I'm not a starcher or a prewasher, I do press and use water in a spray bottle now and then. I wouldn't mind if I could find an unscented spray starch that was cheap but all the grocery store and big box stuff is full of fragrance and I hate the smells of those so I just stick with water. When my project is quilted and bound I throw it in the washer with a few color catchers and then put it in the dryer, then wrap it for gifting. Try different things and see what you like and then go from there!