My Cleaning Basket

Happy spring, everyone!  I'm so glad that it's officially here...finally!!  This will be a short post, but I just wanted to share that I received my America's Housekeeping Book in the mail today, and instead of doing my housework, spent much of the day leafing through my new treasure. Thanks, again, to Viv for suggesting it.  (I will be posting more about it in the next few days as I have so much to say about it already!)

My new housekeeping "bible"

One thing I accomplished today from the book was to put together a cleaning basket to hold all the necessary supplies when cleaning room-to-room.  I have to say I'm now amazed that this idea had never occurred to me before, but then again, that is why I wanted a book on the subject...I actually didn't have a plastic utility basket, which is what I had initially pictured in my mind. So after hunting around the house in search of something more attractive than a cardboard box (at least to use temporarily), I found a cute lil' basket that once held a Valentine's Day arrangement from my husband. (How a basket of Valentine's flowers evolved over 6 years into a basket of cleaning supplies, I'm not sure...) I don't know that I will be able to use it permanently, because it won't hold anything else other than what I already have in it, but I'm happy with it and at least it'll make housework a little more attractive...haha!

Here's my newly assembled cleaning basket which I will now be using to accomplish many of my cleaning chores:



I've already thought about tying a ribbon or something onto it. It just looks so plain...I'm  thinking a splash of pink would do wonders for my cleaning spirits! 

Right now, my basket includes: paper towels, long-cuff rubber gloves, Bar Keeper's Friend (a magical, abrasive cleaner), glass cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, an ostrich feather duster, a Swiffer duster, furniture polish, a cotton rag and a large sponge.  Can I also just say that I was actually excited to clean the bathroom this afternoon--yes, you read that correctly--just so I could use my cute lil' basket and try out my new Mr.Clean Febreez "Hawaiian Aloha" all-purpose cleaner (which I love, by the way).

So, until tomorrow! (And, hopefully, then I will have my new, weekly schedule re-mapped.)

Happy Homemaking!

How to Make Perfect Coffee



Image courtesy of
 www.freeretroclipart.com



Today's recipe on my recipe blog was for Cafe Mexicain,  a whipping cream-topped coffee recipe which came from one of my new-found treasures, Betty Crocker's Guide To Easy Entertaining. (Click here to view the recipe.) This got me thinking about coffee in general, and what an important part it played in home entertaining in the 1950s. Any cookbook from that time period will have instructions for making coffee, as well as instruction on appropriate methods of serving it. When I first got my  Betty Crocker's Picture Cookbook, I was surprised to find two entire pages devoted to coffee. It explains how to make coffee according to the kind of coffee maker you have, although most people nowadays only use drip coffee makers.  (I, too, normally use a drip coffee maker, but will occasionally pull out one of my shiny, stainless-steel percolators for something a little different.)  It also gives six essentials for making good coffee, which I will paraphrase below:

Six Essentials for a Cup of Good Coffee:

1) Fresh Coffee: Coffee looses freshness quickly when exposed to air. Keep it tightly covered and buy it often.

2) Use the Right Grind for the Right Maker:  If you grind your coffee at home, your grinder will tell you which setting to use depending on your maker.

3) Use a Clean Coffee Maker:  Wash your coffee maker with soap and water after each use. Use boiling water with soda to remove stains.  Follow cleaning instructions on your coffee maker.

4) Use Fresh, Cold Water:  Always start with cold water; do not use hot water from tap or kettle. Bring to a full, rolling boil before putting the coffee container itself into the coffee maker.

5) Use Enough Coffee for Desired Strength: 

    For weak coffee: 1 T. to 3/4 c. water

    For medium coffee: 2 T. to 3/4 c. water

    For strong coffee: 3-4 T. to 3/4 c. water

6) Serve Coffee as Soon as Possible:  If you must let coffee stand, be sure to remove the grounds (i.e. percolated coffee). Keep very hot until serving; cold coffee loses flavor if it is reheated.



Coffee advertisement from
New York Tribune, 1919



Upon reading this, one of the first things I noticed was the coffee proportions according to the desired strength.  Today, instructions on coffee cans usually read "use 1 tablespoon of coffee for each 6 oz (3/4 c.) of water and adjust amount according to taste."  I was shocked to read that coffee from 1950 was prepared much stronger compared to our standards today.  My! Like so many other things, it seems that even our coffee standards have lowered over the years! (However, I definitely fall into the strong coffee-lover category, and may therefore, be somewhat biased about this conclusion...)

