Is powdered alum dangerous in play dough?

Question

I have used this for a long time to make homemade play dough for my kids to play with. I know it is used to make pickles too. Is it dangerous to use for play dough that children play with? If so why is it so easy to get and placed in the spice section of the super market? This is a link to a page that made me wonder. Is this the same kind of powdered alum we are talking about? http://www.geocities.com/adelecarrall/adelemountain.html

Answer 1

I also use alum in my student's playdough.  It does not replace cream of tartar.  Cream of tartar makes the playdough softer/smoother.  Alum acts as a preservative in the playdough--it prevents mold.  It's really not needed.  I use it because I keep my playdough around for a week or two--usually two.  I guess if your kids eat large amounts of playdough, I wouldn't use it.  I doubt they'd absorb enough through the skin just by playing with it.

Answer 2

ooh I would go with the cream of tartar recipe.  That's the one I've always used.  Works great and totally safe, since kids just LOVE to eat play dough.  Never understood that haha I'm sure it can't be that yummy!

Answer 3

In the place of powdered alum, we use 1 tablespoon of cream of tartar.  Here is our recipe for "Kool-aid playdough", that smells good and can be colored with the packets of koolaid:

Kool-Aid Playdough

Measure and mix together in a bowl:

2 ½ cups of flour

½ cup salt

1 Tbsp. cream of tartar

2 pkgs of unsweetened Kool-Aid

Boil 2 cups of water.  Add to dry ingredients with 3 Tbsp. of oil.

Knead together until well mixed, and let cool.  Store in a plastic baggy or covered container in the refrigerator to last the longest.

You can make all different colors from one batch by putting in the Kool-Aid after you have mixed the dough and separated it into smaller sections.

This playdough is easy to make, lasts for a long time, and smells delicious!

Answer 4

It does not really present harm to your children.

Answer 5

yikes - perhaps you should find a different recipe for your homemade play doh.  We make our own play doh and it doesn't have this substance in it so it's not necessary.