I use Faultless spray starch. I have used Mary Ellen's and liked it, but it is too expensive to me. I estimate how much of the fabric I need to cut and I spray all of it at once. I fold the sprayed fabic over and over as I spray then let it sit for a couple minutes (or longer if I am doing something else). This gives the starch time to soak into the fabric so I don't get flakes on the fabric or starch burned on the iron. If I get in too big of a hurry and get burned starch on the iron, it is not difficult to clean it off. I can sometimes get it off while the iron is still hot by rubbing the iron on the edge of my board. (May not be the best method, but works for me...LOL) After it is cool, you can clean it with a product made for cleaning irons or, from what I have heard, just white vinegar.