Serving guests with "after dinner coffee," which is a very strong, black coffee served, you guessed it...after dinner, was a staple of good hospitality. Any decent hostess would never serve a meal, formal or informal, without offering the required after dinner coffee.  While people of that time period also had their own preferences for coffee strength and preparation, the "after dinner coffee" largely remained unchanged.  After dinner coffee was served in small, "after-dinner" cups, or demitasse cups, which is a French word for "half cup."  (Because of the unique cups, after dinner coffee was also sometimes known by that name-- Demitasse Coffee.)  It is coffee that is made stronger than usual; for instance, my trusty, vintage Betty Crocker cookbook actually recommends using 3-4 T. coffee to 3/4 c. water for each serving (the same proportions prescribed for their strong coffee recipe).    



One of my two beloved percolators

So, those of you who are coffee drinkers:  How does this 1950s coffee methodology compare to your own, and would your after dinner coffee make you the hostess with the most-est?

New (old) Dishes

My little sister came home for spring break, and I went on an impromptu trip with her; thus my lack of blogging for the last couple of days.  My mom, who is a flea market/yard sale/junk store-loving lady  introduced me to a quaint little antique store about 1 1/2 hrs. from my house.  I think the little place also serves as a bed and breakfast, and is owned by a lady who has an enormous collection of various vintage items.  Some of them seem somewhat out of place (i.e. a purple Dolly Parton-ish dress from the 80s, a Jonas Brothers tote), but she also has a huge variety of just old, well, stuff:  books, costume jewelry, glassware, tablecloths, luggage, ceramics, dishes, cast iron, etc., etc... The whole place is kind of eclectic. (She also makes the best coleslaw & chili hot dog I ever ate! The next time I go back, I'm going to have to ask her about what she does to make them soo good!)  

Oven Fork Mercantile
(I took this picture last summer)

I was particularly in the mood to scavenge through the dishes and bake ware, in search of some serving dishes that I've been wanting (not any specific pieces, but of a certain style), and I came away with a couple finds that I am really happy about, so I thought I'd share them with you guys. =)  (On a side note, I did find some others that I'm not posting about, including a very heavy cast-iron, corn stick muffin pan, which I can't wait to try out!)

I really don't know anything about cookware, fine china, dishes and such...I just know what I like.  I don't know what you call this particular kind of material that these dishes are made of, but I think it's pretty much just white, tanslucent-ish glass.  (I'm sure they must have a name...) I just love them! I particularly like these pieces because they could be used as casserole dishes and/or as serving dishes.  Even though I wouldn't know what to guess in terms of their vintage (anywhere from the 50s to the 70s??), I know they're not new, and I know I like them.



Dish 1
With a pretty, green floral design on both sides



Dish 2
Love those cute lil' blue flowers...and I can already smell the meatloaf baking in this one...

Then, I came across a real treasure.  Do you recognize this dish? (I will actually be shocked if you already know its significance before reading my explanation...)

My new-found treasure

This is a bowl that is exactly like the set owned by the Ricardo's in the I Love Lucy show. Technically, the dishes were also used as props in restaurant scenes and such, but these were the Ricardo's household dishes. (I know...I'm a fanatic; but at least I'm not ashamed to admit it anymore! Besides, they say acknowledging the problem is the first step to recovery...haha!)  I do know that the only dishes issued for use on the show were made by Franciscan, which was a company based out of Glendale, CA. 

My particular dish is the Ivy II pattern and was made in England in 2000--or at least, that's the copyright date on the bottom of the bowl.  I'm going to have to do some research to figure out what the difference, if any, there is between the (American) Ivy pattern and the (British) Ivy II patterns.  From what little bit I've read so far, I'm guessing that the Ivy II is essentially a reproduction of the original Ivy, but since the company apparently now only manufactures in England, the Ivy pattern is American and the Ivy II is British--the country of origin being the only difference between the two. But, once again...I am no dish expert.  So, if you are more knowledgeable on such matters, please enlighten me!

Nifty Betty Crocker Books

A short while ago, I shared my favorite vintage beauty manual as well as my favorite vintage cookbooks.  So, today I thought I would pass along some other great new (old) finds to you as well. My friend, Jess, told me about a neat, old cookbook she came across and recommended it to me: Betty Crocker's Party Book.  I immediately looked for one on eBay and found a neat duo up for auction:

Two of my recent discoveries!

