How to Store Clay

Keeping clay at the right moisture level is key to keeping it workable and ready for future manipulating. Using the right wrapping, storage, drying, and remoistening techniques can help prevent clay from drying out, extend its usable life, and reduce material waste. 

Follow these simple steps to keep clay in a workable state throughout the process—from soft and fresh to leather-hard and ready to use again. Watch our quick video for practical tips on storing clay and keeping it in good working condition.

Storing Slabs:
If you are working on a project that requires slabs, try rolling the slabs before you need them. This way, students can focus on preparing their slabs and do not feel pressed for time. 

Moist Slabs are used for soft slab construction.
Firm Slabs are used for more geometric forms.

The flexibility or rigidity of the slab determines how they need to be wrapped and stored.

• To keep slabs as moist as they day they were rolled out, place a thin piece of plastic under and over the slab, smoothing it to the surface of the clay with your hands. 
  • Placing the plastic directly on the clay surface traps the moisture inside.
  • TIP: Try using Saran Wrap for this! 
• If slabs are too moist and you want them to firm up, try placing them on sheets of newspaper. 
• Slip the clay slabs and the newspaper into a plastic bag and cover tightly.
  • Ensure there is only a single layer of clay and a single layer of newspaper in each plastic bag. The more newspapers, the faster the slab will dry out. 
  • If the newspaper method is too slow, place the slabs in front of a fan. Moving air dries clay relatively fast, so keep an eye on the slabs. 
• Slabs too stiff but not bone dry?
  • They can be remoistened! Wrap the slab in wet sheets of newspaper or paper towels. Remember to check it every few minutes, because sometimes the slabs can get softer more quickly than you think. 

Storing Projects:
If you are working on coil pot or pinch pot projects, you sometimes need to help those pieces dry quickly or soften up to continue working on them. 

Coil Pot projects too damp?

• If this happens, place the coil pot on an unpainted piece of wood or drywall board. 
• Place the coil pot with the board in a plastic bag. 
• The board absorbs moisture from the bottom of the coil pot while the bag keeps it from drying completely. 

Coil Pot projects are stiff but not bone-dry?

• Use a strip of a wet paper towel to remoisten the rim. 
• Place the coil pot in a plastic bag.
• It is critical to moisten the rim so it will accept the next coil and not separate later. 

Final Tips:

• Cover a board with plastic.
  • Place the work on top of the board
  • Add a damp sponge in the middle of the board.
    • Think of when you add a slice of bread to a bag of cookies, the students' projects pull moisture from the sponge the same way! 
  • Cover with a plastic bag. 
• Try a plastic bin!
  • Put a damp paper towel on the floor of the bin or place a moist sponge inside. 
  • Place student work inside the bin, then cover and seal the lid.