the alcohol and paper towel method (plus finger nail & a pair of tweesers) was the only way I got through my Christmas project using your Cutest ever Snowman Tutorial!!! They turned out bright and white and cute --all the things I wanted YAY Cindy has the best info:)
I'm doing a project in social studies and was making clay figures. I left it in my teacher's room for a weekend, and when I retrieved it, the polymer clay had gathered dust and lint. This was really helpful to clean it. Thanks!
Thank you for this video- it came at the prefect time as I'm just about to make some very white figurines that like to get dirty. I do clean down my station and hands the best I can but they still find bits to pick up. Looking forward to the video about cleaning baked clay for my older pieces.
Hi Cindy I just want to tell you that I'm new to clay and I've been watching a lot of videos and although the others are good by far yours are my favorite. You are so easy to listen your instructions are so clear I can follow along easy. I just wanted to put that out there.
Does anyone know how to remove pen ink from unbaked polymer clay? I drew a stencil on baking paper and used a ball tip tool to press the stencil into the clay but the ink was somehow draw though the paper and taken on by the clay 😢 ruined my piece.
thanks cindy! didn't know i could use alcohol. i had sculpted a white charm and i didn't want to ruin its shape by rubbing it so what i did was i took a tiinnnnyyy bit of clay, put it on the area, dipped my dotting tool into alcohol and spread the clay on my piece. it covered up the ink blots on my piece pretty nicely :)
I've been hoping you had a video for this! You have a video for all of my polymer clay troubles. :-) And from now on, I'm calling my lint/dirt/fuzz that sticks to my polymer clay dint. Dint is the perfect word for it.
if its on the surface and in trhe clay i like to take that dirty chunk and just cut it up a million times then i take all the dirt and hair that gets stuck to the blade of the knife / wire and take it off and just throw it out. it takes a very long time but it works hope that helped
Hi, just starting out here with polymer clay and i wanted to thank you for this amazing tip it really works like magic (less for me because you can't get more than 70% alchohol around here). is there any way to remove the color fingerprint imprints and tiny bits of other from clay before baking?
The rubbing alcohol trick works with colored clay as well. Make sure to try and keep your hands clean. Try using a different brand of polymer clay... not all of them transfer colors as badly. Baby wipes also work well. Or you can even try using nail polish remover on a cotton swab, to clean the clay. Good luck!
@@PolymerClayTutor mam can I use nail polish remover to clean polymer clay??The colour of my polymer clay was peach (PCLAY-PH) and now it's in brown chocolate color.😁
Cupcakeclaydelights thats what I'm trying to figure out too. Happens every single time. I wash the crap out of my hands the surfaces I'm using, the tools, EVERYTHING. Then the first piece of clay I roll into a ball is covered in and full of stupid little fibers and dirt. It is SO frustrating.
Hi Javiera Bustamante I am not totally sure, I would have to ask my husband since he is the camera guy, but he's out right now. I think it is a Sony HD Digital Video Camera but I don't know what model it is.
Hi CafeCharms I bet it does work great! But the smell is pretty bad compared to rubbing alcohol and much more expensive. Rubbing alcohol is also awesome for removing permanent markers like Sharpies and alcohol ink. It is a staple in my studio.
+polymerclaytutor u don't always have to be right I Buy nail polish remover and I use it to clean dust off of my BAKED creations cuz the acetone removes a layer of the clay taking off the lint. Also the nail polish remover I use doesn't smell bad >.
Hmm so this is about un-done sculptures. How about if anything sticks to the clay while it's already prepared to bake piece? Won't the alcohol eat the clay? :o
Hi Cindy, I can't say I've heard of isopropyl before, doing a Google it said it doesn't dissolve plastics, so I'm guessing it's better to use then acetone for cleaning up polymer?
Hi ChickenFromTheMoon I would not use Acetone on raw clay, it is too harsh. I would only use it for baked clay. As far as Isopropyl Alcohol goes, it is probably called something else in the UK where you're from. It is also called Rubbing Alcohol here in Canada. It is the stuff that doctors use to disinfect your skin before giving you a needle. You should be able to find the equivalent in your local pharmacy. If you find out what it is called let us know. We have lots of people here from all over the world, and I am sure they would appreciate knowing.