Can you believe I only paid $.99 (plus about $4 shipping) for both!?  Also, they are first editions, and are in excellent condition.  I can't imagine why anyone would want to sell such treasures--and for so cheap!--unless they had multiple copies or something.  Needless to say, I'm glad there is someone out there who likes to practically give away great cookbooks--you know what they say: one man's trash is another man's treasure. (And am I glad this was somebody's trash! Haha!)  After my books finally arrived, (you know how slow that media mail can move sometimes!)  I sat down, immediately delved into them, and quickly discovered that I was not to be disappointed with my find!

Betty Crocker's Party Book is very interesting as it has lots of recipes (I believe over 500!) and it gives great advice on giving parties.  It has suggestions for children's parties, all with different themes and suggested menus according to age group, as well as holiday party menu suggestions and tips.  When I say holiday, I'm not just talking about the to-be-expected, typical Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter party (sure, those are all in there, too!), but it also includes suggestions for St. Patrick's Day, Independence Day, President's Day as well as some other less-celebrated holidays.  I don't have any children, nor do we give any parties, but I was thinking how nice it would be to have a special holiday-themed meal each month--just for fun! (I kept intending to go out to the grocery sometime this week in order to purchase corned beef as it is the suggested main course for the St. Patrick's Day party. However, I have--yet again--managed to effectively postpone this necessary but tedius task.)  Who knows--maybe we'll celebrate St. Patrick's Day a little late... 

Betty Crocker's Guide To Easy Entertaining was also a delightful read.  As I mentioned, I never really do any entertaining (if we do have a crowd here, it's always our family for a cookout or very informal gathering, and if I tried to turn that into a semi-formal affair, it would be just flat-out facetious).  Because of this, I knew when ordering that I probably wouldn't be using this book to the extent of its potential.  However, it too, has many good recipes (some of which are for coffee that I plan to post about at a later time...) and would truly be a very helpful resource in helping one in the planning of a successful gathering.  It contains many pertinent suggestions which could be of great use when trying to determine things such as: what to serve at a party, how to properly extend invitations, the best way to serve food according to the occasion and the space you have, etc.  I know that, sometimes, these vintage guides are somewhat out-dated when it comes to being practical for us "modern," sophisticated people nowdays, but much of the information from this guide is still very applicable.  (Now if only I could find a Betty Crocker's Guide to Housekeeping! Haha!!) Happy homemaking, ya'll!

Should Housekeeping be this Difficult?

I've been thinking today about my housekeeping schedule, or as I posted earlier, about my lack thereof. (Haha!) I did actually plan out a weekly schedule for myself, but have already found it difficult to maintain.  Not because I'm not putting forth the effort, but I'm finding that I'm having to do things on days which they aren't scheduled...in turn, messing up the schedule for the remainder of the week, and therefore defeating the purpose of my having a schedule in the first place.  Ughh.  Why do I feel like such a failure?  (OK, I'm exaggerating a little bit; I don't feel like a failure--exactly--but, I am frustrated and confused as to why it is so difficult to put one together that works!)

It's not that I don't clean or anything, because I do. It's just that I would like to organize my cleaning.  I have even looked online and found some helpful resources, (thank you, Jess!) such as FlyLady, but haven't come across anything that I feel I will be able to stick with.  Viv left me a comment about a book which she has posted about several times on her blog--and highly recommends--called America's Housekeeping Book, which I just ordered from Amazon.  I saw some excerpts from this book on Viv's blog, was instantly intrigued, and am now eagerly awaiting its arrival!  I guess I'll have to let you know how that goes after it comes in and I have a chance to implement any acquired information.  (I have a really good feeling about this one...!)

Just wondering, though: am I the only one who feels like an inadequate housekeeper?  Have any of you struggled with this? (I mean, geez! We don't even have kids--just Pippy, our Chihuahua!) Why is it so difficult to make an effective, successful schedule? (I'm beginning to think it's because housekeeping isn't the easy task so many believe it to be...hmm...) I'm tired of feeling really incompetent that I have a Master's degree, and speak two languages, but can't even make my own housework schedule work! All I want is some June Cleaver-inspired guidance that will assist me in achieving my goal of the Leave it to Beaver house...is that really too much to ask?

Easy at-home facials!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and got to enjoy the sunshine like I did.  I'm so eager for spring and summer, I can hardly wait!

