Can You Make Dry Clay Soft Again?

What Happens When Clay Dries Out

The key thing that happens when clay dries out is that it becomes more rigid and difficult to manipulate. As the moisture in the clay evaporates and is lost, the flexible clay particles start to bond more tightly together. As this bonding occurs, the clay loses its ability to be reshaped and molded. The clay starts to shrink and harden, making it hard or nearly impossible to continue working with it.

When the clay dries out fully and bonds into a rigid state, the clay has undergone a chemical and physical transformation at a molecular level. The more moisture that evaporates, the less space there is between the clay particles. The particles pack tightly together, forming new bonds that lock the clay into a hardened shape. At this point, the clay has become too stiff and solid to manipulate.

Why Bring Clay Back to a Workable State

There are several good reasons to revive clay that has become dried out and hardened:

To reuse leftover or unused clay rather than wasting it

Waste is an ongoing issue for any artist, so salvaging unused clay is a priority. Artists often cut off more clay than they actually need at the outset of a project. Or they may have leftover clay from previous activities. If this clay has hardened, reconstituting it allows the clay to be repurposed instead of throwing it away. This helps artists reduce waste and save money on materials.

To revive an unfinished clay project

Sometimes clay sculptures or figures may sit unused for weeks at a time leading to drying and hardening. Rather than starting over, artists can bring the clay back to a pliable state so they can pick up right where they left off on that project.

To soften clay that has become too firm to sculpt or shape

Even when working on clay actively, it can begin to stiffen before an artist has completed molding and sculpting it. This causes frustration when the clay is no longer pliable enough to manipulate as desired. Softening hardened clay then allows the artist to regain full sculpting and shaping capabilities.

Methods to Soften Clay

There are a few effective techniques to rehydrate clay and bring it back to a pliable, workable state:

Spraying and Kneading

Mist the dried clay lightly with water from a spray bottle, then knead it vigorously with your hands. The warmth and friction from kneading will help permeate moisture back into the clay. Work slowly and steadily, spraying and kneading until the clay feels soft and malleable again.

Soaking in Water

Place dried clay in a container and add room temperature or slightly warm water until the clay is fully submerged. Allow it to soak for at least a few hours up to overnight, depending on the amount and thickness of clay. Periodically check and stir the clay until it reaches the desired softness.

Using Commercial Clay Softeners

There are specialty clay softening products available from most ceramic suppliers. Simply add the softener to water as directed on the packaging, then submerge and soak the clay overnight. Softening additives help moisturize clay quickly and prevent future drying.

Spraying and Kneading

One of the easiest ways to soften clay is to lightly mist it with water. Start by spraying the clay a few times with a spray bottle filled with water. Spritzing clay lightly can help to avoid over-saturating it. Mist, knead, and repeat until the clay feels flexible again.

As you mist and knead the clay, be gradually work the water into the entire ball or lump of clay. Kneading alone can break down some of the bonds that have formed during drying. Adding moisture back in helps the clay return to that smooth, malleable state. Take care not knead too vigorously to start, as dried clay can be brittle before absorbing water.

Continue misting and kneading gradually, while checking the clay’s consistency periodically. Add water sparingly until the clay feels usable again. Too much water can leave clay sticky or cause air bubbles. Stop once the clay is workable and soft, but not overly wet.

Soaking in Water

One of the easiest and most common ways to make dried clay workable again is to soak it in water. This method involves immersing the hardened clay in warm water for 10-30 minutes to rehydrate and soften it.

To soak clay properly, start by placing the dry clay pieces in a bowl or container with enough warm water to fully submerge the clay. The water doesn’t need to be hot, but can be slightly warm to help the rehydration process along.

After immersing the clay for 10-30 minutes, take it out and knead it in the water or with wet hands to help saturate and soften it. At this point it should be starting to become a bit more pliable and soft. If not, repeat the soaking and kneading until it reaches the desired consistency.