PolymerClayTutor I did a google search - Amazon.co.uk sells isopropyl 99.9% and 70% rubbing alcohol - one of the reviewers on Amazon says they are originally from the US and were upset when they moved here and couldn't get it in the UK, so they are relieved that Amazon is selling it. I also believe you can get it on eBay.
PolymerClayTutor I believe it's called Surgical Spirits here, had to take a bit of a look around, couldn't remember offhand. Didn't find any brand names online though but apparently it is purchasable in some chain super stores and drug stores.
ChickenFromTheMoon Well isn't that cool! Thank you so much for coming back and letting us know! Now I have another set of names to add to my personal dictionary. :)
99 % ALCOHOL :O i gotta go to costco noW XD and i prefer the Lysol wipes! ive been using the baby ones but they don't do much and lyson comes more damp than the baby ones, so you can clean more than once :P
I use nail polish remover to remove the dust in my charms when its already baked. it works really good for me. but one question, when i clean my charms before they are baked i use baby wipes to clean them. but its a pain to do so because my clay de-forms (loses its shape) and its really bugging me. so do i need the clay to be stiffer? if so,how do i make it harder?
i have a few surfaes that are a bit more details than just a little ball and dont want to mess up the shape too badly. do you have any tips for cleaning clay sculptures like tiny faces and hands?
Thank you this was super helpful i just did all my cleaning to use my white clay got it out and my black cat decided he wanted to just up right onto the white clay i just got out lol. Unfortunately i cant put him anywhere as i live in a studio and feel it would be mean and a bit bloody mess if i put my two black cats and black dog in my small bathroom while i work on my charms.lol
Polymer clay is plastic... so it doesn't need to be sealed unless you put a powder or gold leaf or something that needs protecting, or you want it extra shiny or matte. If it is just clay and you like how it looks , then there is no need to seal it.
Hi cindy I recently purchased somw surgical spirit which I believe is the same as rubbing alchol here in the uk. Firstly it says nothing to do with isopropyl on it, it says castor oil and methyl salicylate??? Any ideas, is this the same??? Also the most important thing im worried about is... the bottle says HIGHLY FLAMMABLE!!! Im worried because im rubbing this all over my pieces before they go in the oven, is this safe??? Thanks , Reece
I just used 70% rubbing alcohol on some charms and I too just saw that it says it's highly flammable and so I'm scared to put it in the oven. I did run my charms under the sink so maybe that washed it off enough? I'm not sure...let's hope Cindy can help :-)
Jennica Gradlie Hi Jennica, yes Rubbing Alcohol is Highly flammable and you should not have the liquid near any open flame or the bottle near the oven. When using it on polymer clay however, the flammable alcohol dries very quickly and dissipates into the air and is no longer an issue. As long as your clay pieces are dry after you have wiped them with the rubbing alcohol, there is no risk of catching on fire once you put them in the oven. Do be very careful with the bottle of liquid though, not to get it anywhere near a heat source, which would be a risk for catching on fire!
Hi Mr 3GGy 1999 Hmmm... I thought they were the same product... someone from the UK said they were. As far as using the Surgical Spirit with Castor oil in it, I don't know whether that will work the same as the Isopropyl Alcohol goes. I can't really test it either, since I don't have access to it to try it. An as far as the flammability after using it on clay... that I don't know either. With the Isopropyl Alcohol, it gasses off almost immediately and is not a fire hazard when used on polymer clay. (Of course the liquid itself is very flammable and should not be used near heat of open flame at all!) The caster oil may be a problem though, since I don't think it would gas off the same way... but there is oil in the clay... so I don't know... might be best not to use it unless you can get info from the manufacturer or something that can reassure you that it is safe. Excellent question! Sorry I don't have a better answer for you!
PolymerClayTutor thanks Cindy, i recently tried it on the clay and it removed alot of the lint and dust so i'm assuming it is the same thing, also i watched in the oven as i was a bit worried but all was fine, i'm guessing it is the same as isopropyl alcohol!
Super helpful and pertinent. I am working at my kitchen table until I can have a "secure" work area. Four cats and one Long Coat Akita supervising my work very closely = lots of fur. I have also replaced on of the burner grates on my gas stove with a 12x12 granite tile from DIY store for a smooth rolling and building surface.
