When I ran across this recipe for making homemade liquid starch I was ecstatic as starch is one of those things that I just can't do without when ironing. Not only does using starch make ironing easier, it also gives clothes that crisp, clean, fresh from the dry cleaners looks. Starching your clothes when ironing also helps to preserve your clothes as the dirt sticks to the starch and not the fabric. This homemade liquid starch recipe is quick, simple, and dirt cheap. It also gets a big high five due the that fact that it's safe and non-toxic as opposed to commercial starches that contain formaldehyde.
What You'll Need:
1 Tbs. cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water
3 3/4 cup tap water
2-3 drops of fragrant essential oil or lemon juice (optional)
Mix It Up:
Bring 3 3/4 cup tap water to a rolling boil.
While waiting for water to boil, mix the tablespoon of cornstarch into cold water. Stir constantly until cornstarch is completely dissolved.
Once water boils, slowly stir in cornstarch mixture.
If using essential oil or lemon juice, add to mixture and continue to stir for one minute.
Remove from heat and let cool.
After cooling add to a one quart spray bottle.
If you like this recipe, be sure to leave a comment or subscribe to my feed to stay up-to-date with future homemade cleaning recipe articles. Happy Ironing!
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Your home made starch recipe reminds me of the good old 80’s. My mom used starch to “treat” my uniform so that when it is ironed, the cloth will become as what you’ve mentioned here, “crisp” and does not wrinkle. It does save electricity. This recipe certainly brings nostalgia!
Ahhh…the good old days:)
i have been using lime juice as a fragrance and not lemon.
many thanks for educstion
Lime juice…what a great idea! Thank you for the tip.
hello i have been on heaps of websites how to make liquid starch but they all dont work i dont wnat to waste ingedients so does it really work how to make liquid starch …
Yes, Rose…this really works. The key is to “boil” the water and to make sure the cornstarch is completely dissolved. You should end up with a very clear liquid.
hello m’am i have 2 questions. Do you use this recipe the same way any other commercial liquid starch is used? and How much of the recipe is used for the laundry? as in a ratio or does it matter?
Yes, I use it just as I would when if I had purchased starch from the store. I just spray on the clothes and iron as normal. I’m not sure about actually using it in the laundry and what the ratio would be, but you piqued my curiosity and will definitely have to play around with it and come up with an answer for you.
Thanks Pinky, I intend to try this recipe out to make cut fabric flowers stiffer. I'll put up a how to on my site and attribute the recipe to you once I've completed my samples and tests. Thanks.
Thank you for visiting. I’ll visit your site to see how the testing came out.
Hi
Saw a project on nate that i wanted to try and you need liquid starch ,and i couldnt find it anywhere in 3 provinces .The project is adding fabric to a wall in an apt., just need to know that if i make the recipe and add fabric to walls that it can easily be removed.Hope you can help as i was gonna email nate to send me some from the states .Sure hope it works as i have fabric and ready to start my project .thanks again
Someone asked me this very question before and I did a little research and discovered that it can be used for fabric on walls.
I used the starch I made on my heavy lace sheer curtains and it was so much cheaper and worked beautifully. I needed more for four curtain panels. I used 5 tablespoons and about two & a half quarts of water in order to cover them in a small storage container (I find it a waste to put starch in the washer). I just hang them on a clothes line I put up in my back yard and let them drip dry. Fold them over the line lengthwise and the crease doesn't matter. I mean have you ever tried to iron lace sheers? lol…. line drying is the only way to go for curtains or drapes.
LOL…I can’t say that I’ve ever tried ironing lace curtains. Truth be told, I’ve never ironed any type of curtain. I remember my grandmother’s ironing curtains and sheets. Heck, my grandmother, still to this day, irons my grandfathers boxers and t-shirts.