Easy Homemade Playdough

This dependable, easy to make Playdough recipe is one this author played with when only knee-high to a grasshopper. Many an hours were whiled away with this squishy toy – and the acute memory of its insanely salty taste when I got a little too curious makes my mouth water unpleasantly decades later. 

So, we give you: Playdough, from scratch. It can last 3 months if kept in a well sealed container or plastic bag (some have had it last longer, but if you’re taking this camping you might not want to keep it that long depending on your child’s chosen spot for play). 

Also, it’s way more affordable! You can make a good sized batch with stuff you already have, and color it whatever you want. Store bought can get expensive when you’re buying multiple containers (which are also small).

And it’s non-toxic, made with food-safe ingredients. So if your kiddo, like well – me, decides to listen to their tiny shoulder devil and put it in their mouth, it won’t hurt them (it won’t taste good, but hey, kids gotta learn). Although, always supervise young kids during play, they get into the darndest things when you turn your back. 

Do note that we haven’t tested this with gluten-free flour, rice flour, or other flours other than all-purpose (idea for the future, perhaps), but let us know if you try any yourself and we’ll be more than happy to share your experience!

One batch takes less than 20-minutes to come together (not including cooling time) and you can either make a single-color by mixing your food dye into the water, or make multiple by dividing the finished dough and kneading in different colors. 

Oh! And after it’s mixed, the dough shouldn’t stain your hands!

Making Playdough

This recipe makes approximately 1.5 cups

Equipment:

  • Medium saucepan
  • Spatula 
  • Plastic bags or containers with good seal

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup flour
  • ½ cup salt 
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tsp cream of tartar OR white vinegar OR fresh lemon juice (vinegar and lemon juice leave a little scent)
  • 1 tbsp + 1 tsp oil
  • Food coloring
  1. Combine all ingredients (excluding coloring if making multiple colors) in your saucepan and put over medium heat.

Note: I used coarse salt and it worked just fine, but it left the texture a little grainy. I would recommend letting the salt dissolve in the water first if you only have coarse salt! 

2. Stir constantly until the mixture forms a ball and doesn’t stick to the pot and remove from heat. 

3. Immediately, turn the dough out on a cutting board, or sheet of wax paper or parchment paper and let cool until you can handle it – about 5-10 minutes.

To make multiple colors, divide your dough and add drops of food coloring of choice to each. For my three colors I used 4-6 drops. 

After kneading, the color shouldn’t transfer – just when kneading it can. My hands had a few spots but washed off quick!

And tada! Playdough in less than 30-minutes. Make sure it’s completely cool before you store it away, or condensation could create mold (it is flour and water after all).

Using Vinegar or Lemon Juice for Cream of Tartar

You can make playdough without this ingredient, but it helps the playdough be more elastic, stretchy, and reduces crumbly messes while also acting as a preservative with the salt. Vinegar or lemon juice work the same way, but do leave a minimal scent behind. 

Soften Dry Dough

If left out dough becomes dry all is not lost! Work a little oil into the dough (about a teaspoon into your hands and then work it in), add more gradually until the playdough is soft again. It may not be as smooth or pliable as it was fresh, but it can help rescue it in a pinch!

It won’t work on really dry playdough, but thankfully a replacement batch comes together in a snap. 

Sticky?

If your dough is sticky, this could mean you didn’t use enough flour or salt. If you’ve definitely used the correct amounts, it probably needs to cook a few minutes longer. Add it back to your pot and reheat it on medium-low for another 1-3 minutes until it isn’t sticky anymore. Stir and squish it around with a spatula as you do to heat it evenly (and avoid burning). 

Cleaning

Sometimes playdough gets into carpet or other fibers, but it can easily be cleaned!

Carpet:

  1. Let the playdough dry completely. Don’t try and clean it before it’s dry, this is the most important part!
  2. Once dry, pick out any larger bits by hand.
  3. Use a firm-bristled cleaning brush and brush the carpet gently and firmly to remove any bits still stuck.
  4. Vacuum up the dough dust. 
  5. If there is any staining left behind, use a carpet stain remover, like Oxiclean.
    -Be sure to follow the instructions – and do a spot test first for safety. 

Clothing:

  1. Allow to dry completely!
  2. Use a firm brush like before, or a clean ‘Hard’ texture toothbrush, to gently (but firmly) work the playdough from the fabric.
  3. Soak the clothing in COLD water with a bit of dish soap for about 20-30 minutes. You can gently work the dish soap into the stained spot. 
  4. Before throwing in the wash, rub a little more dish soap into the area and wash it as normal. This should remove the issue in most cases!

Printable Playdough Mats:

Dowloand our playdough mats to print out! Slide any of them into a large plastic bag to play with over and over without sticking! 

No Bull RV Playdough Mats!

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