The First Thing You Should Do If You Buy a New Container of Cornstarch

published Nov 2, 2020
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Can of cornstarch on kitchen table
Credit: Joe Lingeman

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: When it comes to keeping your kitchen in order, routine is the name of the game. Sure, you can wait for messes to accumulate, but you’ll be a lot less frustrated in the process—and you’ll simply enjoy your space more—if you implement habits. Luckily, our brains are pretty good at catching onto routines if we spend a little bit of time showing them what to do. 

Some of the most effective (and enjoyable!) kitchen-cleaning routines are serendipitous. You buy something, you open it, you realize it has another use beyond what you bought it for, and you put it to work. Case in point: Using a new bottle of vanilla to deodorize your fridge, or putting your fresh bottle of white vinegar to work on the mineral deposits on your faucet

Credit: Joe Lingeman

Now, we have another fun mnemonic cleaning device to add to your list—and it revolves around cornstarch. While you might keep it on hand for softening chicken for stir-fries, crisping up tofu, making silky pie fillings, and other cooking purposes, there are lots of other ways to use cornstarch in your home—and one of them happens to leave your windows sparkling clean. 

Maybe you already do clean your windows regularly, or maybe you wait until you can’t see through them. Either way, we like to pair the task of cleaning them with opening a new container of cornstarch. This way, you’ll do the chore at least once a year and you’ll be using the best possible cleaner that leaves no streaks behind.

Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Design: Apartment Therapy

See, the best DIY glass cleaner is known as Alvin Corn—with a key ingredient being, you guessed it, cornstarch. You just need ¼ cup rubbing alcohol, ¼ cup white vinegar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and two cups warm water. Put it all in a spray bottle and shake up the solution.

Then, just grab your rag and start spritzing and wiping. You may need to spot-clean your windows before your next cornstarch purchase, but now you’ll have a habit of deep-cleaning them at least each time you bring a new container home from the grocery store!

This post originally ran on Kitchn. See it there: The First Thing You Should Do with a New Container of Cornstarch