We women do almost anything for the sake of beauty!

We women for centuries have been known to do and try almost anything for the sake of beauty.  Fortunately, there are some very effective treatments that we can do at home, and chances are you already have these "special" ingredients on-hand! Today, I am sharing with you some of the information concerning at-home facials from my favorite vintage beauty book, Westmore Beauty Book -- A Complete 1950s Guide to Vintage Makeup, Hairstyling and Beauty Techniques. I have tried several of them myself, and been very pleased with the results, so I thought I would share them with you.  I am paraphrasing the information contained on "complexion beautifiers" and "face packs for stimulating, tightening, beautifying" from chapter nine.

Egg pack for refining coarse skin:  Beat one egg white and apply it to skin, patting in well. Now apply cleansing over the pack and massage.  Remove, and apply a nourishing cream in an upward and outward rotating motion. After removing this, swipe the face with witch hazel.  Now apply the beaten egg yolk onto face and allow to dry.  Remove with towel soaked in tepid water.  Follow with a freshener.  Do this at least once a week--more often if desired.

*When I do this, I set the egg out in advance to warm to room temperature, just so the application is more comfortable.  Also, I like to apply the egg with a pastry brush as it seems to work more efficiently than by fingers alone.  When the egg yolk dries on your face, it will really turn into a hardened mask.  You may need to splash warm water onto your face in order to soften this up a bit before removing with a towel.

Honey facial:  This facial will have a stimulating, tightening, refining and possibly bleaching effect. It may be used on any skin type. Massage a cleanser on skin, then remove. Apply one tablespoon of honey to skin, taking care around the delicate eye area. Then place fingers onto skin, and pull away briskly, using the stickiness of the honey to stimulate facial circulation. Continue this for three to five minutes.  Allow honey to remain on face for 15-20 minutes more.  Skin should feel taut. Press a hot, moist towel over face to remove honey.  Follow with a towel dipped in ice water, then use a skin freshener.  Do this as often as you like.

Buttermilk (on right) is thicker and
richer than "sweet" milk.

Buttermilk facial: This facial may be used on all skin types. Use a powdered buttermilk and mix with enough water or milk to form a smooth paste.  Cleanse the skin, then apply buttermilk emulsion.  Do two applications, but do not apply too thickly.  Apply extra quantities to oily or sagging regions of the face.  Do not get into eyes, but protect and relax them with cotton pads saturated in witch hazel.  Relax for about 10-15 minutes, (leaving on longer for very oily skin) and then remove by using a soft towel dipped in tepid water.  After removing emollient, apply a lubricating cream, massage into face and remove.  Then apply a skin freshener.  If facial is done at night, leave lubricating cream on overnight. 

*I never keep powdered buttermilk, but I always have buttermilk on-hand for baking.  I have used this and feel that it is very effective.  I like being efficient, and using things I already have, so I doubt I'll be purchasing powdered milk for the sole purpose of using it for this facial treatment.  It is thinner than the would-be paste, but perhaps with some experimenting, you could turn the buttermilk into a paste (i.e. add flour, cornstarch, etc.).

Enjoy! (If you try them, let me know how they turn out for you!) 

"Vintage" find in my own out-building!

Hi, everyone! I've been busy with family stuff for a couple days now, so it's gotten me behind in my blogging.  Yesterday was my Mom's birthday, so as a treat, I cooked dinner for her. I also tried out a new cake from my 1950 2nd Annual $100,000 Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest cookbook called $25,000 Orange Kiss-Me Cake.  It was the prize-winning recipe, and needless to say, it was very good.  It's very moist, light and refreshing...just perfect for Spring or Summer! (Can you tell I'm ready for Winter to be over!?)

 

$25,000 Orange Kiss-Me Cake

   
One of things I did Tuesday was work on planting seedlings for my garden.  I probably should have already done this, but the idea hadn't even occurred to me until this past weekend.  We always put out tomato and pepper plants, plus some watermelon and other random things, but in the past, we've always bought the plants--never the seeds.  If my seedling experiment works, it will be much cheaper than buying the already-sturdy plants to put in the ground.  I bought a little 72-pellet greenhouse and a variety of seeds, so I'm eager to see how my little experiment goes.  I am especially excited about the cilantro, thyme and parsley as I have wanted to grow my own herbs for quite a while now.  I use parsley in all kinds of dishes, and I like to use thyme with chicken (especially when baking or roasting) and I plan on making some homemade salsa this year to can, which means I will need lots of cilantro. I'm thrilled and astonished that the thyme is already sprouting! (By the way...thyme seeds are the tiniest littlest things I've ever seen!  You always hear people talk about mustard seeds being small...apparently, they have never seen thyme!)   

