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Spray Starch Alternative

Spray Starch Alternative

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Old 01-22-2012, 01:55 PM
  #11  
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I sure wish that I could buy Niagara starch in Canada. I've looked everywhere including Wal-mart. I can't find the big jugs of the liquid starch or even the aerosol. All I can find is the canned spray stuff ($3.29) at the grocery store near the army base and it's not Niagara (something made in China which annoys me no end as we grow plenty of corn in Ontario). My hubby wants to go to Kentucky in February for the farm show and I know what I will be declaring at the border. I hope they don't want to confiscate it thinking that it is for some devious purpose.
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Old 01-22-2012, 01:57 PM
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Personally I love the Niagra. The new spritz bottles are nice. I usually buy the lavendar scent as it appeals to me.
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Old 01-22-2012, 02:00 PM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by Cybrarian View Post
I love Mary Ellen's Best Press but can't afford to use it for everything. So I buy the Niagra that is for dark clothes that doesn't leave flakes. It does work well. Then read on here that many buy the concentrate and make their own. What a flaky mess! So back to using the the 2- Best Press as often as possible. It is Slightly cheaper buying the larger refill but not much. Hope someone has a solution for all of us stretching the budget. I wash mine, but wall hangings and table toppers need the starch to get the look I like them to have.
Lady that runs Quilt retreat Mixes Mary Ellens and 1/2 water and works Maybe try that to save $
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Old 01-22-2012, 02:23 PM
  #14  
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I buy ME Best Press at JoAnn's with a 50% off coupon. They only sell it online and they carry the unscented.
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Old 01-22-2012, 02:29 PM
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I use Niagara in the non aerosol format, works great. I only use it when I'm going to use the fabric and I wash my finished projects as soon as they are done, no bug problem. I do however have scraps that must have it on it, no bug problem there either. No humidity here so maybe that why. I also think it works better than Mary Ellens. Mary Ellens is just too expensive for me and don't like paying that price and don't like any of the scents either.
Some of the "quilt police" types think using starch is just so yesterday. They also think I'm crazy for loving my Viking D1 since they believe Janome is the only machine to use. Interesting that they don't understand why I don't ever have a tension problem. To each his own.
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Old 01-22-2012, 03:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Shelbie View Post
I sure wish that I could buy Niagara starch in Canada. I've looked everywhere including Wal-mart. I can't find the big jugs of the liquid starch or even the aerosol. All I can find is the canned spray stuff ($3.29) at the grocery store near the army base and it's not Niagara (something made in China which annoys me no end as we grow plenty of corn in Ontario). My hubby wants to go to Kentucky in February for the farm show and I know what I will be declaring at the border. I hope they don't want to confiscate it thinking that it is for some devious purpose.
Where in KY? I live in Louisville!
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Old 01-22-2012, 03:27 PM
  #17  
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I use Best Press. I also dilute it 50% - 60% with regular tap water. I get the same results as if I used it full strength and it lasts even longer. I buy mine at Hancock Fabrics and use a Joann's 50% off coupon which make its reasonable.
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Old 01-22-2012, 03:59 PM
  #18  
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Making your own starch is incredibly easy and super inexpensive. I would guess 16 ozs. would be just pennies to make.

Boil 1 cup of water.

Meanwhile . . .Place 1/2 to 1 heaping teaspoon Cornstarch** in a 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup and add a Tablespoon or two of cool water, stir to dissolve Cornstarch.

Add boiling water to dissolved cornstarch, stir thoroughly. Add 1 cup cool water and stir thoroughly.

When cool enough to handle, pour into a spritzer bottle.

Shake well before each spray. This mixture will last 5-7 days then will need to be tossed out (if you even have any left).

**amount of cornstarch you use is a personal choice. The more you add, the stiffer your fabric will be. I personally use 1 rounded teaspoon per 2 cups of water.
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Old 01-22-2012, 09:00 PM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by Shelbie View Post
I sure wish that I could buy Niagara starch in Canada. I've looked everywhere including Wal-mart. I can't find the big jugs of the liquid starch or even the aerosol. All I can find is the canned spray stuff ($3.29) at the grocery store near the army base and it's not Niagara (something made in China which annoys me no end as we grow plenty of corn in Ontario). My hubby wants to go to Kentucky in February for the farm show and I know what I will be declaring at the border. I hope they don't want to confiscate it thinking that it is for some devious purpose.
Shelbie ... I've still be able to buy spray starch in most of the grocery stores and Home Hardware. Forget the brand name .... blue aerosol cans about $3.25-$3.50. There is a heavy duty one in a purple can which seems to have vanished from the shelves.

I've had some of the green cans and haven't really liked them ... check Dollar Tree just over from Fabricland in Orangeville. They had some of the green cans when I was in there recently.

I can just see your DH when you pull up to the border with a trunk load of spray starch! .... maybe it's made from potato starch?

I like the spray sizing, again, only in the USA!
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Old 01-24-2012, 03:57 AM
  #20  
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Niagara and Faultless do a great job. I've never had a bug problem using starch.
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