How to Fix Play-Doh

I pretty much think it ruined. But have you tried a lil bi of water and roll it around to see if that works.

All great home made recipes! To add color & SMELL I used the Kool-Aid mixes (the kind you have to add sugar to - about 10 cents per pkg) in place of the food coloring! My kids LOVE it.

Oh honey you've got to have this recipe. I've been making playdough since my now 27 and 25 year olds were kids and now continue to use it for my grandkids. It's very simple. Here it is.

2 Cups Flour, 2 Cups Warm Water, 1 cup salt, 2 Tblsp vegetable oil (you can use the scented oil if you like) 1 Tblsp cream of tarter(optional but improves elasticity) and food coloring of your choice.
Mix all ingredients together (except food coloring) and stir over low heat. Dough will thicken until it resembles mashed potatoes. When dough pulls away from the sides and clumps in the center remove from heat and allow to cool enough to handle. If playdough is still sticky you need to cook it longer. Keep stirring until dough is dry and feels like playdough. Turn playdough out onto a clean counter and knead until it becomes silky smooth. Divide into balls for coloring. Make a divot in the center of the ball and drop in some food coloring. Work dough until color is evenly distributed. You might want to use plastic gloves but not essential. This is kid safe, even edible even though quite salty tasting. Store in air tight containers. If dough begins to dry out, knead a little water in and you're back in business. I've always put the air tight containers in the refrigerator although it's not necessary. I just assigned one of my bottom drawers to be only playdough and the kids always know where it is and where to return it. Hope you like it !!!

To my knowledge, there is no way to "fix" dried up playdough. However, I have 2 recipes from a book called Wonderplay, Too! that are A LOT cheaper than buying new playdough everytime your son forgets to put the lid on.

Cooked Play Dough
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup water
food coloring (I like the frosting colorings available at Walmart in the craft area, much better colors)

1. Mix dry ingredients together in a sauce pan.
2. Add wet ingredients and mix together.
3. Cook over a low to medium flame/heat.
4. Stir contantly to prevent scorching, until the mixture forms a ball, no more than 5 minutes.
5. Knead until smooth, adding drops of food coloring.
6. Store in a sealed plastic containter or refrigerate.

Uncooked Play Dough

Uncooked play dough can be made quickly with ingredients you have on hand and children can be part of the process. This is a great recipe to make when friends come over to play. Uncooked play dough does not keep as long as the cooked version, and what your children make with it will crumble more easily.

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water
Food Coloring

1. Mix together flour & salt.
2. Add a few drops of food coloring to the water.
3. Add the water and stir into dry ingredients.
4. Kneed it together thoroughly. It may take a few minutes for the dough to form.

Good luck!

K. C.
Mom to 3 kiddos ages 6, 5 & 3

I don't know how to fix it either. Here is another recipe if you want to make it:

Heat 2 T. oil. Mix together 1 C. Flour, 1/2 C. non-iodized salt, 2 t. cream of tartar, 1 C. water. Add food coloring. Add mixture to oil. Cook 3 minutes stirring constantly. Mixture may be gooey. Remove from heat when thickened and knead until right consistancy.

I know you got a lot of Play-Doh ideas for making your own. I noticed you have a 7mth old so I thought you might want a recipe you could get her involved in:
Edible Play dough
1. 1/2 C peanut butter
1/2 C honey
1 C powdered milk

Just throw it all together and mush it up with your hands until its fairly smooth. The oils from the peanut butter will keep it from sticking to the table and the kids' hands.

This way you don't have to worry if it's safe or not!

Can't fix play-doh. You either have to buy new or make your own. I usually invest in new cans about once a month and stockpile. Then I always have some on hand. It is cheap, so I wouldn't worry about replacement. At this age it is worth it, to keep them busy and entertained without batteries and lights.
Good luck,
L.

I don't know about "fixing" play-dough, BUT............. I do have a recipe to MAKE play-dough and have used it many, mnay times for presents, birthday parties, etc.

If you (or anyone else reading this) are interested in it, just personal message me and I will dig it out from home (I only get online at work, so it might take me a couple of days but I know I have it and I know it works great! And you can color it as well!

Hi A., usually when my daughter is done playing with hers, I seal it in the container that it came in or put it in a ziplock bag.

GOod luck!

S. A

We have restored our playdoh by just adding several drops of water and letting it sit on the counter for a couple of days. If it isn't fixed just add a few more drops and let sit again. I think I read this on the playdoh can.

If it is not too far gone you can gradually work some water into it a little at a time and keep mixing until it reaches good consistency. I routinely put a few drops of water into my daughter's (in the container when we put it away) after she plays with it because she leaves it out so long. Kind of a preventive measure.

In the book Slow and Steady Get Me Ready there is a great recipe:

To make clay, mix 1 cup flour, 1 Tablespoon oil, 1 cup water, 1/2 cup salt, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar and food coloring. Cook over medium heat until the mixture forms a ball. Knead until smooth. Store in refrigerator.

They also have a quick recipe if you want it.

A.,
You might be able to add a drop or two of water at a time and knead it back into pliability. But really - play-doh is cheap, you might be better off to toss the crumbling stuff and get some fresh ones. Sometimes you can find the 4-pack of full-size cans for around $1 (sometimes $2) - and you can get two or three options - the basic colors, neon colors, and specialty colors (like dark red, dark green, white at Christmas time, pastels in the spring time, etc.)

Best care for Play-Doh is to keep the lids tightly sealed when not in use. I store mine in a cabinet where it's not in direct sunlight, I guess that would dry it up even if the lid were tight.

Enjoy your play-doh days. I bought lots of cookie cutters and stuff for the kids to play with it, especially when my older ones were younger, but I was afraid to let them get it out very often because of the mess. But they loved it so - and the mess was small and not as awful to clean up as I had imagined it to be! ;)

Blessings, S.

I've never tried to fix dried-up play dough, but here's a recipe to make it at home:

Mix together 1 c salt, 1 c flour, 1/2 c water. If necessary add more flour to make a doughy consistency. Add dry tempera paint and mix in well.

I believe there's a Play-Doh recipe somewhere.... Try either www.marthastewart.com or surf the net.

Sometimes there's clearance items of Play-doh at Wal-mart or Target.

i agree with all the other ladies either buy it cheap(dollar stores have it all the time big lots too) or make your own. you can never have too much play doh so if ya see it on sale or cheap pick it up. Bty everyone thanks for the how to's im gonna make soem with my kiddos this weekend.:)

Mel

Take a teaspoon of cream of tartar and mix with a teaspoon of water. Heat it microwave for 10 seconds. Squeeze it into the Play-Doh. Depending on how dry the Play-Doh is, you may need extra water.