on my Svens.

If you want to help set creases, its probably a better idea to just use water. Works almost as well, IMO.

im going with sweat to stiffen my jeans. as i skate about 12 hours a week, it should be cheaper and more plentiful than starch.

Got it,

I was concerned about starching as I know what it can do to dress shirts. I just like rigid denim and it somewhat aggravtes me that in the wearing process they get a bit "too soft"

denimdestroyedmylife, did you every really notice damage on your denim?

K

Yeah, I am over the starch also. I usually will just spray some water on areas I would like to stiffen up some. This helps the existing starch to recombine and stiffen up.

Nah, but I've read reports of jeans cracking from starch, particularly EVISU. I do find my RRDS higes to be rather overly pronounced. Stripey jeans, they are. EDIT: You may call me DDML, I feel like I've been up to no good when I am called by four names------a form of address usually reserved for my mother.

Originally Posted by VKK3450

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Got it, I was concerned about starching as I know what it can do to dress shirts. I just like rigid denim and it somewhat aggravtes me that in the wearing process they get a bit "too soft" denimdestroyedmylife, did you every really notice damage on your denim? K

you usually are up to no good tho...

I starched the backs of the knees of my APC's a few weeks ago and the rest of the day, there was this clicking on the back of one leg. It was like a muscle twitch, really, really annoying. I'd probably only starch old Levi's a little here and there from now on.

What's wrong with starch in moderation ? People's jeans cracking from starch must be excessive starching - anything in moderation works if you know how to MAKE IT WORK guys .. << 3rd eye vision .. K here we go 1. If jeans are raw and stiff - a hour cold water soak and then proceeding to wear them in cross legged position or legs held tight to chest like while sitting will set the creases fine if you do it 2-3 times with some denim - other work first trime round . I soak the entire raw jean , let them drip a few hours - usually more like 1 hour then wear them damp & sit & watch a few movies while they dry ( with legs locked tight ) I then do it two more times , but only misting water onto the upper thighs , cuffs and knee front + rear . Then they dry quicker and help make sure the creases are set at their high / low points ... 2. I then starch a few times over the course of the 1st month in areas tha twill get contrast - only lightly over the creases not soaking the jean . Just a quick pass over the hills and valleys like .. Just to lock the creases in hard . The starch wears free anyways over time of wear n tear allowing the indigo to shift ... 3. First 3 months of wear I do this misting a few times a month , then 4th month I SOAK them in semi cold water and wear them ONE MONTH like this doing a lot of activity like bike riding or treadmill n chit .. 4. end of 4th month I give them a QUICK ICE WATER SOAK with only agitation of the water moving my hand thru it to move the water over the heavily starched areas . I dont touch the denim itself .. I then wear them as long as possible with no wash no water and no more starch .. 5. After that 4 month soak ( 10 hours a day of activity wearing them approx. ) I then wear them until dry in " honeycomb forming position " one again knees locked tight .. Might be better to ride your bike to help them dry quicker and shift the indigo while they're moist though .. Just thought that up haven't did it yet .. one wash jeans NEED Starch imho to get them into raw status somewhat .. one wash jeans dont hold creases at all in my experience , BUT I still follow the same routine as above ... I doubt everyone at all times keeps their jeans at the exact place on their waist/hips and jeans stretch so the creases won't be too great if they keep folding 1/2" off base .. Starching helps the jeans memorize where to fold kind of ... Doesn't hurt imho - but yeah contrast MAY not be as nice as not adding starch to them but as stated if you wear them to death the starch wears off anyways for the most part .. And that one soak 4mo doesn't hurt jeans dont lose indigo and stay raw pretty much ... It just lets loose the starch so indigo can flow free for your next 4 months of wear .. NOTE ** Starch aint such a great idea or good thing on jeans that fit hella tight on you .. Only somewhat loose fits benefit truly .. tight jeans gonna crease and contrast good anyways so long as you don sag off your booty some days and wear them high on your waist others ..