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Ginger asked: What would be the easiest way to clean children’s modeling clay off of plastic cookie cutters? I scraped away the excess but the waxy residue seems to just move around and they never get completely clean. Is there a chemical that will break down the wax?
The residue left behind from modeling clay is usually caused by oil or other additives used to keep the clay pliable and prevent it from drying out. This residue is easily removed with a good dish detergent and hot water. For easier clean-up in the future, consider making homemade clay, there is a link below that includes a recipe.
What You Will Need:
- Grease-fighting dish detergent (Dawn works well)
- Hot water
- Sponge or soft cloth
- Soft brush or toothbrush (optional)
- Towel
The Cleaning Process:
- Fill a small tub or sink with hot water. The hotter the better, but be sure it doesn’t burn your hands.
- Pour in a small amount of the dish detergent and agitate until suds form.
- Place the dirty cookie cutters into the water and allow them to soak for several minutes.
- Use a cloth or brush to gently scrub them until they are clean.
- Rinse with clean water.
- Dry on a clean towel.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Modeling clays can contain different chemicals that are better avoided by young children. Polymer clays can be replaced with homemade clays for a safe option.
- This same cleaning method will remove grease and oil used in regular cookie making as well.
How do I clean black mold from my cookie cutters and silicone molds?
Nikita,
Use white vinegar. It works well on mold and is food-safe. You may be able to just wipe the mold off with a cloth that has white vinegar on it, or if not, let them soak for a few minutes, then scrub with dish liquid. If that doesn’t fully remove the mold, you can try using a diluted bleach solution – 1/2 cup chlorine bleach in 1 gallon of water (no stronger than that!). Be sure to rinse the areas well afterward. Good luck!