According to the Play-Doh manufacture, this brand name product is composed of water, a starch-based binder, a retrogradation inhibitor, salt, lubricant, surfactant, preservative, hardener, humectant, fragrance, and color. A petroleum additive gives the compound a smooth feel, and borax prevents mold from developing. How can something that’s so seemingly simple contain such a long list almost entirely made up of chemicals?

I’ll be sharing more on the concerns of petroleum based dyes and additives, but until then, just skip the store bought brand all together and make your own, mamas. It’s beyond easy…I promise.

I have been making this play dough recipe for ages and believe me when I say it’s the best one I’ve tried. It’s so good that my search for the perfect homemade squishy play dough is over.

The velvety texture and squishiness feels so much softer than regular play dough and the smell of it immediately takes me back to my childhood…my preschool teacher was obviously making her own play dough! I love adding in several drops of peppermint essential oil and a spoonful of glitter to make it even more of a sensory experience for my children.

– 1 cup flour

– 1 cup water

– 1/4 cup salt

– 2 tsp. cream of tartar

– 1 tbsp. vegetable oil

– natural food coloring (just a few drops)

– essential oils (optional)

– glitter (optional)

Dump everything into a pot and stir. Place over medium/low heat and keep stirring until it forms a ball. Once it’s all stuck together in a big ball, dump it on your counter and start to knead. If you find it really sticky, just add a little extra flour. Store it in an airtight container after it’s cooled and it’ll keep for quite a while.

*Tips:

– I like to make a double batch so we all have a big piece to play with when I bring it out. I don’t bother making multiple colors because my boys just mix them together. I usually whip up a new batch every few weeks or when the toast crumbs and lint have taken over it. 😉

– If your pot looks a mess, don’t worry. Let it soak for a bit and it’ll all come right off.

Enjoy!

This article was shared with the LittleEcoFootPrint members last month!

More articles by the team of experts can be found here!

Source: How Does She