4 Ways To Revive Dry Play Doh - WikiHow

Home » How To Fix Dry Playdough » 4 Ways To Revive Dry Play Doh - WikiHow

Maybe your like

Skip to ContentQuizzes
  • Home
  • Random
  • Browse Articles
  • Quizzes & Games
  • All QuizzesHot
  • Love Quizzes
  • Personality Quizzes
  • Fun Games
  • Dating Simulator
  • Learn Something New
  • Forums
  • Courses
  • Happiness Hub
  • Explore More
  • Support wikiHow
  • About wikiHow
  • Log in / Sign up
Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Revive Dry Play Doh PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Amy Sheree

Last Updated: February 10, 2025 Approved

PDF download Download Article
  • Kneading With Water
    • |
  • Steaming Your Play-Doh
    • |
  • Rehydrating Play-Doh Overnight
    • |
  • Making Replacement Playdough
    • |
  • Expert Interview
    • |
  • Q&A
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by Amy Sheree. Amy Sheree is a Slime Expert based in Destin, Florida. She is the founder of Amma Slimes, an online slime retailer selling her handcrafted slime products. She started Amma Slimes in 2022, after spending months developing her recipes and products. Prior to running her business, she had a career as a food stylist and recipe developer, which informed her approach to perfecting her products and creating content. She sells a variety of slime types and textures, including thick and glossy, snow fizz, silica sand, her proprietary sizzly butter slime, and more. Many of her slime recipes are modeled after popular desserts and treats, like orange sherbet, apple crisp, and more. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 97% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 732,741 times.

Playing with Play-Doh is a fun and simple activity that entertains kids of all ages, and is great as a solo activity or at a party. But clean-up time doesn’t always happen when it should, and Play-Doh that’s left out quickly dries up, hardens, and cracks, making it impossible to mold and play with. Luckily, there are a few techniques you can use to revive dried out Play-Doh to make it moist, soft, and doughy again for next time the kids feel like molding and shaping.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 4:

Kneading With Water

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Collect your dried up Play-Doh in a bowl. 1 Collect your dried up Play-Doh in a bowl. Keep the same colors together to prevent the Play-Doh dyes from mixing and forming a brownish color. Play-Doh is mostly made of flour, water, and salt, so adding life back to the hardened dough can be as simple as adding back the water that’s evaporated.
    • If your Play-Doh has been out for an extended period of time (more than a couple months) and has fully hardened, it may not be possible to revive it.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Revive Dry Play Doh 2 Sprinkle the Play-Doh with water. Massage the wet ball in your hands, working the water into the dough. Continue sprinkling the ball with water and massaging it.[1] Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Revive Dry Play Doh 3 Knead the ball. Once the dough has absorbed a sufficient amount of water and has become moist and malleable again, knead it on a countertop for a few minutes, until it has returned to its original form. Sprinkle it with more water as you’re kneading, if necessary.[2]
    • Try kneading one-half teaspoon of glycerine into the Play-Doh to help moisten it further.[3]
  4. Step 4 Use the Play-Doh immediately or store properly. 4 Use the Play-Doh immediately or store properly. Play-Doh will dry out when it’s exposed to air, so store it in an air-tight container. Consider wrapping it in a re-sealable plastic bag first.[4] [5]
    5. Advertisement
Method 2 Method 2 of 4:

Steaming Your Play-Doh

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Flatten the Play-Doh. 1 Flatten the Play-Doh. In your hands or on a counter, flatten the dough ball to increase the absorption area. Keep in mind that you’ll be putting this in a steamer, so don’t make it too large.
  2. Step 2 Prepare your stove-top or standalone steamer. 2 Prepare your stove-top or standalone steamer. Place the flattened Play-Doh in the steamer and steam for five to ten minutes.
  3. Step 3 Remove the dough from the steamer. 3 Remove the dough from the steamer. Knead for five to ten minutes on a countertop. If the Play-Doh hasn’t returned to its original consistency, repeat the steaming and kneading.
    4. Advertisement
Method 3 Method 3 of 4:

Rehydrating Play-Doh Overnight

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Revive Dry Play Doh 1 Break the Play-Doh into pea-sized bits. The smaller the pieces, the easier it will be to rehydrate them. Put the pieces into a strainer and run water over them so that all the pieces are coated. Let sit for a minute to let any excess water drain off.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Revive Dry Play Doh 2 Place the pieces into a re-sealable plastic bag. Make sure all the Play-Doh pieces are damp (but not soaking wet) and seal them in the bag. Let the dough pieces rest for about an hour.
  3. Step 3 Remove the pieces from the bag. 3 Remove the pieces from the bag. Once the dough has had time to rest and absorb the water, put the pieces in a bowl and press them back into a single ball of dough. Wrap the ball with a wet cloth or paper towel and return it to the bag. Seal and leave it overnight.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Revive Dry Play Doh 4 Knead the dough. In the morning, remove the rehydrated Play-Doh from the bag and knead it for a couple minutes to form it back into a soft, doughy ball.[6]
    5. Advertisement
Method 4 Method 4 of 4:

Making Replacement Playdough

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Assemble your ingredients. 1 Assemble your ingredients. Sometimes dried out Play-Doh is too far gone to rehydrate, but making your own is a fun and inexpensive way to replace it, and it’s so easy that even the kids can help. To make playdough, you will need:
    • 2 ½ cups of water
    • 1 ¼ cups of salt
    • 1 ½ tablespoons of cream of tartar
    • 5 tablespoons of vegetable oil
    • 2 ½ cups of flour
    • Food coloring
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Revive Dry Play Doh 2 Mix ingredients in a saucepot. Cook over low heat and stir frequently. Continue stirring and cooking until the ingredients come together to form a ball of dough in the center of the pan. You’ll know it’s ready when it has the consistency of regular playdough.[7]
  3. Step 3 Remove from heat. 3 Remove from heat. If the dough is too warm to handle, set it aside and let it cool. In the meantime, decide how you want to divide your dough and what colors you want to make.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Revive Dry Play Doh 4 Divide the dough for coloring. Form as many smaller balls as you need depending on how many different colors of playdough you want to make.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Revive Dry Play Doh 5 Knead the different colors into individual batches of dough. On a cutting board or non-porous counter, knead each ball of dough and work in a single color at a time. Add food coloring until the desired intensity is achieved. Repeat for every playdough color you want to make.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Revive Dry Play Doh 6 Store like regular Play-Doh. Keep playdough in an air-tight container, and don’t leave it out if it’s not in use. If you don't do this, it will solidify and become impossible to use.
    7. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search Add New Question
  • Question How can I remove dried play doh from a carpet? Community Answer Community Answer Take boiling water and mix it with baking soda. Pour it on the play doh wait for a couple of minutes, then just pick it out. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 19 Helpful 49
  • Question Do I need cream of tartar? Community Answer Community Answer No, but it makes it shiny. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 5 Helpful 27
  • Question How do I fix play doh that has become sticky? Community Answer Community Answer You could try leaving it out for about 15 minutes. If that doesn't work, you could put it in the freezer for some time. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 19
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Tips

Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

You Might Also Like

Make Playdough Soft AgainHow toMake Playdough Soft Again Revive Dry ClayHow toRevive Dry Clay Preserve Play DoughHow toPreserve Play Dough How toClean Play Doh Toys Make Play DoughHow toMake Play Dough Make Clay for KidsHow toMake Clay for Kids Make Play Dough without Cream of TartarHow toMake Play Dough without Cream of Tartar Soften Polymer ClayHow to Soften Polymer Clay How toTurn Putty Into Slime Get Playdough Out of CarpetThe Best Ways to Remove Playdough from Carpets & Rugs Get Playdough Out of ClothesThe Easiest Ways to Remove Playdough from Clothing Fix PuttyHow toFix Putty Make ClayHow to Make Clay: 5 Simple Recipes (Plus Troubleshooting Tips) Make Homemade Polymer Clay SubstituteHow toMake Homemade Polymer Clay Substitute Advertisement

Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about playdough and slime, check out our in-depth interview with Amy Sheree.