 



My seed pellets (My dad thought they

were Oreo balls at first glance!!!)



My assortment of seeds

(Haven't planted the flowers yet...) 





 

Today my husband was cleaning out one of our out buildings and discovered a nostalgic treasure for those of us who admire vintage things and enjoy a "blast from the past" now-and-then: two old Mrs. Butterworth's syrup bottles.  They are made of thick, heavy amber-colored glass and have yellow, metal lids.  I've never seen anything like them...I guess it just never occurred to me that syrup used to come in glass!  I haven't done much research on them as of yet, so I'm not certain about their age.  They are pretty cool, though, regardless! 



Old Mrs. Butterworth's syrup bottles--hmm...wonder how old they are??



It's my understanding that some people collect old glass bottles of various sorts, so I'm not sure yet if I will keep these or sell them on eBay.  I guess that might depend on what they might be worth...hmm...guess that'll have to wait for the research to come in!

Attention all vintage beauty lovers!!! Must-read how-to manual!

Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, from 1953

When I think of beauty and glamour, I automatically think of Hollywood's Golden Age, and the stunning ladies who filled the new, larger-than-life, CinemaScopic, technicolor screens with their striking beauty. The famous Monroe-Grable-Bacall comedy,  How to Marry a Millionaire, was the first film to be shot in CinemaScope, which was a new widescreen filming process pioneered by 20th Century-Fox. Upon reviewing the film and it's new, widescreen formatting, The New York Herald-Tribune commented:  "The big question, 'How does Marilyn Monroe look stretched across a broad screen?' is easily answered.   If you were sitting in the front row, you would probably feel as though you were being smothered in baked Alaska."

Of course, Marilyn is probably the most recognized (and commercialized) of all Hollywood's beauties, but there were many others ladies who exhibited uniquely-glamorous qualities of their own--and proved that gentlemen didn't always prefer blondes. Consider the following:

The epitome of the classic, brunette bombshell--Jane Russell,  in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, from 1953
(Who else could have played opposite Marilyn Monroe?!)




 One of Hollywood's most glamorous red-heads--Rita Hayworth, in the film Tonight and Every Night, from 1945.
(There's a reason Madonna sings "she gave good face..."!)



 The stunning, petite, and violet-eyed Elizabeth Taylor, in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, from 1958

The "Sweater Girl"--Lana Turner, in Mr. Imperium, from 1951
(Yes, I know she's blonde, but you can't talk about screen sirens without mentioning her!)




 The lovely Maureen O'Hara, whose notable films include The Quiet Man,  McLintock! and The Parent Trap

Of course, the list could go on and on...  I just love-love-love these glamorous looks! As I also love anything makeup or beauty-related, I set out a while ago in search of a vintage beauty guide which would teach me all the tips and tricks employed by the masterful makeup artists of that time (i.e. the Westmores, Ben Bye, Whitey Snyder, Max Factor, etc.) Not that I have expectations of actually achieving these looks, but it could be awfully fun trying! (Yes--I'm a 26 year-old who still likes to play in her makeup...and I'm finally not ashamed to admit it!)

So, in my on-going search for these beauty guides, I came across a gold mine of information contained in a book written by the infamous Westmores:

 

Westmore Beauty Book -- A Complete 1950s Guide to Vintage Makeup, Hairstyling and Beauty Techniques

 

I cannot begin to tell you how incredibly informative this book is--and what's more-- it was written by the Westmores as a do-it-yourself, how-to, at-home guide, so it is very user-friendly.  The Westmores were some of the Hollywood's most respected makeup artists and wrote this guide so that everyday women could enjoy the same knowledge and know-how of the famous screen sirens that they so admired. The information included is extremely comprehensive and will teach you everything you need to know about achieving the most aesthetically-pleasing you; topics include:  face shapes, skin types, facial symmetry, shaping, shadowing and contouring, color selection, makeup application, makeup removal, hair styling, hair dyeing, exercise, facial massage, at-home facials, manicuring, personalized beauty questionnaire and follow-up, and how to establish a beauty routine. It also has very practical beauty information as well and isn't solely focused on transforming you into some kind of glamour goddess. (The intention of the manual isn't to force you into the movie star look, but to give you the tools you need in case you should want to try it out.)  Really, I cannot over-stress HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! It is a vintage-glamour-loving fanatic's dream!! I only wish I could find more like it, so if you know of one, please,  please let me know about it! =)

