Mary Ellen ProductsAlt 16 Oz Starch Alternative, Lavender Fields,600BP-31

Amazing & leaves no residue.

I really like using Best Press better than regular spray starch (which I rarely use). This starch alternative makes ironing easier, gives a nice finish and smells great. I took a star off because it is pricey and I go through it quickly - not the most economical product

I do not like ironing. Actually, I could probably count on one hand the number of times I iron during a given year. However, recently, after going through my closet, I realized that I have a lot of clothes that I love but simply cannot wear because they are too wrinkled. And given that in the mornings I’m usually rushing to get to work, I rarely have time to iron in the morning. In some cases I’d use the wet washcloth, wrinkled item and 5 minute dyer “ironing” method, which as you can imagine is not always very effective.Enters my need for a nice starch that assists in my ironing abilities. After reading some of the reviews for this product, I decided to give it a try. I’m so glad that I did. What I love about the product is that it’s like ironing aroma therapy for me. I’ve taken time, the night before, to iron various items so that I had something lovely to wear whenever I needed it. I love the scent. It’s a very fresh, clean, sweet scent. It helps to rid my clothes of stubborn wrinkles and leaves it nice and freshly pressed. Being the anti-iron person that I am, doing the ironing has become a fun type of chore.I was concerned about spotting, in particular since the starch is not clear but actually tinted purple. I haven’t had problems with the starch tinting my clothes purple. But I did have an issue with it spotting one of my dresses. It wasn’t a big deal, and the spotting easily washed away, but that was something that I had to keep in mind.Overall, I really love this product. I’ve bought a few bottles of the product and will continue to purchase it. Because of the spotting issue on one of my dresses, I’m taking away a star. I do wish that they offered the lavender scent in a clear non-tinted version, but it is what it is.To recap:Pros:1. The starch helps remove stubborn wrinkles that you wouldn’t get out just by ironing dry.2. I love the delicate lavender scent that leaves my clothes smelling fresh and clean.3. It makes ironing fun and therapeutic for me.Cons:1. It may leave spotting on certain fabric types. In my experience, the spotting easily washed out.2. It would be nice of the starch was clear and not tinted purple.

I started quilting during the Pandemic. I was upset when my go-to starch, which I have been using since college, put burnt marks all over my $70 iron that would release itself all over a white fabric I was using in my latest quilting project.I decided to try this starch alternative after reading rave reviews on quilting blogs. I am glad I did.I was able to safely remove the burnt stains on my iron using a Dritz product before I started using this starch alternative.I love this product. I have NO more burnt starch on my iron and I have been ironing a lot. There are no flakes, either.It is a different product than normal grocery store spray starch. It spritzes on like water and I don’t feel the starchy type hold until it dries, unlike my old starch.I am really confused why anyone used this product to soak an item then, gave it a one-star review. This product is meant to be sprayed then ironed.I am not a big fan of the scent. It isn’t bad but it smells nothing like lavender. I have a lavender bush in front of my home. I know what lavender smells like and normally when a product advertises that it is lavender scented, it smells like lavender. This product doesn’t, though. I have also purchased linen scent and that, too, doesn’t smell like typical linen scented products.The smell is only okay. This company definitely needs help with scents, for sure.The product is still a must-have if you are sewing and ironing a lot!

Have been using this product for years when quilting. Smells great and removes tough wrinkles completely.

I use this on my dark work clothes because there is no white flakes like you get with regular spray starch.

I bought this "starch alternative" in my local quilt shop on a whim, but I immediately became a fan. This is the third time I've purchased it, and I have no qualms about the expense.As a quilter, I do a lot of ironing. Sometimes I struggle to get the fabric to lay flat, or I grumble at the process of getting the wrinkles to actually go away. Starch can help, but it's an icky substance that builds up on the iron.This stuff is different. I can spritz a bit on the fabric, give it a moment to soak in... and I swear it really does make the wrinkles go away faster. Plus, the lavender scent is truly pleasant; it makes the room smell good, but it isn't overpowering.When I realized I had run out, I actually put off a quilting project while I waited for the new bottle to arrive. So yeah, I'm pretty committed to this stuff.

Absolutely love this stuff makes a world of difference in my embroidery and hand quilting projects