Starch, which comes from plants and tubers, has both culinary and commercial uses. Perhaps the most common sources of starch worldwide are corn, potatoes, rice and wheat. In the food industry, starch may be used to thicken a soup, or it may be used as an additive to a breakfast cereal. Commercially, starch may be used to make paper or to launder or stiffen clothing.

Making your own starch is relatively simple and inexpensive. If you want to make starch for laundering purposes it will only take a few minutes. Moreover, the ingredients you will need will cost far less than a can of aerosol starch spray. In addition, it has no added preservatives that can damage clothes and is completely biodegradable.

There are a number of different ways to make starch for clothing. Experimenting may be the best way to discover which method gives you the crispest collar. To make starch using everyday cornstarch, you'll need, one heaping tablespoon (about 15 mL) of cornstarch, half a quart (one pint or 473 mL) of cold water, and a spray bottle.

Add the cornstarch to the cold water and stir until it is completely dissolved. The solution will be cloudy, but there shouldn't be any clumps of cornstarch visible. Pour the mixture into the spray bottle and use with the fine-spray setting. Always shake the bottle before spraying. A cornstarch-based spray will give you a very stiff finish; if you prefer an even stiffer finish, try adding one additional teaspoon (about 5 mL) of cornstarch at a time until you get the result you want.

If you prefer a softer finish, you can make starch using potatoes. You will need: one potato, boiling water, a heat-resistant bowl, and a spray bottle. Wash the potato and peel it thoroughly. Place it in the bowl and cover it with boiling water; let it sit overnight. Strain the liquid to remove any solids and pour it into the spray bottle. This starch is perishable, so you will want to use it within 48 to 72 hours.

Starch is a multi-purpose laundry tool that can help keep wrinkles at bay as well as prevent dirt and sweat stains on collars. It also helps set fabric into place, which can ease ironing and keep pleats in place.

To get the best results from your starch, make sure that you let the solution sit on your clothes for about one minute; that will prevent any white marks from forming on your clothes. Using the steam setting also helps starch set properly.