Sometimes it takes a few rounds of soaking and kneading for the clay to fully return to a workable state. The exact soaking and kneading time needed will depend on the type of clay and how thick or dried out it has become. But with repeat soakings and kneadings, most clay should soften up.

Using Commercial Clay Softeners

Specialized commercial products are available to rapidly soften dry clay. These products are designed to rehydrate clay quickly and effectively.

To use commercial clay softeners, simply follow the instructions on the packaging for proper usage amounts. In most cases, you’ll apply the product directly into the hardened clay, kneading it in well to fully integrate the softener.

Typically you’ll only need to allow the clay to sit briefly after applying a commercial softener product and then it will be rehydrated and pliable again. The kneading action and concentrated commercial softeners work together to pull moisture back into the clay molecules.

Commercial softeners are an easy step-saver when working with larger volumes of very dry clay. Just a few minutes of massaging in these products can quickly prepare your clay for any project.

Limitations and Troubleshooting

Not all dry clay can be effectively revived to their original workable condition. While most dry clays can be brought back to pliability with water, here are some important limitations and tips for troubleshooting:

Really old, dry clay may not soften well – Clay that is years old and extremely dried out may not absorb water well enough to become truly pliable. In this case, commercial clay softeners may yield better results, but the clay’s utility for certain projects may still be limited.

Avoid over-wetting clay – While water softens clay, adding too much water will make the clay unstable, weaken its integrity, or even dissolve it completely. Allow clay to slowly absorb water and avoid clumping or submerging it completely.

May need to let clay sit overnight – The time needed to properly soften dry clay depends on how dry it is and the particular technique used. If clay is severely dried out, first try spraying it with water then allowing it to sit overnight, wrapped in plastic, to fully rehydrate before kneading it pliable.

Storing Rehydrated Clay

Once you have softened and rehydrated dried-out clay, it’s important to carefully store the material so it does not lose moisture and dry out again. Here are some important tips for storing rehydrated clay:

• Wrap the softened clay tightly in plastic wrap or place in a sealed plastic bag. This will prevent moisture evaporation and keep the clay usable.
• Store the clay in an airtight plastic, metal, or glass container with a tight-fitting lid. This is the most effective way to protect rehydrated clay. Plastic food storage containers work great.
• If you notice the wrapped or stored clay starting to dry out again, spritz or spray it with water until the material feels malleable again. Then re-wrap or reseal the container.

If stored properly, rehydrated clay can remain usable and workable for weeks at a time. Just remember to keep it covered so it retains the moisture. With the right storage methods, you can revive dried clay to use for many fun crafts and projects.

Projects for Revived Clay

Once you’ve brought your clay back to a pliable, workable texture, there are many fun projects you can create with it. Here are some ideas:

Sculptures, Pots, and Figurines

Revived clay is perfect for hand building sculptures, pots, bowls, and figurines. Let your imagination run wild and sculpt animals, fantasy creatures, abstract art pieces, or functional items like mugs and vases. The possibilities are endless!

DIY Air Dry Clay Recipes

You can mix revived clay with other household ingredients like glue, cornstarch, or baking soda to create your own air dry clay recipes. These allow you to craft items that will harden and keep their shape at room temperature without needing to be fired.

Clay Slimes and Doughs

AddRevived clay can also be a fun sensory material for kids. Mix it with water, glue, liquid starch, or hair conditioner to make squishy clay slimes, glitter doughs, or floam. These make great taktile fidget toys.

The Environmental Benefits

Reviving clay has many environmental benefits. By softening and reusing old clay, less clay needs to be mined and manufactured to make new art supplies. This reduces mining’s impact on natural habitats and the resources used to create fresh clay.

Landfill waste is also minimized by rehydrating dried out clay. Rather than throwing away hard clay and buying new, artists can revive what they already have. The process uses little more than water and elbow grease.

Saving usable clay from the trash is a simple and effective example of the “reduce, reuse, recycle” mentality. It allows each batch of clay to be used longer, as many times as it can be softened again. With some care, a bag of clay can last for years rather than months.