Clean up spilled glitter with play dough

This glitter cleanup tip leaves you with a bonus: sparkly play dough! From Karen on the Parent Hacks Facebook page:

You can roll play dough all over your glitter-covered table -- all the glitter sticks to the dough and makes it sparkly. You can then keep using the glittery play dough - it works just fine. Fun!

(We make big batches of our own play dough that lasts forever.)

Who else feels like spilling some glitter just so we can try this hack? If you succumb to temptation, here's a homemade play dough recipe to help you clean up:

HOMEMADE PLAY DOUGH

There are a million recipes for homemade play dough, but this is one of the easiest. (Edited to add: ...but there are compelling arguments in the comments for using oil and cream of tartar. Be sure to read the tips there.)

1 cup water
1 cup salt
1/2 cup flour
food coloring

Mix all ingredients in a pot and stir over low heat until dough forms. Let cool, and store in an airtight bag.

Do you have a favorite play dough recipe? Share it (or link to it) in the comments.

Related: Quick glitter cleanup with a lint roller

Comments

[hrm]

This may be splitting hairs, but do you think it matters what type of salt is used? I only keep kosher salt in the house.

[A.L.]

I would think that any would be fine since it gets heated in warm water

[Kendra]

This hack is just brilliant! It may be the only thing that will convince me to let my house full of kids actually play with glitter!

[rose]

In my humble opinion play dough made with oil and cream of tartar is far superior to any other. I also prefer to make it over the stove (as opposed to the microwave - no "skin" to deal with). The addition of oil and cream of tartar (an acid that relaxes the salt dough) make the play dough much more smooth and supple to work with (and it takes longer to dry out). Try this recipe:

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Playdough-Play-doh/

If you cook and are familiar with making a roux or choux pastry (for cream or cheese puffs) this is the same technique. On the flip side if you can make play dough you can make puff pastries!

And for hrm: I've used kosher salt too (although if you make a lot of play dough - and it is addictivly easy - you'll want to buy a box of table salt to cut costs, I also buy the cheapest flour...) you'll want to dissolve it in the water before adding the flour or your dough will wind up a little grainy.

[Claire - Matching Pegs]

I agree, Oil and Cream of Tartar makes much nicer playdough.

Here in Australia the recipe is usually on the Cream of Tartar packet.

[Kelly]

Haha I just found your blog and what a perfect first post to read. I'm a kindergarten teacher and I avoid glitter as much as possible because of the impossible clean up. However, why did I never think of playdough?

[Romantic Crafts]

I LOVE Cauliflower, with cheesesuace!
You will like it!

Betty