Sara L. Ambarian

Sara L. Ambarian
Copyright 2012
All Rights Reserved
Website: http://condortales.com/bridestouch.html
Liquid Starch, Cornstarch and Epsom Salts-Chemistry meets practical life exercises, arts and crafts.
Article by Sara L. Ambarian
Activities that use simple household items or ingredients can be fun and
educational. A lot of these activities combine multiple layers of learning, such as
measuring and mixing lessons and visible changes that can be observed
scientifically, as well as elements of investigation or creativity.
Another benefit of these sorts of activities is that a lot of us (young and older) have
become increasingly detached from the old-fashioned origins of many common
products. If you cook from scratch, home-can some of your food, knit socks, or
participate in other “old-fashioned” household pursuits, perhaps you have had
people question, “Can you really MAKE that yourself?” If you’ve never had eaten
home-canned jam or worn hand-knit socks, it’s natural that they might seem
surprising to you. So, it’s educational –and often quite gratifying-- for children to
sometimes do things the old-fashioned way.
It is also interesting and enriching to realize the versatility of many common
products and ingredients. Those who cook know that items like flour, sugar, and
salt are labeled “staples” because they are basic ingredients essential to many
different types of food. You don’t just use flour to bake bread, of course. It is also
used in cakes and cookies, pasta, pie crust, the breading on fried foods, gravy,
streusel toppings, and many other recipes. Other items around your house are
similarly versatile, but your children may or may not realize it.
Regular liquid laundry starch, plain cornstarch you use for cooking, and Epsom
salts which you may keep on hand to soak a sprain or bruise are three such
products. Here are a sampling of art, craft and practical life activities using them.
Liquid starch ideas
This is a great free download booklet of liquid starch crafts from Linit Brand
Starch, which includes lace napkin rings, marbling paper for gifts and crafts, play
slime and much more.
http://consumerproducts.malcopro.com/images/MediaGallery/Linit_Starch_N_Cra
fts_Book_small.pdf
The following cute Easter egg garland project from Crafty Endeavor could
probably be adapted for a harvest (think pears) or Christmas (think ornaments)
project, too, with appropriate colors, textures, and presentation.
http://www.craftyendeavor.com/2012/03/08/easter-egg-garland
The Lord Company has a recipe for Wood Dough for Sculpting. This sturdy dough
uses liquid starch to bind together a sawdust and flour mixture which can be dried,
sanded smooth, and painted or stained.
http://www.amonco.org/creative/montessori_fall2.pdf
Get inspired by the season with Autumn Colors Tissue Paper Art Project
http://www.amonco.org/creative5/montessori_fall5.pdf
Here are some other miscellaneous crafts which use liquid starch.
http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/using/liquid-starch
Here is a much more-involved starch project, the Dresser Revamp, from the cute
blog, Come Together Kids. You will find full instructions for transforming a wood
dresser from dark wood to white and pink with butterflies. This project includes a
few phases where kids with appropriate skills could help. Even if they only help
with the decisions about color and pattern, it could be a really fun and educational
family project. http://www.cometogetherkids.com/2012/05/dresser-revamp-withfabric-and-liquid.html
Want to try making your own liquid starch for these projects and general use? See
below!
Cornstarch ideas
This article gives a couple of home-made starch recipes, so you can make your
own liquid starch for laundry uses or the projects above.
http://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-living/articles/104910.aspx
Rae from The Creative Process offers several clay, paint, dye, and other crafting
recipes, several of which use cornstarch.
http://www.netposterworks.com/resources/curideas/craft-recipes.html
Here’s another simple cornstarch craft dough variation.
http://voices.yahoo.com/cheap-three-ingredient-cornstarch-dough-recipe-for455358.html
Another activity that uses a little bit of cornstarch to make something fun is this
“recipe” for Super Balls. Just look at those happy smiles!
http://makingmemorieswithyourkids.blogspot.com/2011/05/homemade-superballs.html
Many home-made fruit pie filling recipes use cornstarch as a thickener. Show your
students that fruit filling doesn’t have to come out of a can. Use fresh or frozen
fruit to make your own.
For a really interesting (and scientific) discussion of the pros and cons of different
thickeners for fruit fillings for pie, check out this great article from
EverythingPies.com. http://www.everythingpies.com/pie-thicken-thickenercornstarch-tapioca-flour.html
This easy make-ahead recipe lets you stock your freezer now with enough homemade pie filling for five pies. It is a great lesson for students to see how a little
extra effort now can save money and time and provide more sweet treats later.
