It is no coincidence that cornstarch is very present in our kitchens. This ingredient makes it possible to bind and thicken many recipes: sauces (eg bechamel sauce), soups, desserts, cheese fondue; etc However, you would be wrong to consider cornstarch only as a thickening agent to obtain a smoother and thicker texture on the plate (and without gluten!). Find out how corn flower has more than one trick up its sleeve through these ingenious and clever uses of this essential in the kitchen.
1) A window cleaner that does not leave streaks
Tired of rubbing for hours to discover a result that is not perfect and full of traces? Next time, mix 500 ml of water with 1 tbsp of cornstarch and 1 tbsp of white vinegar and spray this solution on your windows before wiping with a microfiber cloth or rolled up newspaper. For your bay windows, you can also dilute 2 tbsp of cornstarch as well as 150 ml of ammonia and 150 ml of white vinegar in a bucket of hot water. Finally, we gave you an anti-marks recipe based on alcohol, vinegar and cornstarch. With these recipes, your windows will be spotless !
2) Maizena to starch natural shirts
Starching a fabric allows it to hold up well after ironing. This thus makes it possible to obtain a much smoother and cleaner result when ironing shirts. In short, it greatly facilitates ironing! To do this, there is no need to buy a commercial product. Direction the kitchen to dilute 3 tbsp of cornstarch in 1 liter of water in a sprayer. If you wish, you can add 3 drops of an essential oil of your choice to flavor your product. Then shake the bottle well and spray before ironing.
3) Cornstarch to remove blood or greasy stains
There is no shortage of effective tips against bloodstains. However, when you’re limited on the level of ingredients in your cupboards, it’s good to be able to rely on that good old packet of cornstarch! Against a stain of blood, form a soft paste with water and this fine powder, then apply everything on the blood stain. Then let it dry in the sun for at least three hours and repeat if necessary. And good news: it also works on ink stains. For remove greasy stains without Sommières clay, you can also sprinkle some starch on it, let it act for 20 minutes for good fat absorption, then brush or vacuum with the vacuum cleaner. Simple, natural and very effective.
4) Cornstarch to make the silverware shine
For shine silver jewelry or silverware, rub them with a damp cloth soaked in a water-starch paste. Then let dry and use a soft cloth to gently buff the treated surface and remove excess powder.
5) Make a non-toxic paint for kids
When you have very young children, it is always more reassuring to make creative workshops using natural ingredients, both for glue and paint or modeling clay. Thus, if they put them in the mouth, they are not likely to get sick. For painting, cornstarch (to be melted in water and heated over low heat until the desired texture and thickness is obtained) is ideal. Once the base is successful, all you have to do is separate it into different bowls and add food coloring to it to create colors. This paint can also be used for paint your animal footprints on a canvas without intoxicating them! The result is adorable.
6) A dry shampoo with cornstarch
There are different dry shampoo recipes to make depending on your hair color. However, cornstarch often remains the key ingredient. In fact, it allowsabsorb excess sebum that leaves hair greasy and she very easy to remove without leaving a white residue to brushing. For best results, in an airtight jar, mix 30 g of cornstarch or cornstarch with 30 g of baking soda (for blondes) or 30 g of cocoa powder (for brunettes). You can then add 10 drops of an essential oil of your choice if you wish. Then, just apply, leave on and brush on.
7) The top to deodorize and dehumidify shoes
To eliminate bad odors and moisture that promote athlete’s foot, sprinkle this powder in your shoes and leave on overnight. When you want to wear the treated pair, you just have to tap the powder and brush if necessary.
8) Starch against creaking floors
Sprinkle cornstarch between the squeaky slats and sweep to remove the excess and help the powder penetrate the cracks. Thus, the friction will be less strong as well as the noises during walking.
9) Soothe the skin with cornstarch
Itching, baby’s diaper rash, eczema, sunburn, mosquito or insect bites… Whatever the case, you can use starch to reduce skin irritation. You can apply it in several ways, either by sprinkling it on the skin or by mixing it with cold water to form a soft paste to be applied with a cotton ball. You can also add a cup to your bath if you have dry skin that feels tight for a moisturizing and soothing effect.
10) To prepare fluffier omelettes
Do you feel like going back to Mont-Saint-Michel to enjoy the beauty of Normandy and devour an omelet from Mère Poulard, but you can’t? In that case, do yourself a favor by returning your fluffier and fluffier omelet by adding a quarter of a teaspoon of this powder per egg, then beating the egg before putting it to cook.
11) Eliminate cockroaches with this miraculous powder
Mix plaster of paris with cornstarch in equal amounts. Then, spread this mixture in the passage areas and holes where the cockroaches live to put an end to the invasion.
12) Deodorize carpets or rugs with cornstarch
Baking soda is excellent for deodorizing bad odors on a rug or carpet. However, if you don’t have any left, you can replace it with cornstarch to revive their beauty and neutralize unpleasant odors. Just sprinkle it on the areas to be treated in small quantities, leave to act for about 30 minutes, then vacuum to eliminate the powdery effect.
13) An ingredient of choice for a homemade deodorant
If you make your own deodorant, don’t forget to add a little cornstarch to it. It has the advantage ofimprove the effectiveness of deodorant by absorbing moisture !
14) Make a face powder for successful makeup
Corn starch helps smooth dilated pores and make makeup last longer without shine. It is therefore an ideal homemade finishing powder to fix make-up, which replaces commercial translucent powder. All you have to do is apply a very fine veil with a powder brush or a kabuki. Just avoid using it alone on dark skin so as not to have a white effect! Also know that you can get a healthy glow and use it as a blush or bronzer by adding hibiscus powder, ground cinnamon, cocoa powder or all three until you achieve the desired color.
15) To remove excess wax from furniture
You had a heavy hand on the wax and some of it didn’t absorb. In this case, sprinkle cornstarch on the areas in question and wipe with a clean, dry cloth. This will polish the surface smoothly and achieve the desired result.
16) The secret to matte nail polish
You want a matte effect without buying an expensive top coat that you will use little ? In this case, get the desired result with your cornstarch! All you have to do is pour a little varnish on a small plate or a post-it and add a little cornflour. Then, immediately apply this mixture on your nails and let it dry.
17) Deodorize Old Books and Remove Mold
Sprinkle this powder on the pages and let it act for several hours, or even overnight. This will allow toabsorb humidity and musty odor. Then remove the powder with a soft brush. You will see: your books will be like new again!
18) Dry Pet Shampoo
We talked earlier about its use on the hair. However, it can also work for your pets for clean and deodorize their coat without having to wet their hair. To do this, mix equal parts baking soda and starch, sprinkle this powder on his fur and rub to make it penetrate into the hair. After 30 minutes, you can brush your cat or dog to remove everything.
19) Clean lint and cards with cornstarch
In a plastic or kraft paper bag, slip a stuffed animal and a handful of starch. Close everything carefully and shake to cover the plush with powder. Leave for a few hours to overnight before brushing or vacuuming the toy in question. You can also clean up your playing cards in the same way. However, instead of vacuuming or brushing them (which could damage them), prefer to wipe them with a clean cloth to remove dirt and grease.
20) To improve the grip of your tennis racket or golf club
To increase the grip of your tennis racquet by reducing the effects of sweat and heat, sprinkle the handles with a little cornstarch. Thus, the sleeves will stop slipping.
