Home improvements: make your own play-doh

There are a number of children’s toys that span the cultural and age divide, but perhaps the most iconic of them all is Play-Doh. Fun to mould and with no batteries required, this colourful, clay-like playtime favourite can easily keep a child – or, let’s be honest, an adult – busy for hours. While it’s found in toy shops, it’s just as cheap and easy to make at home. To create your own Play-Doh, you’ll need one cup of water, one cup of flour, one tablespoon of vegetable oil, half a cup of salt, one tablespoon of cream of tartar, food colouring and a saucepan.

First, combine the water, oil, salt, cream of tartar and food colouring in the pan. Heat on the stove until warm. While the cream of tartar is optional, it makes the dough last for an average of six months longer. You can also add in a few drops of scented oil if you would like your dough to be fragrant. Remove from the heat and add the flour. Stir the mixture and then knead until smooth. Once it’s the right consistency, store the dough in an airtight container or a freezer bag. Because of its high salt content, your dough should be kept out of reach of pets.