How to Keep Polymer Clay Clean ✧･ﾟ

My Beginner Polymer Clay Course 💛 → valeriewaistudios.podia.com/
------
Hello friends 💛
This has been a long requested video and I've finally got around to finishing it 😂 This is a comprehensive guide to everything I do to keep my clay clean 💛 I hope you'll find this useful! Please leave a comment, like and subscribe if you did 🥹 it really, really helps me out! If you have any other questions, let me know in the comments I have a pretty good streak of replying to all KZbin comments 🥰
Happy sculpting!
Sending you love,
- Val
⏰ Time Stamps ⭐
0:00 Intro
0:30 Choosing the right clay
1:56 Cleaning your workspace
3:49 Cleaning unbaked clay
5:24 Cleaning baked clay
8:18 BONUS: Alternative to cleaning
🍓 Patreon: / valeriewaistudios
⭐️ IG: / valeriewaistudios
🌱 TikTok: / valeriewaistudios
☁️ Shop: www.valeriewai.com
🎨 My most used materials:
- Polymer Clay (Sculpey Premo, Fimo, Fimo Soft)
- UV Resin
🎵 Music from Epidemic Sound ☁️

[@Crapotto]

It shows how much doing polymer clay still isn't easy despite your skill level... Thanks for all the tips!

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Thank you for watching Bleriotte ❤Dust is the bain of our existence regardless of skill level 🤣

[@HYZE0809]

All dis wisdom and protip for free 😮‍💨🤧 clay artists are blessed everywhere on this day

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

🥹 heheheh thanks dusty 💛 I sure hope it was helpful to some 🫶

[@refabricationsart]

This is the most complete clay cleaning tutorial I've ever seen. Thanks!

[@GloobisTheKid]

I really thought I was completely incompetent but was just using sculpey 3 lmfao

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

The first question I ask anyone when they say they struggle with polymer clay is are you using sculpey 3 🥹 I hope you give it another try 💛 !

[@rosemangofairy]

I don't even make clays, but this video was so calm and soothing for me 🥺💕. You've convinced me to try them out!

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

This makes me so happy 🥹💛 thank you so much for spending a few minutes with me, I hope you have lots of fun with polymer clay 🥰

[@BlueMaroonAnimations]

I used to use Sculpy III all the time as a kid and i wpuld get so frustrated with my finger prints being everywhere! Glad to know it wasnt just me lol. This video made me really miss working with clay, maybe when my kids are older i will induldge in some sculpting with them ❤

[@citrusbutter7718]

3 other things i do is wipe my glass work surface with 90% alcohol between work or color changes, and for small cleaning like suspecting dust, i dilute any percentage of alcohol with water 50/50 in a small spray bottle, spray and wipe so there's hardly any dust. I also alcohol my tools between work and color changes. When i do get dust on the clay i switch between a q-tip and 90% alcohol and using my sharp or pointy tools to dig, cut, or scrape the dust out which is usually tiny lint like fibers. I scrape and cut dust out while i'm conditioning the clay, and usually use the q-tip while i'm sculpting, but my favorite is cutting or pulling the lint out since it's more efficient and don't leave fibers behind in the process itself the way q-tips sometimes can with their cotton heads. I run a designated piece of translucent polymer clay through my pasta machine to get dust off and also to pick up any color residues off the rollers, and i only use that piece of translucent clay for the pasta machine. Eventually when it becomes too dirty i'll add it to the scraps as filler clays. Translucent for anyone who don't know because it's the cleanest clay that wont leave behind any color residue itself. I also use a plastic cake cover to cover work in progress clays when i step away from the table, ive found you get your work dirtier when you transfer them from table to storage bins, so unless i'm done and the next step is baking i just leave it on the table under a cake cover.

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

I love this thank you for sharing 🥹❤ Forgot to mention it in the video but I definitely cover my work if I'm not done working on it with some parchment paper, but using a cake cover is a PHENOMENAL idea! 🤌

[@citrusbutter7718]

@@ValerieWaiStudios Dollar tree is a life saver. I use both the available sizes they carry.

[@echostarpals]

Definitely using these tips! The translucent clay tip is brilliant!

[@hannaholdham6440]

I also really love rolling a piece of Blu-tac in between my hands. It's usually for hanging posters and such, but can be found at any craft store & Wal-Mart. It's very accessible. 😁😁😁😁

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

That's such an awesome tip!! Thank you for sharing 🥰

[@kupotenshi]

I don't even make clay figures but this was really interesting! I love how much care you put into your craft.

