How to Make Cold Water Soluble Starch

Making your own starch for fabric is an easy task and can save a trip to the store if you run out of spray starch. It's also a way to save money on your laundry supplies. The starches used for clothing come from vegetables like corn or potatoes, but potatoes require heat to release their starch. It just takes a few minutes to make your own starch and the resulting product contains no chemicals that can irritate people with sensitive skin or who do not want the smell of commercial starch on their clothing. Other people enjoy the scent of essential oils and add a drop or two to the homemade starch.

Cornstarch
Bowl
Spoon (optional)
Cold water
Fork
Funnel
Spray bottle
Iron

Instructions

- 1
  Place between 1 and 3 tablespoons of cornstarch in a bowl. If you see any lumps, use the back of a spoon to crush them or mash them with a fork. If you want a light starch, just use 1 tablespoon. If you want a heavy starch, use 3 tablespoons.
- 2
  Add 2 cups of cold water to the cornstarch and use a fork to vigorously stir the mixture until the mixture has no lumps.
- 3
  Use a funnel to pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Replace the pump and screw it tightly. When you use the spray to iron garments or other objects, shake the bottle and spray the fabric. Let it rest for 30 seconds before ironing it to allow the cornstarch to penetrate the fabric so that you won't have a white, powdery finish on the cloth. Use the steam setting on the iron to create the crispest finish.

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