References

  1. ↑ Amy Sheree. Slime Expert. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ Amy Sheree. Slime Expert. Expert Interview
  3. ↑ http://redandhoney.com/how-to-revive-dried-out-play-dough/
  4. ↑ Amy Sheree. Slime Expert. Expert Interview
  5. ↑ http://www.yourmodernfamily.com/keeping-playdough-moist/
  6. ↑ http://kottke.org/09/12/how-to-revive-dry-play-doh
  7. ↑ http://tinkerlab.com/rainbow-play-dough/

About This Article

Amy Sheree Co-authored by: Amy Sheree Slime Expert This article was co-authored by Amy Sheree. Amy Sheree is a Slime Expert based in Destin, Florida. She is the founder of Amma Slimes, an online slime retailer selling her handcrafted slime products. She started Amma Slimes in 2022, after spending months developing her recipes and products. Prior to running her business, she had a career as a food stylist and recipe developer, which informed her approach to perfecting her products and creating content. She sells a variety of slime types and textures, including thick and glossy, snow fizz, silica sand, her proprietary sizzly butter slime, and more. Many of her slime recipes are modeled after popular desserts and treats, like orange sherbet, apple crisp, and more. This article has been viewed 732,741 times. 6 votes - 97% Co-authors: 23 Updated: February 10, 2025 Views: 732,741 Categories: Putty Dough and Slime Article SummaryX

To revive dry Play-Doh, add one color of Play-Doh to a bowl and sprinkle some water on top. Then, you can knead the Play-Doh with your hands until it becomes soft and malleable. If the Play-Doh is still stiff, you can add in more water as you go. You can also revive Play-Doh by flattening it and putting in a steamer for 5-10 minutes. After it has steamed, knead it until it becomes malleable.Once your Play-Doh is soft again, make sure to store in an airtight container so it doesn't dry out. To learn how to make your own version of Play-Doh, scroll down. Did this summary help you?YesNo

In other languages Spanish Portuguese Italian Russian Arabic Dutch French Indonesian Japanese Hindi Chinese
  • Print
  • Send fan mail to authors
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 732,741 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • Gail Burkdoll

    Gail Burkdoll

    Feb 5, 2017

    "My granddaughter leaves her Play Doh out a lot, and I'm tired of throwing it out. I don't know why I..." more
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story

Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Amy Sheree Co-authored by: Amy Sheree Slime Expert Co-authors: 23 Updated: February 10, 2025 Views: 732,741 97% of readers found this article helpful. 6 votes - 97% Click a star to add your vote Gail Burkdoll

Gail Burkdoll

Feb 5, 2017

"My granddaughter leaves her Play Doh out a lot, and I'm tired of throwing it out. I don't know why I..." more Marcus Johnson

Marcus Johnson

Apr 26, 2022

"My child was throwing a fit because his play-doh was dry because he left it outside when it was 90 degrees out. I..." more Tiffany St. John

Tiffany St. John

May 5, 2020

"During Covid-19 stay in, my boys came across some "forgotten" play-dog, and one of the containers was not..." more Afaq Qureshi

Afaq Qureshi

May 20, 2017

"I was worried because my daughter kept complaining to me that her play dough has hardened. It suddenly struck me to..." more Rated this article: Anonymous

Anonymous

Sep 7, 2017

"I started by sprinkling water on my counter top, then kneading the dough. Repeating until pliable. I then poured..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

Quizzes & Games

What Should I Do QuizWhat Should I Do QuizTake QuizWhat Squishmallow Am I QuizWhat Squishmallow Am I QuizTake QuizPizza CalculatorPizza CalculatorRandom Recipe GeneratorRandom Recipe GeneratorGenerateCreative Ability TestCreative Ability TestTake QuizHow Good Are My Survival Instincts QuizHow Good Are My Survival Instincts QuizTake Quiz

You Might Also Like

Make Playdough Soft AgainHow toMake Playdough Soft AgainRevive Dry ClayHow toRevive Dry ClayPreserve Play DoughHow toPreserve Play DoughClean Play Doh ToysHow toClean Play Doh Toys