Many kids will also appreciate the superior flavor and consistency of home-made
fruit fillings. Most will enjoy the pride and confidence built by being able to share
their cooking with others and say, “I’m glad you enjoyed that. I helped to make it”.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/apple-piefilling/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=apple%20pie%20filling%20
with%20cornstarch&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe
For a fancier take on apple pie thickened with cornstarch, check out Argo Brand
Cornstarch’s recipe for Apple Custard Pie. This looks like it would make a nice
party or holiday dessert. http://www.argostarch.com/recipe_details.asp?id=497
This last recipe uses only a small amount of cornstarch, but it’s another good
activity that shows students that people used to make many familiar store-bought
items. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/homemademarshmallows-recipe/index.html
To have fun with cornstarch without any mess in the kitchen, you might enjoy the
products from Magic Nuudles, an American company that makes a range of craft
supplies all from cornstarch! I have not used these products, but I am fascinated
by the concept. It promises some neat possibilities for use with students within a
wide range of interests and abilities. Check out their testimonials, project ideas and
gallery of creations. http://www.magicnuudles.com
Epsom Salt ideas
Here is an interesting list of household and personal care uses for Epsom salts.
http://www.saltworks.us/salt_info/epsom-uses-benefits.asp
Who knew? You can paint with Epsom salts (click to expand the ingredient list).
http://www.ehow.com/how_5701668_paint-epsom-salt.html
Crafts by Amanda shows you how to make sparkly Epsom salt luminaries.
http://craftsbyamanda.com/2010/12/epsom-salt-luminaries-some-winter.html
Here’s another take on the luminaries and some other Epsom salt decorating and
gift ideas from the Epsom Salt Council.
http://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/news/articles/inexpensive_holiday_crafts_and_gi
fts_with_epsom_salt.php
If you like the idea of bath salts as a gift, look at this recipe which includes
lavender leaves or other interesting scents http://www.homemade-gifts-madeeasy.com/making-bath-salts.html and this cute Candy Cane Bath Salts recipe.
http://christmas.organizedhome.com/crafts/gifts-in-a-jar/candy-cane-bath-salts
Practical Life Exercise – Dip-Starched Curtains (or other home
textiles), using both cornstarch and Epsom salts
A fresh starched curtain (or doily or other household textile item) is an oldfashioned thing of beauty. It can also be a source of amazement to children. Even
adults may marvel that soaking something in a liquid will make it crisp when it
dries. It IS a very interesting phenomenon!
Dip-starching is so easy that even very young children can help, especially if you
use one of the no-iron methods. The hardest part of all may be being patient and
not fussing with the item until the starch dries!
I recently starched several sets of curtains, all using the same solution, but using
different methods of drying and/or ironing them. Perhaps my experiences will help
you get started.
Dip-Starched Curtains (or other textile items)
1 set of well-pressed, clean cotton curtains
1 cup cornstarch
1 cup Epsom salts
Fill bathtub to 2” deep with
COLD water. (Cornstarch clumps
in hot water.) Add the cornstarch
and Epsom salts, then agitate the
water with your hands until starch
and salts both dissolve. The
water will look rather milky.
Hold your curtain by the top
hem/rod pocket and dip it into the
tub, allowing it to “accordion” as
necessary to barely submerge the
entire piece of fabric as in the first photograph. Do not agitate or try to fullysubmerge the curtain. It should soak through very quickly just laying almost on top
of the surface.
When the fabric is completely wet, carefully lift the curtain slowly out of the tub
by the top again. Hold it over the tub while the excess starch solution runs off of
the fabric. If the size is manageable enough, you can turn it and hold it by the side
seam and/or bottom seam as well to help drain the excess. When the dripping and
weight from the solution lessens enough that you don’t feel it’s straining the fabric,
carefully string the curtain onto a rod or string that will allow it to continue to drip
into the bathtub as it dries. See second photo.
Well-pressed curtains which are
dipped and handled carefully
and then hung on a rod to drip
dry may not have to be reironed, depending on your fabric
and the appearance you prefer.
My washed chintz curtains were
completely dry on the tops in 3
hours. The hems took most of
the day to dry, but had stopped
dripping by the time the tops were dry. I then hung the curtains back in the window
to finish drying, and I never needed to iron them. (The wrinkles at the bottom in
the third photo are because the curtains are touching the windowsill.)
This method worked well for giving a
lot of body to the curtains, but they are
not super-stiff. They also are
somewhat stiffer at the lower hem than
at the tops, presumably because the
starch accumulated more and stayed
longer in that part of the curtain.
By the way, the starch dries clear, so
even up close you do not see any
residue of starch, except the occasional
tiny sparkle, on the darker fabric portions of the curtains.