[@abbyjentson2563]

you have such a cute style!!! Loveeee the way you do faces, it is so illustrative and I've never seen that translate so well into clay pieces!

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

oh my goodness thank you so much 🥹💛 that's so kind of you to say! thank you for watching 💛

[@heliologist4216]

Thank you so much for this video, I finally feel more confident in selling clay stuff now that I know I won't be selling dust balls! :)

[@MegaMagicGoat]

I can't believe your pieces are handmade, they're so beautiful 😍

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Thank you so so much 🥹💛

[@KaleidoSaurus]

Question, when you put pieces together so gently, do you ever worry that when they bake they will fall apart or do you use liquid clay or a glue to properly adhere pieces together before baking?

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Hi there 🥹 Yes I do worry about that! I don't always show it in my process videos, but when I put two larger/3D pieces together, I often use Sculpey bake and bond, or metal armatures underneath or I blend the edges down carefully before baking to ensure the two pieces adhere together securely. I usually only press 2 pieces together and leave it at that if I am attaching a flatter piece of clay onto another, ie) a flat circle for an eye to the face etc. I usually don't have trouble with those features adhering after baking 🥰

[@crystalpackard4550]

Do you know if there is much difference between bake and bond and liquid Sculpey? So far I have only got the liquid Sculpey. I've played around with polymer clay in the past. I've gone a long period of not doing any of my art or crafts because I'm really sick. Now I feel like trying again but I have to be careful. I need to make it all as easy as possible due to pain and weakness. So I'm looking for any tips. We have 2 dogs and a cat too and there's so much pet hair 😂 I'm definitely going to get some lint rollers. Thanks

[@benaedryl]

Thanks for going into great detail in every step of the way, and for sharing your process with everyone. This is the first video of yours I've seen and I can't wait to explore your channel to see your creations that you've sampled here.

[@ruwgirl]

Loved this Val☺️ 💞 now I feel inspired to make something with my clay today. Whenever I see the finished pieces of any clay artist I tend to think that they achieved that perfect piece with no hassles like dust and stuff 🙄 Congrats again on getting your plushie into production, yay 🙌🥰

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Aww thank you Ru! 🥰 I'm so glad this gives you a little motivation 💛 would love to see your pieces if you wanna share 🥹 hope you're having a wonderful week! 🥰

[@Onewa]

Your creations are SO CUUUTE!

[@roliyasawhney2552]

If it’s already baked and theirs something or dirt embedded inside still, you could paint over it with the same color as that clay

[@warmhugs.x]

my clays r always so dirty and i used to paint clays, now i use coloured clay. THIS VID HELPED ME A LOT THANK U SM!!

[@thesweetestperson]

Thank you so much! Thank you for honest tips and examples 🧡 I found a good clay I'm comfortable to work with, but it gets dirty SO easily 😭😭 So I had to paint on it (which actually opened a whole new world for me🤩) but sometimes it's not a part of the plan

[@chulipart]

Great video! Loved to see your process 🥰

[@Toltecgrl]

Thanks for all those good tips! I always baked on a ceramic tile and didn’t realize we can bake some other way. No wonder my items would get that shiny look on the bottom

[@cocotig]

Thank you so much for this tutorial I've been having so many problems and questions with clay sculpting and you answered so many of them x

[@ridiculouscuteness3]

This was really helpful! I am just beginning to work with polymer clay and learned a bunch of new things.

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

I'm so happy it was helpful 🥹💛 thank you so much for watching!

[@PrincessGrumps]

This was truly amazing ❤ and much appreciated 🙏

[@superfriendlyalpaca]

Ohh thank you sooo much for making this video and generously sharing all your wisdom!!! This is soo clear and informative 😍😍

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

I'm sooo glad this was helpful for you!! 🥹💛 thank you soo much for being here!

[@karacupp4765]

Thanks for the tips! This is the most informative video I've seen about cleaning polymer clay!

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

I’m so glad it was helpful 🥹 thank you so much for watching 💕!

[@lostyle]

This is super helpful! Thank you. My work station is usually very messy and dirty, so I will try these cleaning on my next craft. 🙏

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Thank you so much for watching 🥰!! I hope you got to try out these tips hehe!

[@Nipponhero_KN]

Thank you for teaching us the recipe for the SECRET SAUCE Loved the brief OOTD lookbook LOL

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

LOLOL That was SO awks to film for me 😂 thank you kaz!! ❤

[@littlep420]

Your clay charms are so amazing!!! You are so talented !!!😱😱😱🥹🥹🥹☺️☺️☺️

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Thank you so so much 😭💛

[@Strenger_planet]

Thnx. This tutorial is so much helpful.

