Playdough is a must-have educational toy at home and in school. It helps children develop their fine motor skills and hand muscles. It also enhances their creativity and supports their social skills.
You can easily find a playdough in a toy store. But you can simply make it at home rather than buying one. Homemade play dough offers more color and texture options, and can even be more economical. You just need a good recipe and know how to store homemade playdough properly so that it lasts a long time.
How to Store Playdough
Storing playdough properly is crucial if you want it to last for weeks.
Here’s what you need:
- A food plastic wrap
- An airtight container
You can use a plastic or a glass container to store the playdough as long as it’s airtight.
Instructions
Step 1: Cool the Playdough Before Storing
Playdough should be completely cooled before storing. Otherwise, it will grow mold and become musty, making it unsafe for your children
Step 2: Cut the Playdough Into Smaller Pieces
You likely made a big ball of playdough. It’s best to cut them into smaller sizes, rolling them into balls before storing them.
Step 3: Knead the Playdough
Knead the playdough after cutting it into pieces. Make sure you stretch, massage, and fold the dough several times. You can add or sprinkle more flour into the already cutplay dough if it’s too sticky.
Step 4: Cover With Food Plastic Wrap
Grab the food plastic wrap and cut it into the right size. Ensure that the cut size is considerably larger than the playdough size. Spread the food plastic wrap flat on the table.
Step 5: Cover the Playdough
Place the playdough at the center bottom of the cut food plastic wrap and roll slowly. Make sure to squeeze out as much air as possible while rolling.
Step 6: Place in an Airtight Container
Grab the container and place the playdough in the food plastic wrap. Ensure that the container is properly sealed so that no air can enter.
Where to Store Homemade Playdough
You don’t need to store the playdough in the refrigerator. The homemade playdough can last for two to three months at room temperature as long as you place the airtight container in a cool, dry place in your house.
Types of Airtight Container
Various elements can spoil homemade play dough quickly. Plus, germs can get to the playdough, which then puts children playing with it at risk. Containers can help prolong the shelf life while keeping the playdough from getting contaminated.
There are different kinds of airtight containers that you can use to store the homemade playdough.
Plastic Containers
Airtight containers made of plastic are the most commonly used. These are also durable and able to withstand pressure. However, as they will be used to store playdough for kids, it’s best to choose the BPA-free kind so the playdough doesn’t get contaminated with toxic materials.
One of the advantages of plastic is that it is cheaper than other airtight containers as they are manufactured and sold in bulk. Plus, they are easily available in stores and easy to store.
Stainless Steel Containers
Stainless steel containers are reminiscent of old-style food containers. They offer superior sealing mechanisms, thanks to the silicon used to make containers airtight.
Plus, stainless steel makes for great storage of playdough since it is made of a hygienic material, which helps prevent bacterial growth. This kind of container also does not use reactive and toxic materials that can easily be transferred to the playdough.
Stainless steel containers are durable. They can be dropped several times and they often won’t break. The downside to a stainless steel airtight container is its cost since it is often more expensive than other airtight containers.
Glass Containers
Glass airtight containers don’t have harmful, toxic chemicals and materials that can seep into the playdough. Glass is a non-porous surface, which means the playdough won’t be absorbing any smell or flavor from any nearby item where you stored it.
Another advantage of glass airtight containers is their transparency. One can easily see what’s inside so parents will know the playdough color inside and how much playdough is still available.
Glass can also be easily cleaned and recycled. One can just place the glass container in the dishwasher when it’s time to clean. Glass airtight containers, however, can break easily when dropped. As such, small kids should not be allowed to carry the glass container with the playdough.
Conclusion
In the end, making playdough at home is easy, safe, and economical. You and your child can bond over this activity as well.
Fortunately, you don’t need to make a new batch every time your child wants to play with playdough. Knowing how to store homemade play dough and other kids craft supplies are necessary in prolonging its shelf life. Make sure to use airtight containers and food plastic wraps so that the playdough lasts for several months.