Playing is fun – it makes sense that children's hands are not exactly clean after the sandpit or a trip to the playground. Hand hygiene is therefore the be-all and end-all and so you can easily inspire your kids to wash their hands: Here we show you how you can make kneading soap yourself!
Make kneading soap yourself: that's how it works
With the washing dough, washing your hands becomes an experience, because this soap can be – as the name suggests – kneaded and brought into all possible shapes. This is sure to fascinate the little ones!
You need:
- 2 tbsp shower gel (organic, without additives)
- 4 tbsp cornstarch
- some food coloring (if you have liquid food coloring, add a little more cornstarch)
- approx. 2 tablespoons of cooking oil (e.g. rapeseed oil or sunflower oil; the cooking oil can also be left out, but it makes the kneading soap more velvety)
Tip: You can of course also make more kneading soap, just pay attention to the ratio of 2 parts cornstarch to 1 part shower gel.
Manual:
- Mix shower gel and oil in a small bowl.
- Gradually add cornstarch until everything is thoroughly blended. This creates a malleable mass.
- Take the mass out of the bowl and knead it well: If the kneading mass crumbles, add some shower gel; if it is too moist, however, add a little more cornstarch.
- Then knead in the food coloring until a homogeneous mass is formed. Caution: Use the food coloring very sparingly, otherwise the kneading soap may rub off.
- Now the kneading soap can be used directly and can also be used immediately in the bathtub for kneading and splashing around. The great thing about the soap: It can be brought into any imaginable shape without it dissolving in water. In addition, it donates plenty of foam like normal soap and makes you clean!
Storage: Keep the washing clay in a sealable glass – so it does not dry out and remains flexible.
Tip: The kneading soap is also a wonderful gift! For example, use a cookie cutter to shape them into a certain shape and then let them dry for three to five hours. So you can give away kneadable stars or hearts.
Note: Shower gels and liquid soaps contain surfactants that can dry out the skin. Children with sensitive skin should therefore not play with the kneading soaps for too long.
Make multi-colored kneading soap yourself
How to make multi-colored kneading soap:
- If you want to create shapes in different colors, simply divide the modeling clay into equal parts before coloring.
- Then add a food coloring to each mass individually and form a ball out of it.
- Then pile the balls on top of each other and roll them out with a rolling pin (if necessary, sprinkle some cornstarch on the work surface).
- Now you can cut out the soap with cookie molds.
Looking for more DIY ideas for kids? Here you can find out how you can make magic sand and finger paint yourself.
Would you like to exchange ideas with other parents about creative projects for children? Then take a look at our community.