Has anybody made homemade spraystarch. Have you had any problem with it.

never made any. Can you tell us how to make it?

You know, I was just thinking the same thing last night. I don't use starch often but when I do it's usually for a big project. I have a can of spray starch but it's all gummed up. I thought that if I made my own spray/spritz starch when I needed it, it would save me the unclogging the spray can problem. I'll be watching to see if others make their own starch.

Yes I have made it. How stiff you want your project contols your water, starch ratio. I generally use a half and half, be sure and shake it up before each usage to blend the starch and water. Hope this helps you. I love the spray rather than can, saves so much money. Wal mart bottle of starch over spray cans, will last a lifetime.

Rita

Becky, I found this blog this morning. Here's the link to how she makes her starch. Her blog has lots of fun info on it!

http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2...berry-pie.html

I think I will make some as I don't like the flaking I get from canned starch and she says this doesn't flake.

I used to make my own but it kept clogging up the sprayer. So I bought the liquid and just mix it up now. Much easier on the sprayer and I add lavendar to it so it smells good.

I've made it, just water and cornstarch. Don't make a lot because it will start to smell odd in about two weeks. It's so cheap to make it's okay to make new. If you use more then 1/2 teaspoon of cornstarch per cup, it will scorch on your iron. I couldn't find a fine spray bottle that had the very fine mist. So I use an empty bottle that had spray hair conditioner. It's a very fine misting. I use the concentrated liquid starch and mix it for heavy starch. I like Niagara Spray Starch the best, it does not flake at all.

I use Niagra Spray Starch, and it doesn't flake. I have used it for years. I wash my fabric, then Iron it dry, then put a light coat of starch on and iron. Makes it nice for cutting.
and have never had a problem with flaking or with it getting on my iron.

I use a tablespoon of cornstarch to two cups warm water put in essential oil (flower) shake it up. You need to shake it everytime you use it. The best way to use any starch is to let it penentrate the fabric before you iron it. You need to put it in a spray bottle. I also buy a bottle of starch and mix it. If the sprayer becomes clogged put it in hot soap water and it will on clog. Make new every couple days it get old.

I used to make mine all the time but I switched to purchasing Sta-Flo by the jug. You can buy this very cheap at WalMart or a grocery store.

I mix mine 1/2 starch and 1/2 water and put in a spray bottle.

The homemade worked fine but it would mold in the bottle if kept very long. This doesn't happen with the Sta-Flo. Also, I heard some peole say with the homemade starch it should be washed out of the quilt after completing it to prevent bugs. I never had a problem with bugs but something to think about.

Barb

Does the essential oil hurt the fabric in any way? I love lavendar and would love to add it to my starch.

I read that you should add vodka to the mix if you use essential oils in water. It stabilizes the mixture.

My mom used to keep her starch in the fridge to make it last longer.

No essential oil doesn't hurt the fabric.

WOW - y'all are ambitious! Because of time restraints, I won't be making my own starch for a while. I don't like flaking either. I use Mary Ellen's Best Press and I buy it by the gallon.

Bookmarking this one - I'm going to try the homemade. Every penny saved, counts!

i leave out the oil

I like Bella Boo's recipe... but I'd rather put the whiskey in me... and use cornstarch and water in the bottle! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

:thumbup:

When using Niagara spray starch be sure to wash out the little spray tip each time. I also blow on the hole to get the water out.

Vodka is a preservative.

you can also buy concentrated liquid starch and add however much water you like. i like 50/50. shake it before you mix it and before you use it. wash out the nozzle regularly.

I have made my own from dry starch, per my Grandmother's instruction, for the "anti-flake" reasons as well but was THRILLED when I found Niagra Spray starch at WlaMar the other day with the "New: Will not flake on dark fabrics" version!
I have it and it really works!
I found the homemade kind should be made in batches you will use up within a week or so, or it gets really gummy. Perhaps the wrong recipe but, for a couple of bucks, I'm stickin with the new Niagra.

Wow what a great topic! So now I have a question too. I iron all our shirts which are mostly cotton as well as my quilt pieces so I use a lot of starch. I was mixing my own (which works great btw) but my problem was with the sprayer. Everything was getting too wet and took forever to dry with the iron. Anyone who irons shirts every day knows they want to get through it as fast as possible. So I have gone back to buying the spray stuff in a can but I'm not keen on inhaling whatever is in there to keep it from clogging up and thickening in the can (my lungs must be smooth as silk by now). All the various spray bottles I have used so far haven't had as fine a spray as I would like. So....which bottles do you all use?
Heidi

ME TOO Love Best Press, and when Joann's has a 50% off coupon, I order a gallon from their web site.......

I only use best press too! It smells nice..no gumming and no worries!

I buy my bottles in the garden section of WalMart or the Dollar Store. They are adjustable for the spray. If they do clog, take them off and soak in water or blow them open. I don't have many problems with them. My biggest problem is getting them too close to my iron and melting a hole in them! I melted my 120" tape measure this week.

Somebody said adding some alcohol to spray starch will keep it from going moldy...read it on a forum somewhere...

Spray Starch, Homemade


Boil 1 quart of water. Dissolve 4 Tablespoons of liquid starch into 2 cups of cold water; add to boiling water and return to a boil, then remove from heat immediately; add 2 more cups of cold water. Starch should be clear and not milky. Place it in a mist spray bottle and store in the refrigerator. Cost about 2 cents a quart. Clean the iron with a wet terry towel.

By Ricky Tims
I use this starch but make 1/2 a batch and use more liquid starch depending what I want to use it for.

What great information! I just read the thread about Mark Lipinski and I think he had the recipe LeeLee posted (or a similar one) in the quilt magazine sometime over the summer. I spent a month at a friend's place and she suggested I look at the magazine because I'd love the guy who wrote it. I found it very interesting and highly entertaining!
Thanks for the recipe ... can't wait to try it.
DI

Yes, I make it all the time, and no, I have had no problem with it. I was told that you should only use it for articles that will be washed frequently since it is made with cornstarch which might invite "critters" like moths and stuff. However, I have had no trouble with it so far and it sure saves a lot of money. It's best if you keep your homemade starch in the fridge and don't make too large a batch at one time. The thing I like about it is that you can tweak your recipe to make it a lighter or heavier starch.

I found the Niagra spray starch at our Target and save my bottles when they are empty. I use them for water when ironing, etc. I may use one for homemade starch.

my Mother used to boil a potato and strain the water, that was her starch. These are the kinds of things you do when money is tight.