The stand up petticoat

[Spinster]

As usual, what gets me to thinking on things is the fact that I've caused my own dilemma.

In general, my childhood teachings were that one does not store a starched item, as it tends to attract bugs who wish to munch on the starch and end up taking bites from the fabric as well. Rather, items that need such were washed, dried and stored unstarched, then prepared when the need approached.

That's all well and good, except that I had washed the stand up starch out of my petticoats last month and stored them, as the only thing on my calendar until spring is 18th century. And thus, today I am standing in underpinnings and cage, with a box fan blowing full force, trying to dry a newly starched petticoat so I can leave for a funeral in an hour. At least I had aired, brushed and put a clean collar and cuffs on my good dress beforehand, and polished my shoes before packing them away.

So, what's the period recommendation for storing such starched items and protecting them?

[SouthernMag]

Ms. Terre, from my research I did while planning my herb garden for my Victorian house (I wanted late 19th Century style of plants) I came across the use of the camphor plant to keep moths and other insects from invading and destroying fabrics. You harvest the plant like any other herb and hang it up to dry in a cool, dark place then crumple it up and tie it in a piece of muslin or other cotton fabric to make a sachet of it. It is then tucked in between the folds of the items being stored. I have also read that lavendar and any type of plant from the mint family were good for this as well. I would think that any of these methods should work. Maggie Reese

[ElizabethClark]

I do think that it may be something not as commonly a problem in the period as now, as many wardrobe items would be in constant use, directly after laundering. In a larger household, where the economic status would provide a larger wardrobe, there would also be more servant help, so the individual could count on *not* being the one to stand and starch her laundered things before use.