Keep your clothing free of wrinkles with this natural starch spray

Most people enjoy the look and feel of freshly pressed, starched clothing, but store-bought starch sprays contain formaldehyde, which isn’t something you may want to waft around with abandon.

Instead, you can make your own spray starch, which works particularly well on men’s work shirts, tablecloths, napkins and linen.

Most of the materials you need for making your own spray can be found in your pantry cupboard.

Ingredients

• 1 heaped tbsp cornstarch
• 500ml cold water
• 1-2 drops essential oil
• 1 clean spray bottle

Method

1. Mix the cornstarch and water together until the cornstarch is dissolved. 

2. Drop a small amount of essential oil into the mixture for fragrance.

3. Transfer the mixture to a spray bottle and label.

4. Spray on your clothing before ironing.

Directions

Remember to shake your spray starch before applying.

It should last you a few months but if the mixture starts forming mould or becomes discoloured, you should toss it away and make a new batch.

If you start to get starch build-up on your iron, simply iron a cloth dampened with white vinegar to clean it.

By using spray starch, you can enjoy creaseless shirts, crisp collars, perfect linen and neat pleats. It is also great to use on materials for sewing projects.

Do you use spray starch now? Did your mother use it to straighten out your clothing?