Featured Articles

What Are the Korean Animal Face Types? (And Which Type Do You Have?)What Are the Korean Animal Face Types? (And Which Type Do You Have?)Being the Little Spoon While Cuddling: Is It Better Than the Big Spoon?Being the Little Spoon While Cuddling: Is It Better Than the Big Spoon?115+ Funny “Get Well Soon” Messages to Make Someone Laugh115+ Funny “Get Well Soon” Messages to Make Someone Laugh110+ “Fun Facts” for Interviews, Introductions, & Icebreakers110+ “Fun Facts” for Interviews, Introductions, & IcebreakersHow Long Would You Survive In A Zombie Apocalypse?How Long Would You Survive In A Zombie Apocalypse? Roast Someone in a Rap Battle (Plus the Best Bars of All Time)How to Roast Someone in a Rap Battle (Plus the Best Bars of All Time)

Trending Articles

How Many People Had a Crush on You In 2025?How Many People Had a Crush on You In 2025?What Song Was #1 On My Birthday?What Song Was #1 On My Birthday?Am I Chopped QuizAm I Chopped QuizAttractiveness Score QuizAttractiveness Score QuizKissHow toKissWhat Are My Soulmate's Initials QuizWhat Are My Soulmate's Initials Quiz

Featured Articles

What Turns a Girl On? 31 Things to Try on Your PartnerWhat Turns a Girl On? 31 Things to Try on Your PartnerLove AnalyzerLove AnalyzerSending Your Sweetie a Love Note? Here are 200+ Romantic IdeasSending Your Sweetie a Love Note? Here are 200+ Romantic IdeasExercise Your BrainHow toExercise Your BrainBe a Fun Person to Hang out WithHow toBe a Fun Person to Hang out WithWhat Does Your Morning Routine Say About You?What Does Your Morning Routine Say About You?

Featured Articles

Develop Productive HabitsHow toDevelop Productive HabitsPractice Self CareHow toPractice Self CareWhat Song Matches Your Life Right Now?What Song Matches Your Life Right Now?Your 2026 Vision: What Does Next Year Hold?Your 2026 Vision: What Does Next Year Hold?Understanding the Most Attractive Face Shapes (& Determining Your Own)Understanding the Most Attractive Face Shapes (& Determining Your Own)Type A B C D Personality TestType A B C D Personality Test

Watch Articles

Deep Clean Your Kitchen Sink (& Keep It Clean)How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen Sink (& Keep It Clean) Curl Your Hair: 8 Easy & Quick WaysHow to Curl Your Hair: 8 Easy & Quick WaysThicken Sauce with FlourHow toThicken Sauce with Flour Brighten Up White Shirts and Other GarmentsHow to Brighten Up White Shirts and Other Garments Cook White Rice without a Rice CookerHow to Cook White Rice without a Rice Cooker Clean Out the Inside of a Glass Bottle (With or Without a Brush)How to Clean Out the Inside of a Glass Bottle (With or Without a Brush)

Trending Articles

Lose Belly Fat in 2 WeeksHow toLose Belly Fat in 2 Weeks10+ Scary Phone Numbers to Call10+ Scary Phone Numbers to CallWhat's My Bending Element QuizWhat's My Bending Element QuizDiscover the Secret Meaning of Your First NameDiscover the Secret Meaning of Your First NameWhich Powerpuff Girl Am I QuizWhich Powerpuff Girl Am I QuizDo I Have Synesthesia QuizDo I Have Synesthesia Quiz

Quizzes & Games

Pictionary Word GeneratorPictionary Word GeneratorGenerateWhat’s The Perfect Hair Care Routine For MeWhat’s The Perfect Hair Care Routine For MeTake QuizDeserted Island SimulatorDeserted Island SimulatorPlayWhat Pasta Shape Am I QuizWhat Pasta Shape Am I QuizTake QuizWhat's My Hair Type QuizWhat's My Hair Type QuizTake QuizWhat Wild wikiHow Article Am I QuizWhat Wild wikiHow Article Am I QuizTake Quiz wikiHow
  • Categories
  • Hobbies and Crafts
  • Crafts
  • Craft for Kids
  • Putty Dough and Slime
wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.
  • Home
  • About wikiHow
  • Experts
  • Jobs
  • Contact Us
  • Site Map
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Info
  • Not Selling Info
  • Contribute

Follow Us

×

Get all the best how-tos!

Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter

Subscribe You're all set! X --559

Tag » How To Fix Dry Playdough