Claire Bear you can get it through amazon.co.uk. medical-grade ethanol, all pharmacists sell it, but it's called “surgical spirit”. Look for a designated pharmacist, or for a large supermarket such as Morrison's which has a specialist pharmacy counter.
if anyone has any tips for cleaning cold porcelain clay, I would really appreciate it! I can't find any advice for getting dust and fibers off of this type of clay.
This might seem like a stupid question lol but I'm just getting started with polymer clay and was wondering if you'd also recommend just a coat of white acrylic paint to help brighten the white clay back up? I paint a lot so I have a lot of white paint and thought this might be a good idea as well. I know you can paint the clay so I guess the answer is yes you can but I guess I'm asking if you'd recommend this as a solution lol :) any help would be greatly appreciate :)
I've done that before where I get lazy with my white clay and just paint over it after baking. It depends though on preference because sometimes painting one part of your piece can make it look weird as paint tends to have a brush stroke texture and maybe get lumpy and uneven. (Late reply lol)
No because you can't bake the paint as its toxic and it would go funny. Best to have as clean a working environment as possible to avoid the dirt in the first place. I got sharpie pen ink on mine as I drew a stencil on baking paper and the ink went through onto the White clay 😰
My daughter doesn't really have a work surface till we move and we just need to clean the clay so give us a little comment plz thx BTW I like your videos so does my daughter
Krissy York any surface you work on like the table, the counter, etc is a work surface. If you want your clay clean, then the area you work in needs to be clean as well as your clay.
Its called.. use a tarp and wrap your sculpture in stand in it. 33 own a company and sculpt professional lol 61 million views on these videos.. when you can just put it in a kelm.
Since we're always rushing DINT is perfect for dirt and lint! Another tip I needed to know, thanks!
Lol agreed, I like Dint 😝
After using many other methods to clean up dirty clay, this is the only one that actually worked!!! Thanks!!
the alcohol and paper towel method (plus finger nail & a pair of tweesers) was the only way I got through my Christmas project using your Cutest ever Snowman Tutorial!!! They turned out bright and white and cute --all the things I wanted YAY
Cindy has the best info:)
I'm doing a project in social studies and was making clay figures. I left it in my teacher's room for a weekend, and when I retrieved it, the polymer clay had gathered dust and lint. This was really helpful to clean it. Thanks!
Thank you for this video- it came at the prefect time as I'm just about to make some very white figurines that like to get dirty. I do clean down my station and hands the best I can but they still find bits to pick up.
Looking forward to the video about cleaning baked clay for my older pieces.
Hi Cindy I just want to tell
you that I'm new to clay and I've been watching a lot of videos and although the others are good by far yours are my favorite. You are so easy to listen your instructions are so clear I can follow along easy. I just wanted to put that out there.
Sorry for the slow response, I very much appreciate the kind words! Thank you so much for taking the time to come hear and say that! It means a lot! 💖
Trouble with Lint and Dirt on your clean polymer clay? This tip will help! #polymerclaytips
What about baked clay?
Does anyone know how to remove pen ink from unbaked polymer clay? I drew a stencil on baking paper and used a ball tip tool to press the stencil into the clay but the ink was somehow draw though the paper and taken on by the clay 😢 ruined my piece.
thanks cindy! didn't know i could use alcohol. i had sculpted a white charm and i didn't want to ruin its shape by rubbing it so what i did was i took a tiinnnnyyy bit of clay, put it on the area, dipped my dotting tool into alcohol and spread the clay on my piece. it covered up the ink blots on my piece pretty nicely :)
Dint new word for dirt and lint :)
haha
I like it lol
I've been hoping you had a video for this! You have a video for all of my polymer clay troubles. :-)
And from now on, I'm calling my lint/dirt/fuzz that sticks to my polymer clay dint. Dint is the perfect word for it.
Hi, after I have cleaned the clay with the alcohol is it safe to bake it in the oven? ☺️
^^^^
I don't see why not alcohol evaporates quickly ..blow on them or just let sit for a min
Of course, why would it be unsafe?
