Cornstarch is commonly used as a thickener in dishes like pudding, sauce and soup. But don't limit yourself to using cornstarch in the kitchen. Instead of whipping up gravy, channel your inner MacGyver and break out cornstarch to polish silver, fight stains and much more.
View the gallery above to discover unique uses around the house for cornstarch.
To learn more about unusual uses for ordinary objects, check out Unusual Uses For Aspirin and Unusual Uses For Nail Polish. Happy homemaking!
Photo Credit: flickr/Francis Storr
Tags: Unusual Uses
Polish Silver
You can make your old silverware sparkle like new with the aid of cornstarch. First, mix up a paste of starch and water. Use a soft cloth to apply it over your silver. Let it dry, then buff the piece to a beautiful shine.
Photo Credit: flickr/Avital Pinnick
Grease Stains On Fabrics
To remove stubborn grease stains from fabric, blot as much as you can with a cloth and sprinkle some cornstarch over the stain. Let it sit for ten minutes, then shake it off. To break up the grease, dab the stain with white vinegar. Launder as normal.
Photo Credit: flickr/Esther17
Grease Stains On Leather
For stains and spills on leather, sprinkle the spot with some cornstarch and let it sit overnight. Brush it away in the morning. The cornstarch should absorb the grease.
Photo Credit: flickr/Fauxla
Clean Up Furniture Polish Residue
Sometimes after polishing furniture, a little bit remains on the surface. Soak up this residue by lightly sprinkling a little cornstarch on the furniture. Wipe clean and buff. The cornstarch will absorb the excess oil and leave you with a perfectly buffed piece.
Photo Credit: flickr/Roadsidepictures
Clean Windows
Liquid dish soap and cornstarch make for a budget-friendly window cleaner. Mix a teaspoon of soap and a teaspoon of cornstarch into a gallon of water. Make sure to mix well and apply to the windows with a clean sponge. Squeegee and wipe dry for a streak-free shine.
Photo Credit: flickr//lguanasan
Clean Sticky Playing Cards
Pop the cards into a paper bag along with a couple of teaspoons of cornstarch. Shake the bag, then dump the cards onto a towel. Wipe the cards down.
Photo Credit: flickr/ccarlstead
Freshen Up Carpets
Sprinkle cornstarch over the surface and let it sit for half an hour. Then vacuum the carpet as normal. The starch will draw out odors and dirt, cleaning and freshening in one quick step!
Photo Credit: flickr/Sam Howzit
Iron Clothes
Out of spray starch? You can give your clothes a crisp, clean look by ironing with cornstarch. For a homemade spray starch, mix a tablespoon of cornstarch and a pint of water. Put the solution in a spray bottle. Shake well, spray on your clothes and iron as usual.
Photo Credit: flickr/a.drian_
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