10 Surprising Uses for Cornstarch

There is hardly a household in whose kitchen cornstarch is not readily available. It is used to thicken sauces, for creams or to mix with flour and thus give a very loose touch to cakes and tarts, but it also has many other uses at home. Cornstarch is an all-round product With a multitude of uses that will surely surprise you.

Potato starch is not such a frequent product, but its applications outside of culinary recipes are also very wide and similar to those of cornstarch. Attention to these 10 totally surprising uses of cornstarch and potato starch at home:

1. Cornstarch to remove stains of all kinds

a good way to remove ink or blood stains from clothing is to make a paste of water and cornstarch and rub it on the stain.

Let the mixture dry well in the sun and brush it on. If necessary, you can repeat the process and then launder the stained item as usual. This remedy works well because starch is a good degreaser and washes away dirt.

You can too remove all kinds of stains from carpets with starch. To do this, sprinkle the pure powder on the stains, rub them with a clean cloth and leave the cornstarch to work for about 15-20 minutes. Then simply vacuum, and in most cases the stain will be gone.

Starch application will also work well if there is grease stains on the walls or on the floor. Proceed in the same way as to treat stains on the carpet: apply the cornstarch with a cloth, rub, clean and that’s it.

2. Polish wood or metal with cornstarch

Cornstarch is great for polishing. for a effective furniture polishing, rub them with starch and a soft cloth, then buff them with a clean cloth to a high shine. The same method even works for polishing cars!

3. Clean silver with cornstarch

You can also use starch to make your own silver cleaner. For this you will have to make the paste based on starch and water again. To clean silver objects, rub them with the paste, let them dry, remove the paste with a rag, and polish the surface with a soft cloth.

4. Non-Toxic Cornstarch Craft Glue for Kids

It is very easy to make a nontoxic craft glue, which is even edible and very durable with cornstarch. Young children tend to put everything in their mouths or lick their fingers. For this reason, the use of traditional adhesives is not recommended when doing crafts with your children. Here you have the cornstarch glue recipe for children:

Ingredients:

55 g corn starch 1 tablespoon white vinegar 1 teaspoon salt 500 ml boiling water 1 small saucepan 1 jar with screw lid

Elaboration:

Put the hot water, vinegar and salt in the saucepan and stir until the salt has completely dissolved. Add starch and stir. The starchy mass is still hard at first, but if you stir it constantly, it dissolves quickly and turns into a thick milky liquid. To avoid lumps, it is advisable to first stir the starch in a little cold water and only then add it to the hot water (reduce the amount accordingly). Heat and stir continuously so that there are no lumps. Allow to thicken over low heat, stirring constantly, until everything has turned into a yogurt-like mass. Remove the pot from the stove and pour the glue into prepared jars while hot. Close the lids while they are still hot, as you would when canning jam.

Filling two small jars, you will always have an unused vacuum-sealed supply and thus increase its durability

5. A trick to undo knots

How many times have your shoelaces gotten tangled in such a way that you couldn’t undo them? If you apply starch to the knot, the cord will slide better and loosen enough so that you can easily untangle it.

6. Cleaning and deodorizing stuffed animals with cornstarch

Children often have a favorite stuffed animal that they take with them everywhere and it looks or smells dirty. Some stuffed animals can be put in the washing machine but others cannot, in this case put these stuffed animals together with some starch in a bag, close it well and shake vigorously. She leaves the stuffed animal in the bag for 24 hours, then vacuum it well. The starch absorbs both greasy dirt and bad odors and makes the cuddly toys almost as good as new, without washing them.

7. Homemade deodorant with cornstarch

If you sweat a lot during physical activity, it is best to powder the armpits with cornstarch. Prevents excessive sweating and at the same time eliminates the smell of sweat. In the same way, you can deodorize smelly gym bags and athletic shoes.

8. A remedy against pain

Cornstarch is also a good help to prevent foot pain. Yeah you sprinkle the inside of your hiking socks with cornstarch, you reduce friction and prevent blisters and sores on the feet. It is also an indispensable aid if there is friction between the thighs.

9. To relieve sunburn and mosquito bites

Have you been lying in the sun for too long or have you been stung by a wasp or mosquito? Make the starch and water paste again and spread it over the affected areas. When dry, wash the area gently with lukewarm water. You feel immediate relief.

10. Cornstarch for oily hair

If you have dirty hair and don’t have time to wash it, sprinkle a little starch on the hair, let it act for a moment and brush it vigorously. You can also use the same method with your dog: sprinkle the powder on his fur and then brush it; Your pet’s coat will shine again without you having to bathe it right away.