Best Press Question
 

Can anyone tell me why Best Press stains some fabrics but not others. Thank you

Are the ones getting stained the lighter colors? Are the stains permanent, or have you tried washing them out?

It's mostly on light colors and it does wash out.

Best Press is wonderful stuff, but did you know that it works equally as well when diluted 50% with water? I don't have any issues with staining either.

I didn't know that but am certainly going to try diluting it as this is about the fourth time it's happened to me, luckily not while working on the same quilt. I love this board! Thank you

I have diluted my Best Press for the past 4 years and it works wonderful and no staining. Although I don't think I have ever had any spotting if I didn't dilute it. . .

Didn't know I could dilute it! Just bought a new bottle and still have the old one, I guess I will split it between the 2 and have twice as much!!! Thanks folks we do learn something all the time.

I didn't know that but am certainly going to try diluting it as this is about the fourth time it's happened to me, luckily not while working on the same quilt. Thank you

This board is certainly a money saver. Thanks for the info on diluting.

I use Best Press by the gallon. I have never diluted it and, so far, have had no spotting. Maybe I am just lucky.

Whew!!! Thanks for sharing about diluting it Craftnut. I am nearly in a panic because I just have a little bit in my bottle and it can't be bought locally. I have to drive about 60 miles to a LQS to get any. At least by diluting it I can stretch it a little farther. Wasn't sure what I was going to do.
God Bless you all for all the help, hints & tips you give on here.

I am just cheap - lol - and have been cutting it 50/50 with water since I bought my first gallon. Before doing that, I never had the problem of staining - but it appears from the posts that you are not alone. The 50/50 works just fine for me. I also use Niagra Spray Starch occasionally in the plastic bottle and cut that 50/50 with water as well when I want to use starch.

Same here - use it all the time and have never had an issue.

I guess I'm just cheap also!!! I went to a class and the well known teacher said if you take Potato Vodka, dilute it 4 to one, put it in a spray bottle it gives the same feeling as Best Press. It has to be Potato tho, that's were the starch comes from. I've been doing it for 2 years now, works like a charm and a wonderful aroma. Never had any staining problems.

I have experienced the staining on white and off-white fabrics, but I thought that it was scorching. I now use a cooler iron when I use Best Press.

I only use the clear/unscented best press and I've never noticed an issue with staining. I do sometimes get spots with the spray starch (Niagara and the other one) when the nozzle gets clogged and doesn't spray as evenly. So far they've all washed out.

Good tip on cutting with water, I'll try that next time I refill.

Cheers, K

Best Press at local stores is expensive, look at the price per ounce. I buy the clear, unscented Best Press at Amazon (free shipping) for $41 a gallon. I then put it in the little spray bottle, filling it halfway, then water to fill the bottle.

Little bottle $10.07 for 16 ounces = 62 cents an ounce
Med bottle $17.99 for 33.8 ounces 53 cents an ounce
Gallon - it is even cheaper now - $37.45 for 128 ounces = 29 cents per ounce
Dilute by half and cut this price in half.

Craftnut: I wonder if Bestpress has a shelf life.

Amazon apparently has more than one entry for the gallon unscented Bestpress. It also sells there for ~$38 (but with wrong picture). Gotta watch Amazon like a hawk for things like that :thumbup:.

http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Ellens-Pr...t+press+gallon

Niagara nows has a non-aerosol spray which I love. It runs around $2.00 and doesn't clog.

I had some staining when it dried rather than being pressed. Never had it happen when I dried with the iron.

I don't think it goes bad, Teresa, at least it hasn't up to now. I know I've kept some around for a year and it was still OK. But I use a Lot of it on charity quilts I do on the LA.

Best Press also goes further when pressing piecing by using the travel size empty hair a spray bottles from Sally's Beauty Supply. The spray is finer and more directed onto just your fabric instead of all over the ironing board.

I too dilute Best Press, but I have been mixing my own starch and putting it in a Niagra spray bottle. Works great and is a lot cheaper than Best Press -- and I can have one bottle of super and one of light (super for when I have bias).

If you watch Hancocks or JoAnns you can get the gallon of Best Press for cheaper. My local JoAnns doesn't carry it in the store. When I am desperate I buy it at Hancocks locally with a coupon. Otherwise get it online with a 50% off coupon. I am going to check in the store today to see if they will ship to the store for pickup for free. I have 2 big quilts and the backs finished that are ready to iron and it will take most of what I have here.

The only "fragrance" that I've had spot is the Peach. I usually use Lavender and have had no problems whatsoever and have used a couple of gallons. I love Best Press. I buy it from JoAnns online when it is on sale by the gallon.

I dilute mine as well. Every penny saved is just waiting to buy fabric. LOL

Love the idea of diluting. And, putting it in a different mister. Does anyone have trouble with the fumes? It seems to make me cough the first time I use it.

The last time I ordered with a coupon from Joann's, I got free shipping with 2 gallons, right to my house. They didn't have the clear, only the blue, but it seems fine and I have seen no staining. What color is the staining? Same color as the Best Press or is it a brown color?

I have purchased bottles of air freshener at the 99 cent store, emptied them and then filled them with Best Press...
Much better misting than the spray bottle that Best Press comes in... The misting is much better than the spraying...

Cindy, is there a particular label that is potato vodka? I am using a vodka, but don't know if it is potato or not. When I asked the guy in the store he didn't seem to understand what I was asking and looked at me like I had just sprouted horns or something. I bought the cheapest priced one that was on the shelves and the vodka that I am using is working, but would like to try the potato based one if I can find it.
Thanks,
Linda

Have you tried the unscented? I can't tolerate much exposure to the scented ones. I use the Best Press both ways, straight and dilute, depending on what the purpose is for. I also just use water, rather than putting the water in my iron.

I have always diluted my Best Press. I have never had it stain, but I think it takes a little longer to iron the fabric dry when you dilute it. It works just as good as full strength and costs 1/2 as much (I'm cheap,too). It does make me cough sometimes, but I just hold my breath while spraying. All the scents make me cough, but not enough to make me stop using it.
Sue

Thanks for all the info. I just bought my first bottle of BP and now I have learned to make it go twice as far. I am just learning a lot about quilting from the board. Thanks a bunch.

Are you sure it is the best press and not your iron spitting?

4 parts Vodka to 1 part water???

In my quilting class, the teacher had us using sizing instead of Best Press. It is less expensive, doesn't stain, and doesn't make the fabric stiff. One of my local grocery stores carries it in the starch section.

I bought lavender Best Press at a retreat. When I used it there, I noticed lavender stains on the white fabric. I was shocked but the owner/coordinator of the retreat said it was impossible. Since I was making a Christmas themed quilt in reds, greens and mainly white, I knew it was the Best Press. Thanks for letting me know I am not color blind or crazy!

Ohhhhh thanks for the tip on the dilution! I love the stuff but try to use it sparingly, now I can be lavish :)

Iron your fabric before spraying it. The heat helps fabric absorb better.
A less expensive alternative to Best Press is Niagara non-aerosol spray starch. I personally prefer this to Best Press.

Thanks for the info diluting it I didn't realize it and bought a new one yesterday. I have the other bottle so I'll split it up. Have to save where we can. Thanks again. Sue