Useful tips on how to remove plasticine

Plasticine is a wonderful material for children's creativity. It develops fine motor skills and promotes mental development, but sticking to various surfaces becomes a problem.

The plastic pieces contain wax, paraffin, dyes and fats. It’s not difficult to get rid of a colored stain; the main problem is a greasy stain that will make mom work hard.

In this article we will tell you how and with what you can remove plasticine from wallpaper, carpet, table, skin and hair, and toys.

How to remove a fresh stain?

Before the plasticine has time to melt and penetrate deep into the surface structure, it must be removed. The primary task is to get rid of the colored cake in any way possible. It can be heated to gently peel it off using paper, or frozen.

The next stage is to eliminate the greasy trace from the plastic mass. Here You can use any product from the housewife’s arsenal:

• soda;
• ammonia;
• laundry soap;
• dishwashing liquid;
• stain remover

You need to choose a method for cleaning the surface taking into account the material from which the item is made.

Temperature effect

Modeling mass has an interesting physical property - it changes structure under the influence of temperature.In the cold, plasticine loses its plasticity and becomes hard. Its melting point is low, so when it comes into contact with hands, heating devices and warm air, it practically “floats”. This property can be used by the hostess.

First method (cold):

1. Place the product in the freezer.
2. Wait until the mixture hardens (no more than 20 minutes).
3. Tear off the cake using tweezers.

It is not recommended to separate the plasticine with your hands; it may melt again. If the surface is large, for example, a carpet, you can use ice cubes for freezing.

Second method (hot):

1. Spread the product on a flat surface.
2. Cover the stain with a thick sheet of paper.
3. Iron with a heated iron until the mass sticks to the sheet.

Both methods involve subsequent washing to remove the greasy mark from the plasticine cake and treating the affected area with special products.

Folk recipes

If plasticine gets on the surface, you need to act quickly. If there are no special means at hand, you can use the improvised materials that can be found in every home.

Laundry soap

An effective method to solve the problem on textile surfaces. It is necessary to use soap with a fatty acid content of 72%.

Algorithm of actions:

• soak the soiled item for 15 minutes in warm water;
• treat the area with plasticine with laundry soap;
• leave for 30 minutes;
• clean off the plastic mass with a brush;
• wash the product as usual.

Ammonia

You can fight pigment residues and greasy stains with ammonia.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Prepare a solution of 200 ml of water and 10 drops of ammonia.
2. Soak a cotton swab in the liquid.
3. Treat the contaminated area.
4. Rinse the product in cool water.

The method is not suitable for delicate fabrics.

Sunflower oil

A component that the housewife always has at hand. The product can be used on plastic and rubber surfaces.

Instructions for use on fabrics:

• soak the swab in oil;
• process the plasticine cake with it;
• rub the dirt with your hands so that the sticky mass rolls off;
• Carefully remove the pellets.

The main disadvantage of the method is the need to remove the greasy stain after treatment.

The effect of sunflower oil on stuck plasticine - in the video:

Industrial products

Household chemicals that will help cope with the problem can be divided into 4 groups:

1. Bleaches, stain removers, washing liquids - work well on textile surfaces.
2. Solvents with an aggressive composition are used in extreme cases.
3. Car care products – effective on large plastic areas.
4. Cooling agents are universal “saviors”.

When choosing household chemicals, you should avoid aggressive components, since their areas of application are often children's clothing and toys. Popular with housewives:

Vanish Oxi Action Stain Remover

Liquid concentrate for different types of fabrics does not contain chlorine, copes with all types of stains, including old ones. Removes pigment residues and greasy stains after contact of fabric with plasticine. Price for 1 liter – 400 rubles.

Freezing spray for chewing gum Axel-9 Anti-gum

Fights the sticky mass of chewing gum and plasticine on any surface. Just spray it and remove the dirt. Must be stored out of the reach of children.The price for a 0.3 l cylinder is 700 rubles.