@@kx160 because isopropal alcahol is a flamable liquid but im guessing using it this way, it will have evaporated before it gets baked.
if its on the surface and in trhe clay i like to take that dirty chunk and just cut it up a million times then i take all the dirt and hair that gets stuck to the blade of the knife / wire and take it off and just throw it out. it takes a very long time but it works
hope that helped
Ahhh Thank you so much for this video, a life saver! It's a relief that your channel and website exist
BRO THIS WAS SO USEFUL!!
Aw, six years ago when Lysol wipes freely roamed.
Yeah... it's a whole new world!
And rubbing alcohol ! Impossible to find now lol
omg i never thought wipes could remove dust so nicely. THANK YOU
Hi, just starting out here with polymer clay and i wanted to thank you for this amazing tip it really works like magic (less for me because you can't get more than 70% alchohol around here). is there any way to remove the color fingerprint imprints and tiny bits of other from clay before baking?
The rubbing alcohol trick works with colored clay as well. Make sure to try and keep your hands clean. Try using a different brand of polymer clay... not all of them transfer colors as badly. Baby wipes also work well. Or you can even try using nail polish remover on a cotton swab, to clean the clay. Good luck!
@@PolymerClayTutor mam can I use nail polish remover to clean polymer clay??The colour of my polymer clay was peach (PCLAY-PH) and now it's in brown chocolate color.😁
use hand sanitizer on your hands before using clay and also on your desk/table it burns bacteria
This really worked for me! Thank you so much for the video!😃
You are so welcome! 💖💖💖
fun fact if you baked your white clay if its really dirty you can use acetone or white acrylic paint to remove the dirt dust lint
Could u test skin detox on polymer clay?
how about when u are trying to roll your clay into a ball an dirt gets in it. how do you avoid that?
Cupcakeclaydelights thats what I'm trying to figure out too. Happens every single time. I wash the crap out of my hands the surfaces I'm using, the tools, EVERYTHING. Then the first piece of clay I roll into a ball is covered in and full of stupid little fibers and dirt. It is SO frustrating.
Clean your hands right before you handle the clay
Roll a ball of white waste clay first as a decoy.
Lea Seidman yes
Tape works really well to clean unseeable pieces of link and dust from your hands
Hi I was wondering what type of camera or video camera are you using because it is wonderful zooming in and out
Hi Javiera Bustamante I am not totally sure, I would have to ask my husband since he is the camera guy, but he's out right now. I think it is a Sony HD Digital Video Camera but I don't know what model it is.
Thanks so much Cindy. This is a great help
Can you show how to make the best marble type beads? Thank you.
Hi Deborah Tawadros I will put your suggestion on the list! Thanks for commenting!
I use nail polish remover! It works amazing!
Hi CafeCharms I bet it does work great! But the smell is pretty bad compared to rubbing alcohol and much more expensive. Rubbing alcohol is also awesome for removing permanent markers like Sharpies and alcohol ink. It is a staple in my studio.
+polymerclaytutor u don't always have to be right I Buy nail polish remover and I use it to clean dust off of my BAKED creations cuz the acetone removes a layer of the clay taking off the lint. Also the nail polish remover I use doesn't smell bad >.
Thank you
What a life saver!
Hmm so this is about un-done sculptures. How about if anything sticks to the clay while it's already prepared to bake piece? Won't the alcohol eat the clay? :o
Hi, could you please tell me if this method can be used on baked polymer clay? Thanks x
Just a random question, but do you have to use a pasta machine? If you use a rolling pin would you achieve the same results?
Hi Cindy, I can't say I've heard of isopropyl before, doing a Google it said it doesn't dissolve plastics, so I'm guessing it's better to use then acetone for cleaning up polymer?
Hi ChickenFromTheMoon I would not use Acetone on raw clay, it is too harsh. I would only use it for baked clay. As far as Isopropyl Alcohol goes, it is probably called something else in the UK where you're from. It is also called Rubbing Alcohol here in Canada. It is the stuff that doctors use to disinfect your skin before giving you a needle. You should be able to find the equivalent in your local pharmacy. If you find out what it is called let us know. We have lots of people here from all over the world, and I am sure they would appreciate knowing.
PolymerClayTutor
I did a google search - Amazon.co.uk sells isopropyl 99.9% and 70% rubbing alcohol - one of the reviewers on Amazon says they are originally from the US and were upset when they moved here and couldn't get it in the UK, so they are relieved that Amazon is selling it. I also believe you can get it on eBay.
