How to Iron With Homemade Starch

Use cornstarch to make homemade starch to use when ironing.

Using spray starch when you iron your laundry helps make the process easier and it makes your clothes look crisp and clean. Homemade starch is inexpensive, all-natural and it works just as well as commercial laundry starch. Additionally, when you make homemade starch for ironing you can decide how heavily starched your clothes will be by altering the formula. Best of all, you probably already have the things you need to make homemade starch around your house. Does this Spark an idea?

Things You'll Need

• 2 cups hot water
• 1 tbsp. cornstarch
• 1 tsp. cornstarch (optional)
• Spray bottle
• Iron
• Ironing board

Instructions

1. Mix 2 cups of hot water and 1 tbsp. of cornstarch in an empty spray bottle. Shake the bottle until the cornstarch dissolves completely into the water. If you like your clothes stiffer, or need a heavy starch for collars and cuffs add an additional 1 tsp. of cornstarch to your formula.

2. Turn your iron on and set it on the appropriate heat setting for the item you will be working on.

3. Turn the item you are ironing inside out. Arrange the item on the ironing board so the area which you will be ironing is flat. As you iron you will reposition the item so you work your way around to ironing the entire item.

4. Shake the bottle of homemade spray starch well before each use. Hold the bottle on an angle about 6 to 10 inches away from the item you are ironing and lightly mist the item with the starch. Use more starch on collars and cuffs so they keep shape.

5. Hold the item you are ironing taut with one hand. Use your other hand to glide the iron across the item using short strokes. Keep ironing each section until you no longer hear the sizzle from the spray starch. This ensures you have dried all the starch so you do not have a residue, or build-up left behind. After you have ironed the item completely while it is inside out, turn it back the right way and check to see if any spots need to be re-ironed and starched while they are right side out.

6. Allow the iron to cool. Wipe it with a clean damp cloth to remove any starch residue. Store any unused homemade starch in the refrigerator. Before each use, allow starch to warm to room temperature and shake well so the starch dissolves into the water.

Tips & Warnings

• Before you iron, always check the care label of the item for any special instructions.

References

• DIY Life: How to Make Homemade Starch
• "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Household Solutions"; Melodie Moore; 1998
• "Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House"; Cheryl Mendelson; 2005

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Read this Article in UK English