[@amermaidstudio]

I love the lint roller idea and paper towel idea, they really helping, thanks

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

I’m so glad it was helpful!! 🥰 thank you for watching 💛

[@datedarcher6956]

THIS HELPED SO MUCH THANK YOU

[@OtakuBoxes]

Such a helpful video! I haven't worked with clay in....decades. This was just the pick-me-up I needed to get motivated again. Love your artwork and your process!

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Thank you so much for tuning in 🥰 I'm so glad this helped give a bit of motivation and I hope you have lots of fun creating with clay again 💛

[@PlanetYokoshima]

Your crafts make me so happy and feel warm and fuzzy inside☺️

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Thank you so much that's so kind of you 🥹 !

[@citrusgoldfish]

Awesome tips!!! And love your work

[@sim0nka__561]

this was a very helpful video! thank you

[@Fire_ov_Renewal]

Thank YOU! Im gonna start doing sculpey!!!

[@mothcraft]

Super helpful!!

[@debbijay]

Oh my gosh, thank you thank you so very much for all your information and expertise shared! BEST VIDEO EVER on this subject. New subbie here from Australia 🦘🦘🦘 I shall now spend my day watching all your content etc. Can't believe I only found you today! Wishing you all the best for your business!

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

I'm so glad this was helpful Debbi and thank you so much for subscribing 🥹 sending you love 💛

[@greeninju]

This video shows how masters become a master

[@RG_Eph]

Thank you so much:) Also your music selection is lovely and made me happy. I normally struggle to get through videos with music I hate

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Awe thank you so much 🥹 That means a lot to me!

[@PaolaLaborda]

great tips! Thank you!

[@Artsycici]

I add different types of textures on the clay. It works if it comes to white clay 😊 Btw, these tips are so helpful! I have tried most of them and they work pretty fine

[@user-xh1ze9mb6f]

They’re so cute❤

[@janiezyje]

Thank you for making this informative video, it's definitely helpful.

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Awe thank you so much for watching 🥹💛 !

[@PoojaKarkianime]

I dunno why this was on my feed but it's so cute that I subscribed!

[@MelissaWilliams74802]

I have no idea how I got here but those are the cutest things I have ever seen!!! amazing wow

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

aww thank you so so much 🥹💛 !! Happy you're here 💛

[@danbeadnell]

HOW did I not know this about isopropyl??? Thank you for the knowledge!!!

[@maryboy666]

Thank you so much!

[@kayyahya4901]

Thank you sm! Now all my new sculptures are very clean then my old ones😮‍💨

[@hobbitor3990]

this was so so helpful! thanks :)))))

[@Jass.Marttz]

I have no idea how I got here, but this is the cutest thing I've seen today.

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

I'm soo happy you're here 🥹 thank you for watching!

[@jaderawkins1946]

I love watching sculpting videos and I love how sculptures look but I'm a complete beginner. I have no idea where to start? What starting tools would you recommend? I'm definitely going to be cleaning down my work surface like you've recommended though. Never even thought about that 😅

[@fatetastarossa]

Thank you so much❤

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Thank YOU! 🥰

[@just_me_fr]

thanks soooo much, amazing video :D

[@crystalpackard4550]

Hi. Great video. I learned some new things. I never thought of using a lint roller. Didn't know about the nail polish remover either. Thank you for sharing.

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

I'm so glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching ☺

[@user-m__]

I bought my first ever clay today, and i wanted to make a really small and simple bunny. But it's way harder than i thought. The amount of dust that stucks to the white clay is just unbelievable... also it's hard to get the shape you want Thank you so much for all he advice! 🍓❤️

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

That is so exciting and makes me so happy to hear! I hope you keep at it and have fun 🥰

[@luckynow7]

a decade ago i remember people always recommended to also wear those disposable gloves when sculpting as another method to keep it clean. whats your opinion on that? for me it never worked, especially because it kept making unwanted creases in my clay no matter what size glove i used. for some reason i also feel its much easier to sculpt when you can feel it in your fingertips, putting a glove on completely removes that sense but i don't know why it feels so weird lmao great tutorial btw! i think i already do majority of these tips though but its nice to see people are making much more concise tutorials about clay these days

[@BaloonieFloat]

I’m watching this AFTER I’m done my dust embedded sculpture 😩😩 and I used sculpey III . It was a task to work with 😤

[@froggedupp]

I love your style

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Thank you so much 🥹💛!