PolymerClayTutor I believe it's called Surgical Spirits here, had to take a bit of a look around, couldn't remember offhand. Didn't find any brand names online though but apparently it is purchasable in some chain super stores and drug stores.
Surgical Spirit is almost the same - it has something added to it to stop people drinking it!!
ChickenFromTheMoon Well isn't that cool! Thank you so much for coming back and letting us know! Now I have another set of names to add to my personal dictionary. :)
99 % ALCOHOL :O i gotta go to costco noW XD and i prefer the Lysol wipes! ive been using the baby ones but they don't do much and lyson comes more damp than the baby ones, so you can clean more than once :P
I use nail polish remover to remove the dust in my charms when its already baked. it works really good for me. but one question, when i clean my charms before they are baked i use baby wipes to clean them. but its a pain to do so because my clay de-forms (loses its shape) and its really bugging me. so do i need the clay to be stiffer? if so,how do i make it harder?
+Jade Trevino put hand sanitizer on before using clay, the hand sanitizer burns bacteria on your hands c:
Tereza Diy thanks so much 😇
your welcome :D
i have a few surfaes that are a bit more details than just a little ball and dont want to mess up the shape too badly. do you have any tips for cleaning clay sculptures like tiny faces and hands?
Try using Rubbing Alcohol on a paintbrush, that can be quite helpful for removing lint and specks from tiny details. Good luck!
@@PolymerClayTutor thankyou. How long should i wait to bake it after i clean it? It sais its flamable
It evaporates instantly, so you can bake it right away.
@@PolymerClayTutor oh awesome thankyou
Thanks for the tips.
very useful tips. Tks a lot :3
Very helpfulll thank you
Doesnt nail polish remover work?? ive heard that somewhere
Yes it does and it even works better!
thanks so much!
Thank you this was super helpful i just did all my cleaning to use my white clay got it out and my black cat decided he wanted to just up right onto the white clay i just got out lol. Unfortunately i cant put him anywhere as i live in a studio and feel it would be mean and a bit bloody mess if i put my two black cats and black dog in my small bathroom while i work on my charms.lol
does it still work if we already baked the clay
No, sorry
Do you seal your earings after baking, or is this even necessary? Thank you
Polymer clay is plastic... so it doesn't need to be sealed unless you put a powder or gold leaf or something that needs protecting, or you want it extra shiny or matte. If it is just clay and you like how it looks , then there is no need to seal it.
do these methods only work on white clay?
No, you can use this method on any type or color of polymer clay.
Ahh you saved me! I clean my service and hand but for some reason I keep getting dust in my clay
Will the clay still take chalk and paint after having alcohol on it? Thank you
thank-you for the excellent information :) please make more tutorials.
I clean my hands keep surface clean and wearing a non fluffy top still getting black fluff in my clay :S
Can I use nail polish remover
Yes it's working for me. :)
Where do u live in canada
Hi crazy monkey I live near Vancouver, in British Columbia.
So you can bake clay that got rubbing alcohol on?
eriinliindsey Yes, it evaporates almost instantly and is safe to bake.
Hi cindy I recently purchased somw surgical spirit which I believe is the same as rubbing alchol here in the uk. Firstly it says nothing to do with isopropyl on it, it says castor oil and methyl salicylate??? Any ideas, is this the same??? Also the most important thing im worried about is... the bottle says HIGHLY FLAMMABLE!!! Im worried because im rubbing this all over my pieces before they go in the oven, is this safe??? Thanks , Reece
I just used 70% rubbing alcohol on some charms and I too just saw that it says it's highly flammable and so I'm scared to put it in the oven. I did run my charms under the sink so maybe that washed it off enough? I'm not sure...let's hope Cindy can help :-)
Jennica Gradlie Hi Jennica, yes Rubbing Alcohol is Highly flammable and you should not have the liquid near any open flame or the bottle near the oven. When using it on polymer clay however, the flammable alcohol dries very quickly and dissipates into the air and is no longer an issue. As long as your clay pieces are dry after you have wiped them with the rubbing alcohol, there is no risk of catching on fire once you put them in the oven. Do be very careful with the bottle of liquid though, not to get it anywhere near a heat source, which would be a risk for catching on fire!
