How does one soften polymer clay? If you are like me, your precious clay would have been hoarded in safe places. And in revenge, they have hardened on you. So now we need to find a way to recondition polymer clay for use. Don’t throw them away!
How to soften polymer clay
I just want to get started with my clay immediately so this research piece is presented in brief notes to get you going asap.
Various Ways to Condition or Soften Polymer Clay
I will include a useful video to each method where possible. I always find notes are easier and faster when one is just doing a quick refresh. Videos are great for fuller details especially when one has not encountered this information before.
Oil or Water for Re-Conditioning Polymer Clay
This is probably my preferred method as it is so easy and does not need fancy tools or conditioners.
IMPORTANT.
Whether you use oil and the like or water, will depend on the polymer clay you have. Specifically as to whether they are oil based or not.
Sculpey – is oil based clay. So you can use Sculpey Clay Conditioner, oils (baby oil, olive oil, vegetable oil, mineral oil) to soften polymer clay.
Addendum: This addendum is thanks to Agnese, our policrafter reader (see comments below). She recommends Johnson Baby Oil for softening clay because that oil is full of paraffin. Thanks Agnese!
Fimo – is mineral based clay. For this brand (woohoo!) .. you can use water.
Cut up, crumble or break down the hardened polymer clay into small pieces. Put into zip lock bag or use cling wrap. (It can get messy and stain hands and clothes). Put a few drops of oil/water to the clay. If using cling wrap, just wrap up. Then start kneading the clay. As it softens, you can take clay out, fold over and over. And keep kneading. Eventually you will end up with workable, soft, pliable polymer clay again.
Pasta Machine to Condition Clay
This is my least favourite way. Mainly because I don’t own one! Also, this only works well when your clay is not so hard and stiffened that it crumbles. If the clay is already at that stage .. well, you can’t run it through a pasta machine roller anymore!
Heat to Soften Polymer Clay
Depending on how hard and crumbly your clay has become, you can use the heat of your hands (or body) to soften the clay. Carry the hardened clay in a zip lock bag in your hands (kneading now and then if you like) or put against a warm part of your body.
I prefer putting the clay on a non-stick paper (taped to table) and use a hair dryer to provide the heat.
Hammer – Beat It!
Cut up and crumble up the hardened clay and enclose in some kind of plastic (like cling wrap). Then use a plastic or rubber head hammer to pound the clay. As it softens, just fold clay over, and continue hammering. Persist in this way till the polymer clay becomes soft and pliable.
You can (I would) use a combination of all the above methods to get my clay back into working order.
Hey there! Thank you so much for this. I just got 5 bars of Sculpey Translucent in the mail and it looks like parmesan cheese has been grated all over my table. I was furious. That stuff isn’t cheap and I also waited 4 weeks for it to come in the mail. AAARRRGH! So I am getting some baby oil and I’m going to try to salvage it. My Aunt said she is going to use the rubber mallet technique on hers (same issue). I have a feeling she also needs to take out some aggression. Love!
Hello Amanda, thank you for your comments. I do hope you have had good success with softening and conditioning your Sculpey. Good luck!
Thanks so much for the info on conditioning dry Sculpey clay. I have some Premo that is nice & hard to try your method of getting it conditioned. I went to the Sculpey site, but did not find any info on it, except , they now sell air dry clay.
I successfully managed to soften my crumbly, 9 year old rock-hard Fimo with your help!
Genuinely curious about the oil vs water. So many websites are adamant that you should only use oil.
I used water plus a lot of bashing, and my clay came out beautifully. Why does everyone say not to use water? Also Sculpey being oil-based and Fimo being mineral based, is this something from the manufacturer? I’m really confused why no one else mentions it!
Thank you for helping me salvage my clay!
Hi there Silver, thank you so much for your comments. I am way happy that you found some useful help with the contents of my article. Waaay happy! … because I haven’t touched my clays for so long now. Even when I wrote the article, I was just a newbie of polymer clays. I just loved it, thought I would have time for it, and then researched for myself (who has dry, old polymer clays) and posted the research in the hopes that it would one day help someone else. And now it has helped you! Sooo happy!
As for mineral vs oil-based … I would assume that info would come from the manufacturer or be on their website. I am sorry I cannot remember exactly where I got that information. It was very clear to me at the time. I do remember reading info-sheets from a number of very well know polymer artists and their paints, and somewhere along the way, I came across the mineral vs oil-based info.
Anyway, happy you managed to recondition your Fimo and thank you for your comments again.
Just found out that putting clay in the oven at a VERY LOW TEMP works because the clay is full of plasticisers and the heat softens it..
Hi Jill, thank you for that info!
Nearly demented with some rock hard Fimo…and a musty smelling Premo Beige!! So guess who is off to try the Fimo+water then to shop for baby oil (that crummy beige isn’t going to get the better of me!!)
Many thanks for this sanity & temper saving post!
I’m discovering your blog a little at a time and I’m pleased to note that you are a “policrafter”, it’s a word I invented to describe people like me and you who like to do everything … we are interesting at the moment!
to talk about the topic of the post, when I happen to find pieces of dry polymer clay, I crumble it through the pasta machine and then add a few drops of “jonhson oil” (the one for the children) as it is full of paraffin is perfect to fix the clay. sometimes I used a bit of hand cream the “glysolid” she also is full of paraffin. they are two metoodis that work perfectly.
Hello again Agnese! Hey that is such a nice word, “policrafter”. I like it!! I might have to steal and use it at some stage!
Thank you for the tip re the Johnson Oil etc. I will add this tip into the post here if that is ok by you? Thanks again!
Hi Honey, There is a bottle of liquid softener to mix into any hardened clay. Clay needs to be where it wont get too hot (cooked). It should soften with the liquid in the bottle sent along with the clay. I love what you are making. True Gorgeousness!!!f
Hi Bevvie, thanks for the advice about the liquid softener to soften clay. Do you mean you mix it with the harden clay? Or do you have to heat it up?