Recently, our Family Pottery teacher, Shelly Sarin, asked our volunteers to rejuvenate the dry, hardened clay which her students were unable to use. We decided to document the process, and found it to be pretty easy after all!
Step 1
Break the clay into small pieces, if you can, and place it in a shallow container. Fill about halfway with water and cover overnight.
Step 2
Clay is porous, so it will absorb most of the water. Once it has softened, it will be too wet to store right away. Spread the clay over a plaster slab to absorb any extra fluid. Press out any lumps.
Step 3
After about five minutes, the clay will easily peel from the surface of the slab.
Step 4
Roll the clay back and forth and form into a ball. Make sure to clear the slab completely.
Step 5
Wedge the clay on a board for several minutes. Similar to kneading dough, wedging will remove any air pockets.
Step 6
If you don’t plan on using the clay right away, wrap it in a moistened cloth. Avoid using paper towels, because they stick to the clay and can grow mold.
Step 7
Store your clay in a tightly sealed plastic bag.
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