Clay (a clay-like material, also known as play-doh/playdough/plasticine) is a great sculpting medium because it's versatile and soft. While clay is a great medium to work with, it can also be frustrating when you find the clay has become a hard, dry lump. Fortunately, the dried clay doesn't need to be thrown away right away. On the other hand, you can soften it in a few simple ways, depending on whether it's air-dry clay, ceramic, or children's play-doh.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Soften Air-Dry Clay
Step 1. Work the air-dry clay a little
Knead, bend, and fold to see if the clay will soften again on its own. The heat and moisture from your hands may be enough to soften the clay. Work for about 5 minutes with consistent movements and kneading to see if the clay can be softened this way.
- In some cases, the clay will require more than the natural oils and warmth of your hands. If so, move on to the next step.
- If kneading the clay by hand is enough to soften it again, store the clay in an airtight sealed bag to prevent it from drying out again in the future.
Step 2. Put the air-dry clay in a ziplock plastic bag
While most clays are sold in large plastic bags, these bags generally don't have a ziplock. Remove the clay from its original bag and place it in a large ziplock bag.
If you don't have a bag big enough to fit all of the clay, just cut it into small chunks and put it in the bag
Step 3. Sprinkle a few drops of water on the clay
Use your hands or a spray bottle to sprinkle some water on the clay. Do not overdo it because the clay will become sticky and unusable.
To make it easier to clean, do it over the sink or bathroom
Step 4. Close the ziplock bag and set aside
Let the water and clay sit for a few minutes to absorb the moisture. Double check the ziplock to make sure the bag is airtight and no liquid is seeping out.
Keep the bag away from heat or direct sunlight during this process as both can allow moisture to evaporate
Step 5. Remove the air-dry clay from the bag
After 5-10 minutes, open the bag and remove the clay while checking the moisture content. Is the clay softer? Fold and knead the clay, check if it is easy to move and shape.
When the clay is reusable, you're done
Step 6. If necessary, return the air-dry clay to the bag
After returning the clay to the ziplock bag, add a few drops of water. Cover tightly and let stand one more time, let the water absorb into the clay for 30 minutes.
Again, avoid heat and sunlight at this step. The bathroom is a humid environment that is great for letting clay sit
Step 7. Take out the clay and knead
If the clay has softened, it means it worked! Continue to store it in a ziplock bag or sealed container to prevent it from drying out again in the future. If you can't check your clay regularly, store it in a humid environment, such as a bathroom or kitchen, to retain moisture.
If the clay remains hard and difficult to work with, it may have exceeded its storage limit and should be thrown away
Method 2 of 3: Softening Ceramic Clay
Step 1. Fill a large container with clean, filtered water
Weigh the clay to be soaked and before starting, make sure the clay fits into the basin. All clay must be submerged. So, the container must be large enough to hold the clay.
If you don't have a large enough basin, cut the clay into smaller pieces and do this step by step
Step 2. Soak the ceramic clay in clean water
Put the ceramic clay into the water, making sure everything is completely submerged. Some pieces may separate and float to the surface, or some clay flakes will fall off. Don't worry, it won't affect the soaking process.
Do not stir the clay while it is soaking. Stirring will interfere with the soaking process and will not allow the porous nature of the clay to absorb water properly
Step 3. Soak the clay for 2-3 days
Place a towel or other cover over the container to keep out curious pets or irritating dust particles. Leave it for 2-3 days until it completely absorbs all the water. When you're done, the clay should look like a handful of mush.
If the clay doesn't seem to have changed after 3 days, soak it another day until it starts to soften
Step 4. Drain the water from the basin
At the end of the third day (or after the clay has softened), drain the water. Since the texture of the clay will be very soft, you can't turn the basin upside down to spill the water. Instead, remove the water using a ladle or suck in the water using a tool like a large pipette.
The tools you use run the risk of coming into contact with clay. If you're not comfortable with the spoon or dropper getting damaged, buy an extra set to do this
Step 5. Harden the clay texture
Remove the clay from the basin by hand and place it on a concrete slab, plaster slab, canvas, or denim surface. Make sure the surface is clean first. Spread out 5-10 cm of clay to dry. Rub your hands over the clay to prevent uneven drying.
To help the clay dry faster, turn on a fan nearby
Step 6. Put the clay in a closed container
After drying, store in a tightly closed storage container. Make sure no air can get into it and make the clay dry again.
- Once it hardens, you can store the clay in a closed container. You can also roll it into a tube, then wrap it in plastic wrap or put it in a plastic ziplock bag.
- The length of storage time will be affected by the storage method. If you plan to store clay for a long time, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap.
Method 3 of 3: Moisturizing Kids Play-Doh
Step 1. Collect all the play-doh chunks
Old play-doh often separates into dry, hard lumps. Gather all the lumps you want to soften and grip them by hand. Shape it into a ball as much as possible.
Step 2. Run water over the play-doh for 10-15 seconds
Place the play-doh ball under a steady stream of water for 10-5 seconds-or longer if the play-doh is really hard. Handle them with care, as very dry play-doh can start to fall apart and fall into the sink.
- Alternatively, you can fill a glass with water and pour it directly over the play-doh.
- To prevent the drain from clogging, install a drain strainer to catch the dropped play-doh.
Step 3. Knead the play-doh for 30 seconds
Place the play-doh on a clean, non-stick surface, such as a granite countertop or porcelain sink. Knead by hand and put all the pieces together.
Step 4. Water a second time
Remove the kneaded play-doh and again drain the water from the tap (or glass) for 10-20 seconds while kneading so that the water reaches all parts of the play-doh. Squeeze with your fingers to help the water penetrate all over the play-doh.
If the play-doh remains dry or unworkable, rinse again with water for 10 seconds while kneading
Step 5. Knead once again
Return the play-doh to a non-stick surface and knead again, this time for 60-90 seconds. Make sure you squeeze it by hand as the oil and moisture from your hands can help soften the play-doh again.
Step 6. Repeat the process
Continue the process of irrigating and kneading until the play-doh reaches the desired consistency. Once the consistency is to your liking, store the play-doh in an airtight sealed container to prevent it from drying out again in the future.
If play-doh can no longer be processed after you repeat the steps above 4-5 times, it means that play-doh can no longer be used
Tips
- If you don't have a non-porous surface on which to work the clay, just cover the countertop with parchment paper or parchment paper.
- Make sure your hands are clean and free of lint and hair before starting to knead as you don't want the particulates to stick to the clay.
