Questions
Questions and answers
Here are the questions that come up most often for anyone holding thinking putty, slime or kinetic sand. Some are about the material itself and its odd behaviour, others about stains and cleaning, and others about children and safety. The answers are short and general; if your situation involves health, the right place to turn is a doctor, not a reference guide.
Most safety questions come down to two checks: does the age on the pack fit, and are there small parts or magnets in the set? Everything else is detail.
Materials and properties
Why does thinking putty flow one moment and bounce the next?
It is a material based on a silicone polymer that behaves differently depending on how quickly force is applied. Pull or press it slowly and it flows and stretches; hit it sharply and it responds like an elastic solid.
Where did thinking putty come from in the first place?
The material was created in the 1940s during a search for a rubber substitute. It never became one, but it has been sold as a toy since 1950.
How is thinking putty different from slime and plasticine?
Classic plasticine holds the shape you mould, slime is usually softer and stretchier, and thinking putty combines flow with bounce. That's why a figure made of thinking putty is hard to keep: over time it slowly slumps.
Why doesn't kinetic sand make dust?
Its grains are coated with a polymer that lightly binds them together. Thanks to this, the sand holds its shape when squeezed and scatters around the room less.
Care and stains
How do I get thinking putty off clothes?
Don't rub the stain. Chill the fabric with ice or in the freezer, lift off the main lump and collect the rest by pressing a clean piece of putty against it. Don't use solvents on children's clothes, and check the care label before washing.
The putty has picked up hair and lint. Can it be cleaned?
Individual bits on the surface can be picked out by stretching the lump. But if debris is mixed in all the way through, the putty usually can't be restored, and it's more sensible to replace it.
Why has the putty become too soft?
Most often it's the heat: in the sun or near a radiator the material softens and flows faster. Move the tin somewhere cool and let the putty rest.
What should I do if putty is stuck in a carpet?
The same principle as with clothes: chill it, lift off the bulk, don't rub. If the pile is long or the carpet matters to you, it's better to use a carpet-cleaning service and describe the stain.
Children and safety
From what age can children have these materials?
Look at the age marking on the pack of the specific product: manufacturers don't put it there by chance. If a child still puts things in their mouth, it's better to hold off on moulding putties.
Is magnetic putty dangerous?
Sets with strong magnets are dangerous for children. If a child swallows more than one magnet, they can attract each other through the walls of the intestines. At the slightest suspicion, call your local emergency number straight away.
What should I do if a child puts putty in their mouth?
Calmly take the putty away, check their mouth and keep the packaging with the ingredients. If the child has swallowed a piece, is coughing, is breathing with difficulty, or you are not sure everything is fine, get medical help.
Are there safety rules for toys like these?
Yes. In Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, the Eurasian Customs Union regulation TR CU 008/2011 «On the safety of toys» applies; other countries have their own toy-safety rules. The manufacturer shows conformity information and warnings on the pack.
Related reading
- Practical
How to store and clean thinking putty so it lasts, plus a catalogue of practical articles.
- Reference
Glossary: viscoelasticity, colour-changing and glow putties, labels and the age on the pack.
- What is putty
What thinking putty is made of, why it flows one moment and bounces the next, and how to look after it.
Sources and basis of this text
- TR CU 008/2011 «On the safety of toys» (Eurasian Customs Union regulation, in force in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan; other countries have their own toy-safety rules)
- 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.