the world of hand-moulding materials: a reference guide

Putty World

An independent reference guide to hand-moulding materials. It is not a shop, sells nothing and has no connection with the former website on this domain; before buying for a child, check the age shown on the pack.

Practical

Practical articles

The first article in this section is about everyday care of thinking putty. The material needs no complicated maintenance, but it readily picks up dust, lint and pet hair, dislikes heat and leaves marks on fluffy fabrics. Below is a routine that helps keep putty clean and springy for as long as possible without ruining clothes, the sofa or the carpet along the way.

The best care for thinking putty is boring: clean hands before play, a tin with a lid afterwards. Everything else is only needed when those two rules have been forgotten.

— Editor's note

What to have to hand

  • The original tin or another tightly closing container with no gaps
  • A smooth, clean surface to play on: a table, a tray or a chopping board
  • Soap and a towel for washing hands before and after play
  • A small ice pack or some freezer space in case of a stain
  • The manufacturer's instructions, if you still have them, with the age and care notes

  1. Wash and dry your hands

    Hand cream, grease from food and tiny bits of dirt quickly transfer into the putty and make it cloudy and sticky. So wash your hands with soap before playing and dry them properly: damp fingers also make the material grip less well.

    Illustrative example: after biscuits, the putty turned greyish over one evening and started picking up crumbs. Played with clean hands, that doesn't happen.

  2. Choose a smooth place to play

    Thinking putty eagerly collects lint, dust and hair from fabric, carpets and upholstered furniture. It's easier to play at a table or on a tray rather than on your lap, the sofa or a blanket.

    Illustrative example: a child squishes the putty while lying on the carpet, and five minutes later it is covered in fluff. On a tray, the same lump stays clean.

  3. Put the putty back in a closed tin

    Between play sessions, keep thinking putty in a tightly closed container. That way dust doesn't settle on it, and pieces don't get lost under furniture or end up in the hands of toddlers and pets.

    Illustrative example: a lump was left on the windowsill overnight. By morning it had spread into a thin pancake and gathered all the dust around it; with a lid on, that wouldn't have happened.

  4. Keep it away from heat and sunlight

    In warmth, putty becomes softer and spreads faster, and bright light can dull its colour over time. It's best to keep the tin in a cool, dark place, away from radiators and windows.

    Illustrative example: a tin spent the whole summer on a car dashboard. The putty became noticeably softer and duller than an identical one kept in a desk drawer.

  5. Remove small debris straight away

    If a bit of lint or a hair gets into the putty, take it out while it's still on the surface: stretch the lump and lift the particle out with a fingernail. The longer debris is kneaded in, the harder it is to find.

    Illustrative example: a thread that was spotted came out in a minute. One that had been kneaded in for a week couldn't be retrieved without tearing the lump into pieces.

  6. If putty sticks to fabric, chill it

    Don't rub the stain or pour solvents on it. Chill the spot with ice or in the freezer, lift off the bulk, and collect the rest by pressing a clean piece of putty against it. Check the care label before washing.

    Illustrative example: a lump got stuck to school trousers. After half an hour in the freezer, most of it came off by hand, and the rest was picked up with the same putty.

  7. Watch for changes

    Every now and then, take a closer look at the putty. An unpleasant smell, stickiness that doesn't go away or foreign bits mixed in are signs that the material should be replaced.

    Illustrative example: the putty started to smell and leave a greasy film on fingers. It isn't worth saving: throw it away and wash the tin.

  8. Let it go without regret

    Thinking putty is a consumable and has a lifespan. If it's badly soiled or has gone off, it's better to throw it out with household waste than to try cleaning it with products that aren't meant for the job.

    Illustrative example: a lump fell into a sandpit and picked up sand all the way through. Picking out every grain is pointless; it's simpler to accept that this putty has done its job.

Common mistakes

  • Leaving putty uncovered on a table, a windowsill or in the car
  • Playing on carpets, blankets and upholstery, then being surprised by the fluff
  • Rubbing a stuck lump into fabric instead of chilling it
  • Cleaning stains on children's clothes with solvents and household chemicals
  • Kneading putty with greasy or damp hands
  • Storing putty next to a radiator or in direct sunlight
  • Giving thinking putty to a child younger than the age shown on the pack

Other options

  • If the item is delicate or the stain won't budge, take it to a dry cleaner and explain what the stain is
  • If you don't have the original tin, any clean container with a tight lid, kept out of toddlers' reach, will do
  • If the putty keeps getting dirty, agree with your child on a separate tray used only for playing with it

Check yourself

  • The putty has its own closed tin
  • The tin is kept somewhere cool, away from sunlight and radiators
  • Hands are washed and dried before play
  • There is a smooth surface or a tray to play on
  • I know what to do with a stain: chill it, lift off the bulk, no solvents
  • The age on the pack suits whoever is playing
  • There are no putties with strong magnets in a home with toddlers
  • I know the signs that the putty needs replacing

Catalogue of practical articles

This is where standalone practical articles written for English-speaking readers will be collected. Each one answers a single clear question about care, safety or activities with hand-moulding materials.

What we are working on

  • How to get putty out of carpets and upholstery
  • Kinetic sand at home: where to play and how to store it
  • Explaining the "not in the mouth" rule to a young child
  • Modelling with a preschooler: setting up the space

Catalogue rules

  • Articles in this catalogue are written separately for each language version and are not translations.
  • Some articles link to third-party websites, including gaming services; we do not control their content, prices or terms.
  • We do not publish advertising for shops or manufacturers, rankings, prices or reviews.
  • Questions

    Short answers about material properties, stains on fabric and child safety.

  • What is putty

    What thinking putty is made of, why it flows one moment and bounces the next, and how to look after it.

  • Reference

    Glossary: viscoelasticity, colour-changing and glow putties, labels and the age on the pack.

Sources and basis of this text

  • Manufacturers' instructions and labelling for moulding putties (general principles)
  • Materials on the safety of children's toys (general principles)

Ingredients, labelling and manufacturers' recommendations change over time, so the instructions and markings on the pack of the specific product are always your main guide. This reference explains general principles and does not replace a doctor's advice if something goes wrong.