Other finishing methods for starched curtains/textiles—
Ironing dry--If you take your dipped curtains off the rod when they are still damp
all over, but no longer dripping actively, you can iron them dry (minimal steam
needed) for a stiffer starched finish. Like the fully drip-dried curtains, the lower
edge of the curtain tends to be crisper than the tops.
Potentially, if lower hem was open on the ends like your rod pocket at the top, you
could hang your curtain for a while with the rod through the top, and then switch
and let it hang and dry with the rod through the hem. That might tend to even out
the starch content of the fabric, but the extra handling might also add more
wrinkles. Besides, in some ways, having the hems stiffer than the rod pocket
works out fine.
Using your washer and dryer--You can also soak your curtains in a similar
cornstarch/Epsom salt solution in your washing machine, then use the spin cycle to
remove some of the excess liquid. The damp curtains can then be tumbled in the
dryer for a while, then ironed flat. I tried this technique, but I found that it put IN a
lot of wrinkles I didn’t have with the bathtub dipping.
There is no doubt, however, that because more of the starch solution stays in the
fabric as it dries, this gave a much stiffer starched finish than the drip-dried
curtains had. They just took a fair amount of ironing with fairly generous amounts
of steam to look their best.
Drying flat-- If you use the bathtub dipping method and you have a big enough flat
surface that won’t be damaged by water, won’t need to be used for most of a day,
and won’t be likely to get dirty, you can lay your curtains flat on a towel (or
towels) rather than hanging them on a rod. (I would use the smoothest, most
absorbent towels possible, or perhaps even try a synthetic “chamois” towel, to
minimize the towel texture affecting the finish of the curtains.)
Chances are, you will need to do a little touch-up ironing, due to handling creases
and/or any texture “transfer” from the toweling. However, my guess is that this
would provide you with the very stiffest, least-wrinkled curtain of the methods.
The least starch would drain out of the fibers, but you also wouldn’t be agitating or
wringing the curtain and adding a lot of wrinkles you’d need to touch-up with an
iron later. I cannot prove it, however, because I do not have a flat place that would
fit those criteria.
Remember, if you allow the curtains to dry without ironing, whatever they look
like when wet is what they will look like when they dry stiff. So, be careful to
arrange your curtains neatly on the toweling, fluff ruffles, etc., while they’re still
damp.
Also remember, starching lasts only until the textile gets wet again, and heavy
steaming while ironing will loosen the starch up very slightly. That is good news
if you are not happy with your first attempt at starching. You can steam iron them
if they are mildly wrinkled or tousled. If they really get rumpled during the
process, you can just wash the curtains and try again! Practicing and perfecting
your technique can be an on-going learning experience for everyone, too!
I am really enjoying my starched curtains, and I hope will, too.
*****
These ideas and products above are only the tip of the iceberg. The following link
gives instructions for crochet stiffeners using liquid laundry starch, powdered
laundry starch, cornstarch AND Epsom salt; but it also includes other interesting
methods using other household items, including gelatin, sugar, hairspray, and
more! These are more surprising uses for common items!
http://www.crochetmemories.com/crochet8.php
Also, you might look for a copy of the idea-packed 1980s book, Cheaper and
Better by Nancy Birnes. She tells you how to use cornstarch to make your own
instant pudding mix, perfumed bath powder, a dry carpet cleaner, and sand
sculpture modeling compound. With liquid starch she gives instructions for
homemade paper and even a fun sparkly Christmas “snow” to add to holiday
greens; but there are hundreds of other fun, money-saving projects to try. Most use
fairly common and inexpensive household items and food ingredients I received
this book as a gift 25 years ago, and I LOVE and highly recommend it.
http://www.alibris.com/booksearch?qwork=1031017&matches=21&cm_sp=works
*listing*title
******
Haven’t you had enough ideas for using simple household items for projects yet?
Okay, here are a few more which use plain old table salt, too! Have fun!
http://crafts.kaboose.com/salt-art.html
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/uses-for-salt-childrens-activities-ga.htm
http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/saltcraftsideasactivitieskids.html
******
When the fun is over, there may be a bit of a mess to clean-up. I enjoyed this nice
blog post from LaToya at ChristianMomma.com about keeping perspective amid
the noise, mess, questions, and other parts of an average day with children.
http://heartofthematteronline.com/get-loud-messy-and-down-and-dirty/
Happy experimenting!
About Sara L. Ambarian
Copyright 2012
All Rights Reserved.
Website: http://condortales.com/bridestouch.html
Sara L. Ambarian is an author, designer, illustrator, wife and mother with
professional and personal experience in a wide range of subjects, including: arts
and crafts, fashion, weddings, homeschooling, cooking, nature, and travel.