I remember when I was a kid, I used to love playing with playdough. The squishy texture, the vibrant colors, and the endless possibilities of shape and form always fascinated me. But there was one downside to playdough – it would often dry out and become hard, making it difficult to play with. That’s where my mom came to the rescue with her clever trick – hardening playdough in the microwave. In this article, I’ll share with you a quick and easy guide on how to harden playdough in the microwave.
Preparing the Playdough
Gather your materials
Before we begin, let’s make sure we have everything we need. Here’s what you’ll need:
You can either use store-bought playdough or make your own at home. If you decide to make your own, there are plenty of recipes available online using common household ingredients.
Roll the playdough into small balls
Once you have your playdough ready, it’s time to roll it into small balls. The size of the balls will depend on what you’re planning to use the hardened playdough for. If you’re making small figurines, you’ll want smaller balls. If you’re making larger objects, you can make the balls bigger.
Hardening the Playdough in the Microwave
Place the playdough balls on a parchment paper
Now that you have your playdough balls ready, place them on a piece of parchment paper or wax paper. Make sure to leave some space between the balls, so they don’t stick together during the hardening process.
Microwave the playdough on high for short intervals
Next, put the plate with the playdough balls in the microwave. Set the microwave on high power and start with short intervals of about 7-10 seconds. Microwaves vary in power, so start with these shorter intervals to prevent overheating and possible melting.
Check the playdough’s hardness
After each interval, carefully remove the plate from the microwave and check the playdough’s hardness. Gently touch one of the playdough balls to see if it’s hardening. If it still feels soft, put it back in the microwave for another short interval. Repeat this process until the playdough reaches the desired hardness.
Allow the Playdough to Cool
Remove the parchment paper from the plate
Once the playdough has reached the desired hardness, carefully remove the parchment paper from the plate. Be cautious as the plate and playdough may still be hot.
Let the playdough cool down completely
Place the playdough balls on a flat surface and allow them to cool down completely. Cooling is necessary to ensure the playdough is fully hardened and ready for play.
Enjoy Your Hardened Playdough
Play with your hardened playdough
Congratulations! You’ve successfully hardened your playdough in the microwave. Now it’s time to enjoy and play with your newly hardened playdough. Use it to create sculptures, figurines, or any other creations your imagination can conjure up.
Store the hardened playdough properly
To ensure the longevity of your hardened playdough, make sure to store it properly. Keep it in an airtight container or ziplock bag when not in use. This will prevent the playdough from drying out and becoming hard again.
In conclusion, hardening playdough in the microwave is a quick and easy method to revive and preserve your favorite modeling clay. With just a few simple steps, you can transform soft and pliable playdough into firm and durable creations. So the next time your playdough starts to dry out, don’t toss it away. Give the microwave method a try and enjoy hours of playtime with your newly hardened playdough.