[@LearningZoneLanguages]

This was a really interesting and detailed tutorial video.I learned many new things about clay.Thank you

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

I’m so glad this was helpful! Thank you for watching ☺️💛

[@WanderingMuses]

😩😂 I was using Sculpey III ~ this answered everything!!

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Try sculpey Premo!! 🥹💛I promise you'll have better results!

[@carminaladelotrouniversoxd7919]

Hey cool! thanks for the tips

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Thank you for watching 🥹💛 !!

[@lauren-kitsuneroach]

ooooh i love your editing style, and super helpful tips!!! your creations are so cute too!

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Aww thank you soo much for noticing my editing style, that means a lot 🥹 thank you for being here 💛

[@pokekitty2748]

This is really good advice but idk if I'll stop living in filth 😂😂😂😂 Also ur clay pieces r absoulty beautiful and adorable ❤❤

[@Tiffany-uu2hq]

Wow I love seeing the behind-the-scenes. It helps me appreciate your art even more

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Thank you so much Tiffany! 🥰

[@brittneyflores7637]

Thank you so much for this!! I love your content and appreciate you giving us your tips!

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Brittney!! 🥰 Thank you so muchh I appreciate you 😭 Hope you enjoy your patreon goodies when it arrives hehe 💛

[@brittneyflores7637]

@@ValerieWaiStudios I absolutely can't wait for them!! 🥰

[@TessySega]

Amazing charms :)

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Thank you so so much 🥰🥰!!

[@3rdSarah]

Is it ok if I use these tips for air dry clay?

[@alie.b4165]

I give you a huge thanks. Or a huge thanks hug! That is gonna help me. (I was very tired/annoying by the dirt, despit 15 years 😅) I have a question, how do you make these cute little arms? They blend into the body so well! Hello from France, (That's why I have a shitt* English :P )

[@lilacbelly]

I thought my desire to make clean clay would always be curtailed by my tuxedo cat’s interest - thank u Edit: this video is 10/10, you included so many tips that will solve issues i face every time i sculpt. TY 👏

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Thank you so much for your kind comment 🥹💛 I'm so glad this was helpful! and please say hi to your kitty for me c:

[@Chermoonn]

So cute artist and Awesome art work

[@MeikouS]

i learned so much from val sensei even tho this video isn't targetted to me 🧠

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

LOL aww thank you ming c: ! Btw I refuse to be addressed as anything else but Val sensei moving forward LOL 🥸

[@alone_158]

Are you able to use rubbing alcohol for air dry clay?

[@nandaniperera2070]

It's very nice 🙂🙂🙂🙂❤❤❤❤

[@Bright--Light]

This video is from one year ago and only now I see and I'm already subscribing on your channel because everything is just so cute, cozy, good...your tips are really great as well ★

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

@@Bright--Light thank you so so much 🥹🫶 !! Sending you the warmest welcome to my little corner of the internet!

[@Bright--Light]

@@ValerieWaiStudios Thanks as well! I got it and it's really warm ⋆ ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

[@thenoake1]

So helpful, thank you!

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

I’m so glad it was helpful, thank you for tuning in 🥰!

[@thenoake1]

@@ValerieWaiStudios I'm so glad it came up on my feed as I have now found your channel. Honestly I am in owe at the skill you have in polymer clay. I just started making again with it and it is so much harder than it looks 🤣 Anyway just thank you again for your awesome conent, glad to see you're going to be back on here more soon :))

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

@@thenoake1 oh gosh I’m so happy to hear that you’re starting your polymer clay journey again! ❤️ Thank you so much and I hope these and future videos will help make your sculpting a bit easier this time around 🥹 !

[@thenoake1]

@@ValerieWaiStudios They definitely will, already inspired me a ton after what I thought was a flop 😅 just thank you again for your effort and content :))

[@zodiaccentral8908]

This is why I don’t really sculpt anymore. I have a cat and now my fiancé has a dog here And also my elderly boss has a dog. The insane amount of changing, cleaning, cleaning, and cleaning just to actually sit down And work is just too much sometimes! Especially since

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

oh gosh I totally get it - it's near impossible being pawrents and being able to maintain a dust free home 😭

[@MrSupernaturalLife]

I wish I learned this years ago! I thought I was just prone to attracting dust. Very cute figure btw.

[@manulnosok733]

your videos are so warm and useful, thank you!!!

