I don't know where I read this - could have been on this board. It was about cheap hairspray and using it instead of temporary adhasive spray. I bought the cheapest I could find and tried it on a small lap quilt. It worked fine. Of course, it washed out with no problem. I'm going to try it on a larger piece to see if it holds just as well , but it does seem to be sticky enough. As you know it's waay cheaper than a "proper" basting spray!!
If this was a posting by a board member then, thankyou very much.

So, what brand did you use?

what a great idea. We know that washes out!

Try some on scraps first :D:D:D
Remember using hair spray to take out ink? It may also work to remove dye from fabric :wink:

That's so funny Amma....that was my first thought too! I have used it to take out ink many times and it works great so you have to wonder....hmmmm...be careful. Cool idea though!!

It is flamable so be careful.

LOL you read my mind. After I read the initial post I thought of the same thing and how irrate someone would be if that happenned!

Explosive blessings, abundance and inspiration to you all!
- The Creative Seamstress

oh..well thsta is a good idea....I am wondering wouldn't any spray adhesive be flammable as well?

Great tip. Thanks!
I agree with Charisma, wouldn't they all be flammable??

Hey, cotton fabric is flammable. I lit a selvedge the other day and it went up in flames.

funny thread

I've also wondered about making baby quilts with nice pristine cotton without the added fire retardant chemicals. Yuk. What to do?

Check the main ingredient in 505 Spray and then the main active ingredient in Aqua Net hairspray. Exactly the same ingredient. Also from the back of the 505 Spray can: Caution: Extremely Flammable.

You do realize that you have no real way of knowing if all those chemicals did wash out right.....

Thanks for the tip. I've never used a basting spray before but I learned something about taking out ink stains.

No way! Seriously?????

Thank you for sharing the idea.

I did not know it could double as basting spray but I use it to keep my chalked stencil marks from disappearing when using my longarm. I spray the small area and then stencil...it makes the chalk stay in place. I am going to try that. I buy Aqua Net at .99 a can at Wally World.
Michelle G.in El Paso

That is a wonderful idea. Those spray on adhesives are so messy and are hard to wash off if you get it on your hands. Point: I had used a spray adhesive on a project. Shampooed my hair, then proceeded to blow dry it. The residue from the spray on adhesives was still on my hands and some on this transferred to my hair dryer. To this day, I've been unable to get it off. Found that nailpolish remover works best, but even that takes several applications.

I believe there is lacquer in those sprays. It won't wash out regardless of how many time an article is washed. And to believe that, if it was incinerated, it would be like a stick of dynamite.

Almost any aerosol is going to be flammable. I wonder if using a pump spray would work as well.

What you all are saying is that we are putting flammable spray on our hair then.

Yes I am serious. I was surprised also.

Yes it IS flamable. Many years ago i worked in a hair salon-back in the days when people could smoke anywhere. We would not spray a client's hair while they were smoking.

we used to hairspray as a fixative on art works...especially on charcoal drawings...over time it would ruin the art...just because it lists the same ingredient as the basting spray does mean that it is the same in ratio...nor does it mean that ALL of the ingredients are listed..by law only the active ingredient needs to be listed!

Well, hmmm... I had a couple of thoughts... if you use any kind of spray adhesive, it will leave chemicals in your fabric. However, washing the fabric after basting is the best way to deal with that! What is the difference in using hairspray, adhesive or other chemicals, like, say, laundry detergent? Don't ALL of those things leave chemicals behind? (fragrance, softness, etc,) Yes, it is flammable...so is nail polish remover, and even vegetable oil!
I personally think that this is a great idea! Cheaper and easier to use and remove.
We are careful with other chemicals in our lives, so I guess my point is this- (to the doom-sayers) use what you want to use, be open to new ideas and realize that you can learn something from everyone you come in contact with.
I love being part of this amazing group of smart, creative people. Thanks for the tip!

