I was wondering if any of you use either Mary Ellen's Best Press or Niagra Non-Aerosol Spray Starch. I have read reviews on both. Many say they are equal but Niagra is a lot cheaper. I was using Faultless Aerosol Spray but they have changed the top design and I have been having trouble with rust collecting in the top around the spray valve resulting in rust being blown onto my fabric. I really would like to hear what you use and your suggestions.

Love that Mary Ellen's stuff, but boy is it pricey! Maybe one of our board members can direct us to a do-it-yourself version. The rust collecting on the can bugs me too. I use starch for my table linens and I always have to rinse and scrub the top of the spray can before I use it. What a pain.

I'd like to try liquid starch and make my own. But does it go bad? The Sta-Flo liquid starch is inexpensive.

I can't help you with the non aerosol spray starch. My mother use to mix her starch up with water and spray or should I said sprinkle it on our clothes and then iron them. She would keep it in the frigorator if she did not use it up. When I was little our clothes were all cotton. I don't see why it would work on fabric as well.

I like Mary Ellens and watch for it to be on sale at Hancock fabrics..makes it a little easier on the wallet.

I have a recipe for homemade spray starch that I recently ended up trying, as I ran out and didn't want to run to the store:

Homemade spray starch recipe

This is a great money saver and it does an excellent job.

Dissolve 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon cornstarch (depending on amount of stiffness you want) in a few tablespoons of cold water in a heat proof 2-cup measuring container. Add boiling water to make one cup, stirring constantly. Then add cold water to the 2 cup line. Let cool and use in a spray bottle.
Shake it every time you spray.

You may have to dilute it a little if it is too thick or builds up white flakes.

Discared after a week or so and make a new batch. You can also refrigerate between using to keep it fresher.

When I was a kid, Mom made starch -

I think it was Argo - blue and white box - put some in the "bread bowl" - added some cold water to dissolve it - then added hot water - it changed from cloudy to "not cloudy" - and then stirred in a little rectangle of some blue stuff (Satina, I think)

Then she'd dip the whole garment to be starched in the solution and then wring it out by hand. The stuff to be stiffest was done first, and then what needed only a little body was done last.

I do not miss all that ironing!

I don't find that they are the equal. I have used both products and Niagra is a starch. I think you would have to use a lot of Mary Ellen's to get a starch effect, but this is just my personal opinion.

Thanks for the recipe. How easy!

Remember ironing (and starching) bed linens?! I remember my mom or our maid doing that. I'm going to try it! Even if just the pillowcase.

Faultless has a non aerosol starch now. I found it at Walmart. It's a big bottle for $1.89. It is lavender scented. The Mary Ellen Best Press is good but too pricey for what it is.

Home made spray starch...

I heard of people making homemade spray starch and adding a small amount of clear vodka to help it last longer, i thnk about 2 oz of vodka to a recipe similar to this site:

http://tipnut.com/homemade-lavender-starch-recipe/

I havent tried it, i like Niagara its $1.39 for a big can and lasts me a long time.... I saw the last time i got starch in the store a non-aerosol spritzer next to the Niagara, but they hadnt put a price on the product or the shelf, i checked the front 5 items, so didnt buy any. But I like Niagara.