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

thank you so much 🥹💛 !! i'm so glad it was helpful !

[@pau_pico3]

THANK YOU!! THESE TIPS WERE SO HELPFUL ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

[@gracemartin6284]

I struggled alot with sculpting and getting rid of fingerprints/dust but all I hav tried is Sculpey III and that might have been it haha. Thought it was just that my hands were too warm to sculpt with polymer clay

[@berry5965]

The pink ikea rag i got the same ToT

[@leahrowden3939]

Hi! I have a question: We don’t sell rubbing alcohol here in Norway. Can I use something else to clean polymer clay?

[@MgxFindz]

Which is better air dry clay or polymer clay , what is the durability of the air dry clay products, do they Break if they fall, what is the longitivity of the air dry clay,

[@oneirojinart30]

Super helpful video! Is it my pc or the audio is a bit low?

[@veronicadavila3180]

Very good, I just saw your video and I was wondering if you can make abstract sculptures with polymer. I would appreciate if you do :)

[@realmsunreal]

This video is soooo helpful and well made bless you, you crafting angel!!🙏 😂 I would like to suggest you put your rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle then you can just spray it on the surface and wipe without having to get it on your hands, it's so bad for your precious skin which is already getting damaged from handling polymers (i wish more people were aware these are fun crafting materials but also very icky chemically, even better you can wear well fitting medical gloves and avoid fingerprints even more) Also for anyone else worried about the environment (i know it's a bit ironic/hypocritcal using this material) you can use microfiber cloths instead of paper towels, i just use my microfiber makeup remover towels, and instead of q-tips you can get sponge eyeshadow applicators, will save money in the long-run too 👍

[@hongsiyoon5810]

또 하나 배웁니다

[@michellemena6352]

How can i get a strawbootea!!?

[@Holiday-fo6ot]

How to dry this?

[@berriesandcream3]

Will this work for air fry clay too?

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

This only applies to polymer clay 🥰 I don't work with air dry clay!

[@verycool2782]

Ive only recently started watching sculpting videos since I wanted to try, came across your videos and was completely thrown off by your Chibi Maruko Chan T-shirts! Favorite cartoon of all time! Also for when you use alcohol/acetone to smoothen/clean the clays, is it okay using paint brushes? Or are the bristles too rough?

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Omg your comment made my DAY! It's not often I meet another Chibi Maruko fan 🥹💛 ! Thank you so much for watching 🥰 Yes using paint brushes for alcohol and acetone is fine :) I do it sometimes to get into small crevices, but acetone can melt away the glue that attaches hair bristles to the paint brush handle, so don't use any fancy paintbrushes with acetone!

[@verycool2782]

@@ValerieWaiStudios Awesome! Thank you so much for replying!

[@MaddyFish]

🤣🤣🤣 I LOVE sculpey 3 LMAO this is hilarious because this isn’t the first video I’ve seen of polymer clay crafters hating sculpey 3 and now I feel like the black sheep on the clay family LOL🤣

[@yasminc.89]

I can sculpt quitre good with sculpey premo pearl and glitter effect clay, but I bought sculpey premo white clay and that is really crumbly, so even when it is the same brand. :/ With fimo soft clay I couldn´t lol it was way tooo soft

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

I've also had crumbly white sculpey premo clay as well, but I think it's only because of batch inconsistencies, cause usually the white premo clay I've been using has been perfect! 🥰 I agree, unless you are in a pretty cold environment, Fimo soft is usually too soft for me as well!

[@jollyrose7198]

does mixing paint into the clay effect the end result in any way? asking because i don’t feel like buying clay colors or mixing clay colors (because im lazy and not the best at it) and i have a lot of little air dry clay sculptures that i have had for a while and are STILL not painted lol

[@pidgeymon2353]

yep! cause you're adding new components into the clay that weren't there before. i used to use food dye in my clay, but because there was so much water in it, it negatively impacted my pieces. i would not suggest putting paint inside your clay, especially not water-based paint

[@ey3mzzzs]

This is so calming to watch but the tips were so interesting!

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Thank you for watching ☺️ I’m so happy it was helpful!

[@mochikins1126]

What kind of paint do you use?

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

I use acrylic paint :) !

[@elixx_]

What type of paint do you usually use in painting you projects?

[@ValerieWaiStudios]

Acrylic paint is my go to ☺️ !

[@tangleduniverse5042]

Is it safe to put in the oven?

[@LeiaLouise]

YEAH, YOU, TELL ME YOUR SECRETS!!!!