Frau Schmidt universal liquid soap

Product without phosphates and chlorine Designed to remove stubborn stains from textile surfaces. Does not cause allergic reactions. Price for 500 ml 300 rubles.

Features of cleaning various surfaces

Each material requires an individual approach to combat adhering mass. Sometimes, to achieve a goal, you have to use more than one recipe, but combine several.

Fabric and clothing

To remove plasticine from a textile surface, you can use the physical properties of the creative material, that is, heat or freeze. An alternative option is to use one proven by housewives. budget way:

1. Grind a piece of laundry soap on a grater.
2. Add hydrogen peroxide to the shavings until a paste forms.
3. Apply the product to the contaminated area.
4. Clean the plasticine with a toothbrush.
5. Wash the item.

The method is suitable for cleaning clothes, upholstery and tablecloths. Before processing curtains and drapes, they must be removed.

Table

From flat and hard surfaces (shelves, tables, armrests, cabinets) the cake can be scraped off. You need to act carefully so as not to damage the top layer, otherwise the next step will be removing scratches from the furniture.

Carpet

It is very difficult to scrape off a stuck cake from the pile surface; most likely, the plasticine will remain in place, and the size of the stain will increase.

If the method turned out to be effective, get rid of the remnants a cloth soaked in purified kerosene will help.

It’s easier to take advantage of the physical properties of the colored mass - freeze it with an ice cube or melt it with a hairdryer and transfer it to a thick sheet of paper. Any greasy stain left on the carpet can be removed using dishwashing liquid (such as Fairy). The method is suitable for cleaning fabric upholstery.

How to remove plasticine from a carpet, read this article.

Wallpaper

The algorithm of actions resembles the process of removing colored cakes from fabric. But there are subtleties. If the walls are covered with paper wallpaper, you cannot use ammonia, soda or kerosene. This will completely ruin the appearance of the coating.

It is also difficult to remove plasticine from embossed wallpaper. To do this, use a thin needle, then wash the surface with a brush dipped in a soap solution.

You can try to peel off the sticky mass with the same material. A small piece will help remove plasticine from the wallpaper. He will tell you more about removing plasticine from wallpaper. this publication.

Plastic

Plastic also reacts to temperature changes. In the cold it becomes brittle, and contact with heat causes it to melt. Safe way to remove sticky stuff from plastic toys or PVC furniture:

• apply vegetable oil to a cloth;
• treat the problem area;
• remove excess fat with soap solution;
• Wipe the surface with a cloth soaked in clean water.

The product is not suitable for cleaning soft toys. Freezing and washing will help textiles.

Tips for cleaning toys from plasticine - in the video:

Hair

It is not worth experimenting on hair with aggressive components.

After the procedure, you should thoroughly wash your hair several times to get rid of stickiness and oily shine.

Leather

The sculptor’s hands are the first to suffer during sculpting. To put them in order, it is necessary to assess the scale of the problem:

• light contamination can be removed by washing with warm water and baby soap;
• a strong soap-scrub with a natural composition will help remove;
• the plasticine under the nails will disappear after a fifteen-minute bath with soapy water.

If no method gives 100% results, you need to use oil. Any will do: baby for the body, sunflower, olive, and so on. A simple and pleasant way for a child to get rid of multi-colored marks is to take a bath.

Tips for parents

You can avoid problems with plasticine sticking if use some simple tips:

1. Set aside a special place for creativity.
2. Provide your baby with clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
3. Do not leave the child alone while sculpting.
4. After playing, remove materials and instruments to a specially designated storage area.

There is an option for “lazy” parents - buying plasticine in plastic containers. It does not leave stains, does not stick to surfaces and dries with prolonged contact with air. It has disadvantages - a short period of use and the price is an order of magnitude higher.

Conclusion

Plasticine stuck to the surface is a problem that needs to be addressed immediately. There are many ways to get rid of sticky mass and its traces. All of them require time, effort and do not provide a 100% guarantee.

But this is not a reason to deprive your child of entertainment. After all, bright pieces help a child develop, explore the world around him and develop creative abilities.