BP, vodka, Or Starch fyi
 

With all the threads discussing Best Press, home mix of voka, spray N starch. A friend told me that takes classes from Carrie Nelson, owner of Miss Rosies quilt patterns always uses: [drum roll please:] Niagara non-aerosol spray starch! sooooooo if it's good enough for Miss Rosie's talented owner I thought I would try it. For a 22oz spray bottle it cost at one of our local grocery stores about $2.48.

I bought a bottle and did a comparison between Best Press and the Niagara. I use the unscented BP, Niagara the 'original' has a fresh linen scent, which I didn't think was too strong and I have a very persnikty nose. [I was not offered an unscented version, so I don't know if they even make one]:eek:

Best Press irons beautifully as always, and I was very impressed with the Niagara. I love BP, but with that being said I absolutely would keep bottles of the Niagara non-aerosol on had, especially at the savings of cost per ounce over BP.
btw: I have made the spray starch/water from scratch and it has many flakies, Niagara non-aerosol has a few flakies, and with BP I don't ever remember getting any.

I mix my own BP alternative with Vodka, Water, and a few drops of lavender essential oil from the health-food store. Works like a charm.

I have always used Niagra and have no problem with it.

That is quite a savings ... I buy BP by the gallon and dilute it 50/50.
Niagara @ $2.48/22oz = $14.43/gallon x 2 (because I dilute) = $28.86/gallon. I want to say I pay around $40 for the gallon of BP.

I may have to check it out. I actually didn't know there was a Niagara "non aerosol". I'm only familiar with the blue aerosol bottles.

But ... is Niagara "starch" or "sizing"? Or am I confusing it with "Magic Sizing" in the blue aerosol bottle .....

Dog House Mom: If you are using the Niagra and it comes to $14.43 for 1 gallon and you dilute it to makes 2 gallons would not the cost then be half as much or $7.22 a gallon? Math is not my forte but that is how it seems to me.

How do you make the vodka one...what's the ratio of vodka to water?
First time I've heard of this.
Thanks for help.

On the bottle of Niagara it says a "non-aerosol spray Starch"......
I found mine at our local 'Fry's' grocery store, not sure where else they carry it.
:o I don't buy alcohol and I've heard multiple times about the vodka, nobody has said 'exactly' what the vodka does??? if it's not a starch or sizing, what does it do to the fabric? TIA for ansering this.

I buy my Niagara at walmart.I really like it,used it for a few years now.

That`s what a lot of us Canadians use. We clear the shelves when we are in the us as we can`t get it here! Gale Guess I should say talking about Niagara

No ... I currently dilute the BP so my price of $40/gallon on BP is actually 2 gallons because of my 50/50 dilution.

ranger, on another thread I think they posted 2 cups distilled water and 2 ounces of cheap vodka.....a few drops of esential oils if you choose.

The vodka makes you not worry about the searching/sizing problem! Oh sorry, that's when taken internally! :)

I use the Niagara starch and it works well, but I have only found the aerosol.

I did not know Niagara had a non aerosol, I will have to check this one out. I have not noticed it in any of the stores
around here.

Ditto. You cannot find ANY starch where I live but Best Press (ex-spensive!) or that awful Faultless. I have never seen Niagara and can only find Bounce in other cities when I travel. The cheap vodka, water and lavender oil works great and costs about .14¢ to fill my old Best Press bottle. This and having limited access to fabric is one of the perils of small town living.

I love the non-aersol Niagara - if nothing else it has one of the best spray bottles around and you can refill it with whatever. I am in the DFW TX area and have found it at Wal-mart, Krogers and Tom Thumb. I have a very sensitive nose also and this one doesn't bother me. Maybe you can ask your local grocery to carry it? If they can get the aerosol don't see why they can't get the other. The bottle says Niagara Non-Aerosol Spray Starch
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I absolutely love Niagara non-aerosol spray starch and it is not available in Canada and I've looked and looked. I can't even find the laundry starch in the big bottles that you have to dilute. Every time that I am in the U.S., I bring back a case or two. The last time I was down to New York state, I bought 36 bottles of starch (shared with quilt buddies) two absolutely enormous bottles of laundry soap and a new iron. I think the border crossing guy was really confused and commented that I must be washing and pressing shirts for the army!

I love the scents in Best Press, but not particularly fond of the price. Been using Niagra Sizing and it's fine, used Magic Sizing and that was good to. both are aerosol and I don't mind that.

I have looked for over a year now for the Niagra non-aerosol but it is not to be found anywhere near me.

I use the majic sizing and it works well for me. I was told not to use starch because it is grain based (isn't starch made from wheat flour?) and will attract rodents. I don't have a mouse problem where I live but I sure don't want to attract them and have them eat up my stash. Come to think of it, cotton is cellulose based so that might attract them too. I guess I need to sew faster to use up my stash....!!

Here's the recipe: 2 cups distilled water, 1/3 cut liquid starch (found at grocery stores in non-aerosol spray bottles), 2 ounces cheap Vodka (remember, the more potatoes, the more starch!) and as an option, 25 drops of lavender, if you so choose. That's all to it! When the mixture is left alone, it will separate. Just shake vigorously before using.

niagara has always made "sizing" as a spray, as well. it's lighter than starch, and i always loved it for the hubster's work shirts--kept him looking pressed and "official" without chafing his neck. i've used it on quilts, and there was no build up. it gave the fabric enough body to be worked with without leaving it looking like a board. i haven't shopped for it for quite a while, but i suspect it's still out there. my stash of it is about gone, so i'll have to begin the hunt, again. i've never used best press, but niagara has served well--both the sizing and the spray starch.

annie123.. Doghousemom is diluting the BP not the Niagara. In essence she is saying that buying BP by the gallon and diluting is 50/50 she gets 2 gallons for $40. 00(cost of the 1gallon BP). which is an $8.86 per gallon savings over Niagara.. I just love my BP and I always dilute it.

I use Niagara when I can find it. Wal-Mart here quit carrying and now just has Faultless. Why is it called Faultless when it is full of fault. Flakes, flakes, and more flakes. I have found Niagara at a Dollar General and I buy what they have. I use a lot of starch as I iron all my DH shirts.

I have always used Niagra (more out of price than anything else) and have loved it all along .. Works great for me !

I make my own and have for years. At about 3 cents a quart...The price is right and it does not flake or leave any residue. I use Sta-Flo starch and it is the cheapest and best thing I have used to date....Just my opinion.

Starch is basically just a carbohydrate: so wheat, corn, rice, potatoes. Any of those things.

I wouldn't store fabric that has been starched, but I don't see an issue with using it short term for projects. (But if you don't quilt your tops for years between making them- I'd rinse them for sure.) Lots of bugs, not just rodents, like to nibble on starchy things.

Thank you. I appreciate the info. Will have to try it!

That's what I mix also. I make up a gallon at a time. No flaking, nice finish to the fabric.

I love the Niagra non-aerosol too! I've gotten it at Walmart and at Foodlion if I remember correctly.

Starch and Vodka....hmmmm.... sounds like a cure for a bad day of quilting. You know, lots of 'un-sewing' followed by some sugary carbs and a bit of alcohol!? lol.

Ive bought magic sizing from dollar tree and I really like it.