Jingle

I never use starch. I did a long time ago and stopped. I got tired of removing it from iron and surrounding area.

Jennifer23

Ooh, ooh - I think I know! (Warning: chemistry nerd alert!)

The alcohol will reduce the surface tension of the water, and reduce its polarity. Both of these things will allow it to soak into the fabric more quickly/thoroughly, and remove wrinkles more effectively.

I have some experiments planned to test this, but I have to go to work. Hopefully I will be able to post a more thorough explanation and maybe some pictures tonight or tomorrow.

aggie

I stopped using Best Press unless I use a mask. The aerosol droplets get into my lungs. Also, use starch.

AZ Jane

Purchase liquid starch, Purex Sta-Flo Liquid Starch, gallon size, Walmart and others, mix to the stiffness you need. Cheapest way to go. Mix, spray, give it some time to sink into the fabric (no white flakes or dirty iron), press.

Kitsie

I use a very cheap vodka with water for my spray. Vodka is made from potatoes or wheats but the is perfectly clear. I mix 1/3 cup of vodka with 3 cups of water. No cooking needed. I put the liquid in a "mister" bottle to spray, not a spray bottle. Just need to spray the fabric and iron it. No waiting! A cheap bottle of vodka lasts me more than a year!

Stitches23

Good Information. I have always used starch both the can spray and the mix it yourself (but not the vodka -although this is an interesting concept - wonder how it originated?). Sounds like the sizing would not be what I would want to use in place of starch as it is not the same thing.

ILoveToQuilt

Ever read a spray can of starch (Niagara, etc)? No mention at all that it contains starch...only lists "ironing aid" and fragrance!

I've tried Best Press, but not had good luck with it. The bottles have always leaked and removed the finish from my sewing table. I've seen the vodka hack to make homemade Best Press but never tried it. I have tried regular rubbing (Isoprophyl) alcohol and water. I think it worked only because (as the science person above said) it helped break the surface tension of the water. The alcohol didn't stain the fabric.

Usually I'll just spray or spritz the fabric with plain water (I have my mom's old spritz bottle), let it sit for a couple of minutes, then press. Seems to work well for me. Large pieces of fabric, I will spray, roll and refrigerate overnight, then press. Don't know why the cold works, but it does. Maybe it is just that the water soaks into the fabric better.

peaceandjoy

The Niagara/Faultless website says that starch is generally made from organic materials and sizing is synthetic. Very little vodka is made from potatoes anymore, even if it is, no starch would be left after distillation. Some interesting info here: https://www.mollymakesthings.com/pos...friend-science

Peckish

I honestly don't think Niagra, June Tailor's "Starch Savvy", and Best Press contain starch anymore. When Best Press first came out, the MSDS on it said it was a starch product, but I believe now it says "polymer", which is also what the June Taylor product says. And Niagra quit making my favorite starch in the non-aerosol spray bottle, they've come out with an "ironing spray" instead. 😒 It has a scale on the bottle going from soft to crisp and rates this product as soft, which as a quilter I find very disappointing. We need crisp! I wrote them an email telling them so and asked them to come out with a product stiff enough for quilters. They never responded. So I'm going to try making my own spray with Sta-Flo.

Pam S

My DD worked in the theater dept in college. They used the vodka mixture to remove odors from stage costumes. Not politically correct, but they called it Ghetto Febreeze.