Homemade starch problem
#1
Homemade starch problem
I decided to try my hand at making spray starch yesterday, and it seemed all was going well until I actually tried to press my pieces and discovered a lot of the starch got burned into my iron! I didn't have this problem when using Faultless aerosol spray. I decided to give up on homemade and bought a jug of Sta-Flo, though I haven't tried it yet.
So can anyone tell me what I did wrong? I think I used a tablespoon of corn starch to two cups of water, sprayed it on, let it set for a few minutes, then pressed with the heat on cotton setting. (I tried it on a cooler setting later with not much difference.)
So can anyone tell me what I did wrong? I think I used a tablespoon of corn starch to two cups of water, sprayed it on, let it set for a few minutes, then pressed with the heat on cotton setting. (I tried it on a cooler setting later with not much difference.)
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,535
When I make homemade starch, I put the water in a saucepan on the stove. When the water is boiling, I add the cornstarch (mixed with a bit of cold water) to the hot water and wisk. I let it cool and put it in my spray bottle. Homemade starch does not keep longer then 2 weeks for me. I have tried adding lemon juice and alcohol but it still forments eventually.
Sta-flo is the better alternative if you can get it.
Sta-flo is the better alternative if you can get it.
#4
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 16,383
It's hard to get the cornstarch completely dissolved in the water. The iron steams away the water leaving the cornstarch to stick to the iron. I buy powder starch at the Walmart and StaFlo concentrate when I want to make my own stiffness level.
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Alturas, CA
Posts: 9,393
When your iron gets all gunky, it's because when you ironing the starch, instead of ironing the fabric.. I starch every piece of fabric I'm going to work with, at least 2 hours ahead of the time, throw it in a plastic bag, and let it sit, then I'll take it out, either line dry or throw in the dryer for a few minutes, then iron, have never had a problem with the iron getting all gunky then, I do spray mist with water since I don't use the steam on my iron. I use the Sta-Flo and mix 50/50.
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Carroll, Iowa
Posts: 3,477
I use the home made recipe of vodka, distilled water and to make mine stiffer, I had some Sta-flo starch to it. Just made up a gallon last night to soak my fabrics for the next project. Yes, I soak my fabrics and hang them over the sink to dry over night and then iron them the next day. I use a steam iron but still spray mist them with regular water a little. This also lets me know if I have any bleeders in the bunch of fabrics before hand so I usually start with my lightest fabrics 1st and end with the darkest in case they bleed as it discolors the starch mixture which I will throw out once I'm done. I put just enough in the wash tub to soak the fabrics so I'm not wasting too much. I like my fabrics stiff as a board when I'm working on a project with thin strips in them. Next project is a log cabin using 1.75 wide strips.
I used to spray the starch onto the fabric over my ironing board so got a lot of starch build up on the pad which in turn would burn eventually onto the backside of my fabrics. I quit doing that and have washed my pad cover more frequently.
I used to spray the starch onto the fabric over my ironing board so got a lot of starch build up on the pad which in turn would burn eventually onto the backside of my fabrics. I quit doing that and have washed my pad cover more frequently.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Central Alabama
Posts: 884
I use StaFlo all the time, I should own stock in the company. I mix it half with water and it makes all my fabrics for
quilting perfect. Cuts down on stretching when pieces are cut on the bias, piecing it lots easier, etc., etc. Did you get the idea that I starch All my quilting fabrics I cut them out. Yes, before I cut them out because if you starch pieces or block after they are cut out or made they are not a precise.
quilting perfect. Cuts down on stretching when pieces are cut on the bias, piecing it lots easier, etc., etc. Did you get the idea that I starch All my quilting fabrics I cut them out. Yes, before I cut them out because if you starch pieces or block after they are cut out or made they are not a precise.
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 10-08-2019 at 02:58 AM. Reason: shouting/all caps
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