Hi Mr 3GGy 1999 Hmmm... I thought they were the same product... someone from the UK said they were. As far as using the Surgical Spirit with Castor oil in it, I don't know whether that will work the same as the Isopropyl Alcohol goes. I can't really test it either, since I don't have access to it to try it. An as far as the flammability after using it on clay... that I don't know either. With the Isopropyl Alcohol, it gasses off almost immediately and is not a fire hazard when used on polymer clay. (Of course the liquid itself is very flammable and should not be used near heat of open flame at all!) The caster oil may be a problem though, since I don't think it would gas off the same way... but there is oil in the clay... so I don't know... might be best not to use it unless you can get info from the manufacturer or something that can reassure you that it is safe. Excellent question! Sorry I don't have a better answer for you!
PolymerClayTutor Thanks so much!
PolymerClayTutor thanks Cindy, i recently tried it on the clay and it removed alot of the lint and dust so i'm assuming it is the same thing, also i watched in the oven as i was a bit worried but all was fine, i'm guessing it is the same as isopropyl alcohol!
I have two bottles of 70%. Does that still work, or does it work, but not very well?
do these things work on all colors of clay?
Hi Joel Nostrl Yes these tricks work for all colors of polymer clay.
instead of using alchol can i use nail polish remover? :)
Hi silvercookie sure you can use nail polish remover, but the rubbing alcohol is cheaper.
ok thx
Super helpful and pertinent. I am working at my kitchen table until I can have a "secure" work area. Four cats and one Long Coat Akita supervising my work very closely = lots of fur. I have also replaced on of the burner grates on my gas stove with a 12x12 granite tile from DIY store for a smooth rolling and building surface.
I'll try this one, I just can't with white clay !!!!
I use nail polish remover
Would you like to do a polymer clay charms swap?
I struggle so much to find alcohol in the UK :'( We just don't seem to have it
Claire Bear you can get it through amazon.co.uk. medical-grade ethanol, all pharmacists sell it, but it's called “surgical spirit”. Look for a designated pharmacist, or for a large supermarket such as Morrison's which has a specialist pharmacy counter.
@@PetroicaRodinogaster264 I managed to find some on ebay, £6 for 500ml T_T
if anyone has any tips for cleaning cold porcelain clay, I would really appreciate it! I can't find any advice for getting dust and fibers off of this type of clay.
It was very helpful but my problem is that I made a sheep out of white polymer clay and it is already baked and is dirty. Help!!
Late reply but you can use this method before baking and then after baking I use acetone. (Known as nail polish remover)
This might seem like a stupid question lol but I'm just getting started with polymer clay and was wondering if you'd also recommend just a coat of white acrylic paint to help brighten the white clay back up? I paint a lot so I have a lot of white paint and thought this might be a good idea as well. I know you can paint the clay so I guess the answer is yes you can but I guess I'm asking if you'd recommend this as a solution lol :) any help would be greatly appreciate :)
I've done that before where I get lazy with my white clay and just paint over it after baking. It depends though on preference because sometimes painting one part of your piece can make it look weird as paint tends to have a brush stroke texture and maybe get lumpy and uneven. (Late reply lol)
i wouldn't reccomend paint tho :/ ive tried it and it doesnt work very well
+xannax14x to prevent brush strokes try watering down your paint and do many thin water coats
No because you can't bake the paint as its toxic and it would go funny. Best to have as clean a working environment as possible to avoid the dirt in the first place. I got sharpie pen ink on mine as I drew a stencil on baking paper and the ink went through onto the White clay 😰
+MaZEEZaM She means after you bake it.
does anyone find that the clay becomes really sticky after doing this and that you get loads of fingerprints in it?
It can make the clay surface sticky, especially with certain brands. Just let the clay dry a bit before handling. That should help.
My daughter doesn't really have a work surface till we move and we just need to clean the clay so give us a little comment plz thx BTW I like your videos so does my daughter
Krissy York any surface you work on like the table, the counter, etc is a work surface. If you want your clay clean, then the area you work in needs to be clean as well as your clay.
Dint should be a word
dint!
dint xD
Its called.. use a tarp and wrap your sculpture in stand in it. 33 own a company and sculpt professional lol 61 million views on these videos.. when you can just put it in a kelm.
I have two bottles of 70%. Does that still work, or does it work, but not very well?