How to Make Liquid Starch

Co-authored by Lois Wade

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

1
Pour 24 ounces (950 milliliters) of water into a spray bottle. 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.
2
Add 3 ounces (90 milliliters) of vodka. Any type of vodka will do; in fact, many quilters and seamstresses claim that cheap vodka is the best.^{[2]
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3
Add 2 to 3 drops of essential oil, if desired. 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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4
Close the bottle and shake it up. This will mix all of the ingredients together. After a few shakes, the spray starch is ready to use!
5
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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  Research source}
- 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

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]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Lois Wade
  wikiHow Crafts Expert
  Expert Interview. 30 July 2020.}
2
Boil 3¾ cups (480 milliliters) of water. 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.
3
Pour the cornstarch water into the boiling water. Keep stirring while you pour the cornstarch water into the boiling water. Do not remove the saucepan from the burner yet.
4
Add 2 to 3 drops of essential oil, if desired. 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.
5
Cook the mixture for 1 minute. 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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6
Allow the cornstarch to cool before pouring it into a spray bottle. 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.
7
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.}

Expert Q&A
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Question

Does it matter which ingredients you use to make starch for clothes?

Lois Wade
wikiHow Crafts Expert
Lois Wade has 45 years of experience in crafts including sewing, crochet, needlepoint, cross-stitch, drawing, and paper crafts. She has been contributing to craft articles on wikiHow since 2007.

Lois Wade

wikiHow Crafts Expert

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

It depends on the color of the fabric you wish to starch. Boiled cornstarch and water works well, but it needs to be made in small batches to prevent spoilage, and may show as white streaks on darker-colored clothing. Vodka and water won't give you as stiff of a fabric, but it also won't show on darker clothing, unless you have very hard water. In that case, use distilled water, rather than tap.
Question

Will the cornstarch and water liquid starch recipe work for slime?

Community Answer

No, the store bought liquid starch has a special chemical in it that the homemade one does not and without that chemical the slime won't activate.
Question

Is this type of liquid starch able to make slime?

Community Answer

It may work. It depends on what else you add. There are simpler ways, such as borax or detergent.

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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