Kinetic sand is a relatively new plaything that has already gained popularity both among kids and adults! It comes in a wide variety of colors and you can make the craziest things with this “toy”!
Parents especially love it since kinetic sand allows their children to develop and master their fine motor skills. Besides, kinetic sand is a great way to keep your kid busy for a while so that you can have some time for yourself!
However, once you get this stuff in your house, you have another question to worry about and this question is how to store kinetic sand. Storing it in plastic bags might not be the best idea since, if the package gets damaged, the content will end up on the floor.
But where is it best to keep this thing then?
No worries, moms and dads, today you will get the answer! We will tell you how to store kinetic sand, what containers to use for it, how long it lasts, and how to revive it if you assume that the plaything is not doing well.
How to Properly Store Your Kinetic Sand?
So, you bought your kid that magical kinetic sand. Great job! Now your little tornado is busy trying to mold some futuristic buildings and other crazy things in his or her room.
But when the fun time is out, you will face a dilemma of each and every parent: where to store that stuff? And how to do that?!
You can’t just keep it exposed to air because kinetic sand will dry out and become useless. And also, that means a lot of kid’s tears and screams. Not an option, for sure! But what then? Some parents give it a try and store kinetic sand in packets the plaything comes in when you buy it.
It could be an option, but usually, those packets are not resealable which means that sooner or later, moisture might get into the package and make the sand get moldy slowly.
And one horrible day, you will hear your kid crying like hell because his magical sand is not magical anymore!
So what we suggest is that you get a kinetic sand container! Simple yet very handy solution! You might object that there are no specific containers for storing this stuff, and we will agree.
However, you don’t need a specific one! For storing kinetic sand, you can opt for one of the following alternatives:
- Kitty litter tray (no jokes!)
- Plastic container with a lid (like those you keep your kiddo’s LEGO)
In addition, you will need some zip plastic packets. Already interested? Then keep on reading! Actually, the general scheme is very simple.
Once you buy kinetic sand and you open its package, you take the content out and put it into a zip plastic bag. Make sure that you squeeze the air out of each zip packet before you seal it!
Also, ensure that the sand and the packet are both dry and moisture-free. Otherwise, the sand will start growing mold slowly until one day it gets completely useless. And by the way, if you buy the sand of different colors, get several zip bags, one for each color.
Once this step is done, and your kinetic sand is re-packed into zip bags and sealed properly and tightly, it’s time to reach for a kitty litter tray!
What you need to do is to put those zip bags with kinetic sand into the tray and cover it with a cling film – again to prevent the moisture from getting in.
If you decide to use plastic containers with lids, just place the zip bags with kinetic sand into the container, and seal the lid.
In case you need to quickly find a proper storage place for your kid’s kinetic sand, and you have no kitty litter trays or plastic containers at hand, simply put the sand into a clean and dry plastic tank and cover it tightly with a cling film.
It will work for a while until you get a proper storage tank for the plaything.
How Long Does Kinetic Sand Last?
One great thing about the kinetic sand is that, unlike the Play Dough, for example, it is way more durable and long-lasting. Just to compare: if you leave the containers with the PlayDough unsealed, the thing will get dry pretty fast and thus completely useless.
With the kinetic sand, it’s totally different.
Even if you leave it exposed to air, it is not going to dry. The only downside of doing so is that you will sooner or later (rather sooner than later!) have all that sand scattered around the house. And guess who will do that?
So basically, kinetic sand has a limitless period of shelf life.
However, it is still recommended to keep an eye on how and where you store it. See, this plaything may grow mold if moisture gets onto or into it!
So if you want your kinetic sand to remain safe for your kids, you should seal it either in zip plastic bags or in the plastic container with a tight lid.
Related: How Long Do Helium Balloons Last?
How to Tell If Kinetic Sand Is Bad
Does kinetic sand go bad? Well, basically, it doesn’t. You already know that this plaything doesn’t get dry so you don’t have to worry about it drying out if left exposed to air uncovered.
The only bad thing that can happen in this case is that your children will mess around with the sand.
The only visible sign that might show your kinetic sand is not doing well is mold. Yep, this plaything can get moldy if it is exposed to moisture (for instance, if water gets onto it or into it).
So if you notice anything that reminds you of mold, you should throw that “spoiled” part of kinetic sand away.
It is better than trying to sanitize it or remove the molded area! See, mold can grow pretty deeply and even if you remove the visual signs of it, there is always the chance that some spores are still left somewhere deep in the sand. So better discard it all for good!
Related: How to Organize a Toy Room on a Budget
How to Revive Kinetic Sand?
Even though kinetic sand is not something that can easily get ruined, sometimes even this stuff may need your help! So even if you explained to your kid that this plaything must not get wet, be ready that your son or daughter come up to you asking for help with…totally soaked plaything!
Fortunately, reviving kinetic sand is pretty easy! If you wonder how to fix kinetic sand that got wet, you just need to find a flat and stiff surface like a table top or even a baking sheet, and spread the sand all over it.
When it is dry again, the sand will easily return to its initial shape and regain its magical powers!
Another issue that parents often face is that kinetic sand gets way too sticky. It also happens because this plaything gets too wet. When kinetic sand contains excessive moisture, it becomes similar to ordinary sand from a beach. It gets heavier and thicker, and yes, it also becomes way more sticky!
So the solution is exactly the same as you would use for reviving the moisted kinetic sand! Find a flat surface and spread the sand over it to air dry the thing! Once moisture is away, the plaything will be back to normal.
What Is Kinetic Sand?
Many parents and older kids often wonder what kinetic sand is when they first see and try this fun plaything.
Indeed, this stuff may seem to be a sort of a mystery at first! It looks like ordinary sand and, well, it feels like one, but unlike the sand we all know and that can be found on any beach, kinetic sand holds together and can be molded without adding water to it!
So what is it in fact? Well, if you think that kinetic sand is a sort of regular sand, you are right. To a certain point. This plaything is indeed a regular sand that is covered with silicone oil. It is thanks to the silicone oil that kinetic sand holds together and doesn’t fall apart.
See, silicone oils have unique properties in them. To be precise, they can be liquids that flow freely, or at the same time, these oils can act like semi-solids that flow slowly in the absence of pressure, but act like rubbery solids under stress.
With kinetic sand, the polymer chains within the silicone oil make the sand particles stick together so you can form them into a ball. However, the ball will slowly flatten out over time.
At the same time, this is what allows this plaything to remain non-stick and easy to clean up – a precious feature for any parent!
So, now you have learned how to keep your kinetic sand at home, what containers will fit for this purpose better than others, and what should be avoided if you don’t want to “reanimate” the plaything every single day after your kids reach for it.
Also, you are now aware that this stuff can last technically endlessly – of course, if you remember to store it according to our recommendations.
In general, kinetic sand is a fun thing and a great way for a kid to not only develop his or her fine motor skills, but also to play with a “toy” that allows you to imagine you are at the beach building sand castles!
With the variety of colors and the ability to be molded and gain nearly any shape, kinetic sand is cool stuff for practicing your kid’s creativity – as well as your own!
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