You are using this instead of spray adhesive..... clever

Good tip. I purchased some 505 but one of the ingredients is Ether. I am extremely allergic to Ether so have been hesitant to use it. I'll try the hair spray on the placemats I am making.

I have been a drug/alcohol counselor for a long time and often warn parents about household items that kids use to get high (known as inhalants). If you will read the back of the aerosol can, you will see that they are flammable because they contain propane and/or butane. I have some cans in my house that say the propellant is DME. I checked it out and that is a form of ether and it too is extremely flammable. The actual product many also contain dangerous chemicals, but it is usually the propellant that is flammable. Did you know that the propellant in whipped cream is nitrous oxide (laughing gas)?

I have no idea if it would be bad for the fabrics over the long term, but those chemicals are the same ones women everywhere spray on their heads, so if you're worried about it in a quilt (AFTER washing) you probably shouldn't use it on your hair, either. And if hair spray is used on art, it is never washed (because washing would definitely damage a charcoal sketch).

Of course hair spray is flammable! Didn't you ever use it to make a flame thrower when you were a kid? Never mind, don't answer that, I'm probably the only one.

Must have been a permanent pen baby son used on a crewel work done by my sister in law cause the aqua net did not work on it ! Ugh

Remember if you girls use the hairspray on ink stains it will run so try and not use a lotof it. You allwere reading my mind as well so I agree with you all.

I have a question about the hair spray idea and also the regular basting spray - Has anyone ever heard if this spraying harms our sewing machines? I have been wondering about that since I started quilting. I know none of us want to do anything to harm our valued-much-loved machines.

Wow! That is a great tip because basting spray is so expensive. I always do mine in the garage with the door open so that I get good ventilation. I worked in a chemistry lab for most of my career. If you follow safety precautions when using chemicals no harm should come to you. But if you have respiratory problems, don't use chemical sprays. I'm 65 and healthy as a horse.

Funny, when I read the words "cheap hair spray" I thought of Aquanet. No wonder it's been around forever. 505 is so expensive. I'm going to give this a try. Also, we've been told to take the 505 outside. But who goes outside (into the wind) to spray their hair?

I've never used a basting spray either, do you spray and press or just spray and stick??????DUH

I would be leery of the hair spray because it does so well on removing ink what will it do to the fabric dye. I have found a spray glue that works well in the craft section . It states it is permanent but not washable, I used it on a small project and it allows you to adjust the fabric just like the temporary one is. I am not home so I am unable to tell you the name of it but it is a major glue brand & found where the regular glues are not in the quilting or notions sections.

Just spray and it sticks. It is movable though. You can take it apart and put it back down again.(without respraying). Works very well. I have not tried the hair spay yet.

To the OP great idea!

I used so much Rave back in the 90's that surley to god if it didn't eat its way into my brain its not going to kill my fabric!

As for it being flammable. 99% of stuff in any home is flammable! I don't worry to much about sprays/cleaners being flammable since I don't make it a habbit of walking around with open flames anymore!

as a hairdresser I just had to laugh at this....we used to joke about the old days when you could smoke in the salon and the lady would light up just as you wanted to SPRAY her...

using hairspray on your hair is NOT the same thing as using it on fabric...#1 fabric made with cotton is considered a living fiber because it absorbs what ever you put on it...washing it does NOT remove all the residues of those chemicals...
#2- your hair is A-washed more frequently, B- oily so it does not get absorbed, C- it does leave a build up over time, ask your hair dresser...hairspray is one of the worst things you can do to your hair, comes after using any HOT iron on it!

I know people will do what they want, but you can try to learn more about what chemicals you are using, because not all of your quilts will go on to live in your home...those used for charity, gifts, etc, might go to a home where those chemicals will be an issue!

What about the spray starch as a "glue"? Does that work? I actually have never used any of these methods & do not want the flame retardant fabrics either. Too many chemicals & don't have grandchildren who are near open flames either. All have central heat/ac homes. More concerned about them sleeping & wearing clothing treated with such chemicals than them catching on fire.