(Images from Wikimedia Commons)

How to Iron a Shirt

Thanks to my blogger friend, Chantal, at CALM Homemaking 1950s Style, I have recently learned that I have been ironing incorrectly my entire life! As a self-taught ironer (we'll pretend that "ironer" is a word, here so I can avoid writing "person who irons" 50 blue-million times...), I thought I was doing pretty good to just iron--period. Not because it's hard, but because it is a respectable, but dying art.  After reading her post about ironing, I decided to look into it further and to do a little research on using liquid starch (which I have always been curious about, but somewhat intimidated by). 

Not much has changed...

As long as I've been married (going on 7 yrs. now), I have always taken pride in  ironing my husband's work clothes into as neat a condition I possibly could...or so I thought.  I have always used a lot of steam, (a good ironing practice) and used spray starch (also a great ironing aid).  I just never knew I had been using the wrong technique the whole time!  I thought I was doing pretty well, until I discovered I was doing the entire process backwards.  (All of this, by the way, concerns the ironing of a dress shirt.)

To summarize my previous, self-taught (and incorrect) ironing ritual, I used to:

     1) iron the front of the shirt, with the bulk of it hanging towards me;

     2) work around the body and around the shirt, back to the front;   

     3) iron the sleeves and

     4) iron the collar. 

I often found by the time I had finished the collar, placed it on a hanger, and held up my accomplishment to admire, that, alas--there were already some determined wrinkles trying to re-establish themselves on the front--where I had very first ironed!   This was always a mystery to me, as I would have to re-iron this section (and if you've ever done this, you know that it's very difficult to iron only one little section and not disturb any other...)  Then, last week I came across Chantal's post about how she had been doing the exact same thing; and thus my ironing revolution began. Since I have been so impressed by the fruits of my newly-acquired, proper, ironing technique, I was inspired to share what I learned, in hopes that someone else might benefit from my newly-discovered information.

How to Iron a Shirt (Correctly):

1) Start with the inside of the collar

2) Iron the outside of the collar.



3) Iron the sleeves, starting on the back side, then doing the front.

 4) Iron the front, starting with the bulk of it hanging away from your body.

5) Iron the body of the shirt, pulling the fabric towards you as you work back around to the front.

6) Finish by ironing the other side of the front (bulk of shirt should be hanging towards you).
Hang on a rack and button top and middle buttons to prevent wrinkling.

As always, make sure to follow heat settings on care tags, and use plenty of steam. Always keep the iron moving over the fabric, and it is a good practice to use spray starch.  Even if you don't care about the extra body or wrinkle-resistance it provides, it actually speeds the process of ironing as it somehow helps the iron to glide more easily over the fabric.

 

A few of a housewife's secret weapons



About liquid starch: 

As a vintage-loving housewife, I love the idea of "starching" things.  I don't know...it just sounds nice and refreshing...(strange; I know. Haha!) But truthfully, you can usually tell when a garment   has been starched; it has a much nicer, cleaner-looking presentation.  I have always used spray starch, but it hasn't been until recently that I have also been using liquid starch (which you add to the rinse cycle of your wash).  Now, unlike many people in the 50s, I'm not going to take it so far as to starch my underwear, and--yes--they really did that!!  It seems that starch has earned a reputation as a slapstick staple in the movies: you know the bit--husband does laundry; husband uses starch...wife's soft, silk stockings end up a rigormortis-like, cardboard cutout.  But contrary to this caricatured depiction, starch can actually be an iron-er's best friend. Not only does it make the actual process of ironing easier, but it also adds body to the fabric, helps repel stains, and helps keep fabric looking fresh all day due it's magic-like, wrinkle-resisting powers. (And did I mention it makes ironing easier and faster...!?) 



In Conclusion: 

If you iron, and you haven't ever used spray starch, try it! You will be really surprised at what a difference it makes! If you already use spray starch, and like it, you might also like the extra benefits of using liquid starch as well.  (By the way: It's not expensive; I got mine at Wal-Mart for less than $3/bottle...and...you can even make your own at home if you are industrious like that!)

If you try it, let me know what you think! Happy homemaking! =)