I've helped dozens of people start their first sourdough starter, and the same three things trip up almost everyone:

1. Using the wrong water

Chlorinated tap water can kill the wild yeast you're trying to cultivate. Use filtered water or just leave tap water out overnight — the chlorine evaporates.

2. Feeding too early (or too late)

Most guides say "feed every 24 hours" but your starter doesn't read clocks. In the first few days, it barely needs attention. By day 4-5, it gets hungry fast. Learn to read the bubbles and the rise — that's your real timer.

3. Giving up on day 3-4

Your starter will smell awful around day 3. Like nail polish remover. This is completely normal — bad bacteria are dying off and the good stuff is taking over. Most people panic and throw it out right when things are about to get good.

If you want a step-by-step guide that walks you through every single day (with photos of what your starter should actually look like), that's exactly what I built at Sourdough Starter School.

Happy baking 🍞