Is homemade play dough safer than store-bought Play-Doh?
Based on 1 peer-reviewed studybaby
Verdict: Safer
Yes, if made with simple ingredients. No fragrance, no preservatives.
What's actually in it
Homemade play dough is flour, salt, water, cream of tartar, oil, and food coloring. No fragrance, no preservatives. It lasts a few weeks in a sealed container.
What the research says
A 2025 screening study in Environ Sci Technol found fragrance and preservatives across kids' products. Homemade play dough skips both.
Recipe: 1 cup flour, 1/4 cup salt, 2 tsp cream of tartar, 1 cup water, 1 tbsp oil. Cook over low heat stirring until it forms a ball. Add food coloring during mixing.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical signatures for household consumer products. | Environ Sci Technol | 2025 |
What to use instead
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