Emergency Starch

Most people don't use starch any more, but there may come a time when you need it. You won't need to take a mad dash and some cold cash to a store if you have a few grains of rice on hand. White rice works best.

Boil about a tablespoon of rice in a couple of cups of water until the water becomes cloudy, then strain the rice and add the water to a gallon or two of clear water. Dip your clothes or linens in it and dry part way before ironing.

Starch for clothes

You can make your own fabric starch by boiling a couple of tablespoons of rice in a quart of water for a half hour or so, then strain the rice out. Use it warm as it gels when it cools. Pour it into a glass jar to store and just warm it a little when you want to use it again. You'll need to rinse the nozzle of a spray bottle after using it.

Potato starch

Make your own potato starch for soup recipes by boiling a potato in water to cover. Keep cooking it until the water becomes very cloudy, drain and use this for a soup base.