10 Great Uses for Cornstarch

Cornstarch is a great thickening agent used when making sauces and soups. But did you know it has many other possible uses as well? I bet you’ll learn something new with these 10 Great Uses for Cornstarch!

In fact, it can be used in a lot of simple homemade products to replace things you might be buying at the store! Save money by taking your cornstarch out of the kitchen and applying it to one of these 10 amazing uses for cornstarch!

I love learning new ways to use household items, like all the great uses for witch hazel. Cleaning hacks are so interesting!

10 Great Uses for Cornstarch

1. Wood Furniture Cleaner

You can easily clean your wood furniture without any commercial cleaning products! All you need is an equal mixture of water and cornstarch. Lightly apply that mixture to your wood furniture, then buff your furniture clean.

2. Dry Shampoo

Sometimes your hair or your pet’s fur just needs a quick cleaning. This is where cornstarch comes in handy! To make dry shampoo for your hair, all you need is a few tablespoons of cornstarch. If you’re brunette, add powdered cocoa. To make dry shampoo for your pet, use an equal amount of cornstarch and baking soda. In both cases, sprinkle the dry shampoo over the hair/fur, and massage in. Let it sit for a few minutes, then brush thoroughly to remove.

3. Sunburn Relief

One of best great uses for cornstarch is as a sunburn relief! Just make a paste by mixing an equal amount of cornstarch and water. Then apply that to the sunburned area. Let it dry, then wash it off with warm water. You’ll feel a lot of relief!

4. Remove Burn Marks on Fabric

There’s a chance you can remove an iron burn mark from fabric with cornstarch! Just dampen the area, then sprinkle cornstarch on it. Once the area is dry, shake or brush the cornstarch off.

5. Clear Up Leather Stains

One of the most surprising uses for cornstarch is as a leather stain remover. If you got a stain on a leather couch or a leather jacket, put cornstarch on the stain and let it sit overnight. The next morning, you can rub the cornstarch off the leather item with a damp cloth.

6. Deodorize Books

To get rid of a musty old book’s smell, just sprinkle some cornstarch throughout the pages and let the book sit for a few hours or overnight. Then shake the cornstarch from the pages. The book will smell wonderfully fresh!

7. Prevent Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot is a fungus that grows in warm, moist environments (such as sweaty sneakers!). A great way to prevent it is to simply add some cornstarch to your workout shoes. It’ll absorb moisture, making it less likely you’ll develop Athlete’s foot!

8. Remove Grease Stains from Fabric

To clear up a grease stain on your clothes, sprinkle cornstarch on the stain and leave it for a few hours. Then throw your clothes in the wash. When the washing machine is done, your clothes should be good as new!

9. Homemade Carpet Deodorizer

Another of the many wonderful uses for cornstarch is as a carpet deodorizer! All you have to do is sprinkle cornstarch on your carpet, let it sit for about 30 minutes, then vacuum it up. Your carpet will smell clean and fresh!

10. Homemade Spray Starch

If you are often ironing clothes, making your own spray starch can save you money! Just mix 2 cups of water with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, then bring that mixture to a boil. Let it boil for a few minutes, then turn off the burner and let it cool before filling a spray bottle and using your spray starch. Because cornstarch is white, this spray starch works best on light colored clothes.

Even though these are my top ten Great Uses for Cornstarch, there are probably many more!