Best Press Question
 

I am fairly new to quilting and have learned so much from QB. I appreciate the generous way members share their knowledge, thank you. I used Best Press for the first time and I believe that I read in a previous thread to be sure to wash the item with Best Press in it as it attracts silverfish. I had a major problem with silverfish years ago and do not wish to repeat it. So, my question is this: do you rinse out and dry the scraps before you store them or store them sealed in plastic? Has anyone had a problem with this?

I have never heard this before about Best Press. But I have heard that starch can attract critters of various kinds (Best Press is not starch, but a starch substitute). This is one of the reasons I use the more expensive Best Press over starch. I'll look forward to hearing what others have to say about it.

I never heard that problem before. Usually when I used starch, it is being made into a quilt, not being place in storage. Only creatures that I have had problem with are ants getting into my iron to the water.

I use magic sizing since it supposedly doesn't attract bugs. I sometimes make a top or parts of a quilt and it sits for months (and I admit, sometimes years) before I get it finished and washed.

I do prewash but don't use starch on my fabric until I am ready to use it. Hence, no storage/bug issues. I also don't maintain a stash per se but what little I do maintain, I figure I'd need to iron it prior to usage anyhow so why starch twice??

I have never heard of a problem with Best Press and insects. I understood it to be any plant based starch. Here is info from Orkin's website about silverfish: "They are especially attracted to paper and damp clothing. Commonly found in stored boxes in garages and sheds.

Silverfish feed on carbohydrates, particularly sugars and starches. Cellulose, shampoos, glue in books, linen, silk and dead insects may be food sources. Have been found in unopened food packages."

Thank you, this is helpful and reassuring.

Thanks for asking about the Best Press. Has anyone tried the vodka recipe (No, not to drink. :-) ) To use as best press. Seems like it would attract insects because it is plant based. Just wondering if anyone has experience?

Once the vodka is distilled there is no potato or anything in it. I wouldn't think it would attract any bugs.

Just wondering where this information comes from. Best Press advertises itself as a "starch alternative", which doesn't necessarily mean it's not starch. The MSDS sheets state that it's in the "starch family".

What is this? Never heard of the vodka recipie, but Best Press is expensive.

The vodka recipes are not starchy unless you actually add starch. In vodka making, the starch is the food that the yeast digests as it is fermenting, and the finished product does not contain any starch.

Here are some useful recipes; #1 is a homemade starch recipe, and #3 is a scented linen water recipe (made with vodka).

http://www.marklipinski.com/Tulip%20Tips/TTcontent.html

I make the vodka solution and love it. I put a drop of essence of lavender in it. Smells great when heat of the iron gets to it. Vodka may be plant based but since it is distilled, I would think bug dangers would be minimal to none.

I bought a gallon jug and on the jug it states that Best Press is safe for storage does not attract bugs, this is one of the reasons I use it. I think it says this on the smaller the bottle too. I hope this helps.<object type="cosymantecnisbfw" cotype="cs" id="SILOBFWOBJECTID" style="width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block;"></object>

Best Press is NOT a starch
 

Best Press is not starch - it is sizing so will not attract bugs. Starch is a food source for bugs so I very rarely use it since I live in Florida and we have lots of bugs!! But I use Magic Sizing in the green can. It's less expensive and Best Press makes me wheeze. So don't worry about storing fabric after using Best Press. Good luck.

See for yourself.

http://maryellenproducts.com/pdf/MSD...%20Press-L.pdf

Use the vodka/water all the time. It's great & cheap!

I was meaning to state what Best Press says on the label, but mistakenly used 'substitute' instead of 'alternative'. If they are a starch, I don't quite understand why they call themselves a starch alternative, as that implies (at least to me) that they are something other than, but serving the same purpose. But I'm happy either way. I love Best Press!

Oh, I see.

Personally, I think they call themselves a "starch alternative" as a marketing ploy. Technically, Best Press is an alternative from the traditional Niagra and Sta-Flo products, but using such terminology sucks in buyers who think they're actually avoiding starch.

Having said that, I also like Best Press - well, one of the scents, that is. But my teen sons tell me they like the smell of the non-aerosol Niagra better, and I like its price, not to mention it's available in my local grocery store, unlike the Best Press.

There seem to be four main points where Best Press differs from products that call themselves starch (based on what I've read here -- I haven't actually used starch myself): You don't have to wait for it to soak in, it doesn't flake, it doesn't attract bugs, and it doesn't stiffen fabric as much as starch does. Maybe it's these performance differences that lead them to use 'alternative'.