Doesn't matter if the vodka is potato or not. The starch in removed in the process of making the vodka. Use the cheapest vodka.

I had a lot of stiffener for crochet items. I diluted and used it as a heavy starch. Worked fine. I always use a pressing sheet when using Terial or other stiffeners. Theses sort of sprays will scorch and build up on the iron.

I bought Terial from HSN some time ago when it was on sale. HSN usually doesn't have anything on a sale price lower then their price unless it will not be in stock anymore.

I agree with Onebyone. If you use vodka, you're basically using alcohol water, it does not contain starch. Lots of people mix it with scented essential oils to make a scented spray for pressing, but it doesn't actually stiffen the fabric.

In that same vein, Best Press is starch. I know it says "starch alternative" on the label, but that doesn't mean it's NOT starch. It's simply an alternative to traditional starches such as Sta-Flo.

Has anyone noticed that Niagra has discontinued its non-aerosol spray starch? My friend Cindi texted me this am, she couldn't find it anywhere online. I went to a couple of grocery chains in my area and she's right, it's gone gone gone. That stuff was the absolute best, and I am going to be so sad if they've discontinued it! We should start a letter-writing campaign, see if our many voices can change their mind. They have some new product called "Niagra Smooth Finish Ironing Spray" that Cindi says doesn't get the fabric stiff at all. :(

Here, here!! I love, love, love Niagra’s original non-aerosol spray starch, especially their lavender-scented stuff. The “Smooth Finish” is totally worthless for protecting bias edges from stretching and does not leave fabric feeling crisp at all. I’ve written Niagara asking them to bring it back!

Well, I just spent an inordinate amount of time looking for the Niagara spray starch for you ladies and the only one I found was a bottle on a Spanish Ebay page for $75.00 + shipping (unsure if American dollars).. I tried to help (so much for my good deed for the day). Sorry I couldn't find it for you.

I am seriously going to try using vodka. As I said in an earlier post, I have lotso allergies, can't do cornstarch, and what I've been using is expensive. Would like to find something affordable that at least gives me the same crispness as the sizing spray I've been using.

Waitaminnut, maybe I should try a cornstarch recipe using rice flour or potato starch...
Has anyone tried that?

No, I haven't tried, but according to https://www.sciencedirect.com/scienc...27462707500227 I remember my mother "cooking" starch on laundry day. It looks like there is a rice starch adhesive used for museum framing that needs to be cooked. There is also a rice starch for cooking. I also searched to see if rice starch can be substituted for cornstarch. One site did not mention rice starch, but rice flour and the amount need to be doubled. Another site said that two teaspoons of rice starch will thicken like 1 tablespoon of cornstarch.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
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HSN link...nothing there.

Amazon is selling two kinds of Best Press. One labeled as a starch alternative and one labeled sizing alternative. Can't seem to find ingredients for either of them.

Wow, you've done the homework for me! Thank you.

Methinks, as soon as I have the oomph to do it, I shall try making a spray starch using rice flour.

I'm wondering if any have used PerfectSew and Terial Magic. If so could you share your experiences with them. I used some PerfectSew many years ago to hem some nylon tricot with a decorative stitch. It worked perfectly and washed out nicely without any puckering. It was kind of a pain to apply, but for my purpose, I just brushed it on and let it dry.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
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