How to Make Liquid Starch

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Co-authored by Lois Wade

Last Updated: March 31, 2024 References

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Liquid starch has many uses, from sewing, to quilting, to arts and crafts. If you ran out of liquid starch, or if you simply want a more natural option, why not make your own? It is very easy to make and costs much less in the long run. Best of all, it natural and does not contain any of the chemicals that many store-bought starches have.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Vodka and Water

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Try to use distilled or filtered water if you can.^{[1]
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Research source} If you plan on making scented liquid starch with essential oil, you must use a glass bottle. This is because the essential oils will degrade a plastic bottle overtime.
Any type of vodka will do; in fact, many quilters and seamstresses claim that cheap vodka is the best.^{[2]
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You don't have to do this, but it will give your clothes a nice fragrance.^{[3]
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Research source} You can use any type of essential oil you want, but a refreshing scent, such as lavender or lemon, would work best. ^{[4]
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This will mix all of the ingredients together. After a few shakes, the spray starch is ready to use!
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Use the spray starch. Lightly spray the garment after laundering it, then let it air dry. You can also spray the garment before ironing it for a nice, crisp finish. Spray it enough so that the fabric is wet, but not soaking or dripping.
- If you need to starch a large amount of fabric, pour the starch into a bucket, tub, or sink. Dip the fabric into it, wring out the excess water, then iron it. You may need to double or triple the recipe.^{[5]
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- Starch made from vodka and water may not stiffen the fabric as much as starch made from cornstarch, but it's less likely to leave white marks on your clothing, unless your water is very hard. In that case, use distilled water instead of tap water.^{[6]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Lois Wade
  wikiHow Crafts Expert
  
  Expert Interview. 30 July 2020.}

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Cornstarch and Water

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1
Stir 1 tablespoon (7.5 grams) of cornstarch into ¼ cup (60 milliliters) of cold water. Pour the water a cup, then add the cornstarch. Stir the two together until the cornstarch dissolves, then set the cup aside.
- If you can't find cornstarch where you live, use cornflour instead (not cornmeal).
- It's best to make small batches of this starch so it doesn't spoil.^{[7]
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  Expert Source
  
  Lois Wade
  wikiHow Crafts Expert
  
  Expert Interview. 30 July 2020.}
Pour the water into a saucepan, then set the saucepan on the stove. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high to high heat.
Keep stirring while you pour the cornstarch water into the boiling water. Do not remove the saucepan from the burner yet.
You don't need to do this, but it will give your starch a nice fragrance. Choose something that smells refreshing, such as lavender or lemon.
Keep stirring the mixture as it cooks. Boiling the cornstarch will help keep it suspended in the water and reducing settling/clogging.^{[8]
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Once the cooking time is up, take the saucepan off the burner. Let the mixture cool down to room temperature before pouring it into a spray bottle. If you added any essential oils, you must use a glass spray bottle, as the oils will degrade a plastic one.
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Use the spray starch. Lightly spray the fabric after washing it, then let it air dry. You can also spray the fabric just before ironing it for a crisp finish. You want the fabric to be wet, but not dripping or soaking.^{[9]
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Research source}
- If you need to starch a lot of fabric, pour the starch into a bucket, tub, or sink. Dunk the fabric into it, wring it out, then iron it. You may need to double or triple the recipe.
- Keep in mind that starch made from cornstarch may leave white marks on dark clothing.^{[10]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Lois Wade
  wikiHow Crafts Expert
  
  Expert Interview. 30 July 2020.}

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Tips

Place a funnel into the mouth of the spray bottle before adding your ingredients to prevent any spills.^{[11]
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The vodka-based starch is ideal for dark-colored fabrics because it doesn't show up. The cornstarch-based starch is better for light-colored fabrics as it may speckle darker ones.^{[12]
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Add more cornstarch if you want the fabric to be stiffer, and less cornstarch if you want it to be lighter.^{[13]
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Warnings

Cornstarch-based starch may expire over time. If it starts to look or smell strange, throw it out.

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Add 1 tablespoon (7.5 grams) of borax or alum powder to the cornstarch recipe to act as a preservative. Alum will also give your fabrics a whiter, crisper finish.

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