DIY Satisfying Squishy
Vella D.
Squishies are really popular right now, which is why they're hard to find on shelves. The good ones sell out fast. But you don't have to wait for the next restock. With a few things probably already sitting in your kitchen, you can make a squishy at home in about ten minutes. It should last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks.
Ingredients
4 teaspoons regular liquid dish soap (I used Seventh Generation)
4 teaspoons water
1/4 cup cornstarch (not corn flour)
1 balloon
Tools
2 bowls
Spoon or spatula
Teaspoon measure and 1/4 cup measure
Instructions
In the first bowl, gently mix the dish soap and water.
Add the cornstarch to the second bowl.
Slowly pour the diluted soap into the cornstarch a little at a time, mixing as you go.
Once it's all in, knead with your hands until it forms a slightly stretchy clay. If it's too stiff, add a few drops of water. If it's too soupy, add a bit of cornstarch.
This part might require a partner. One person holds the balloon open while the other stuffs the clay inside.
Tie the top of the balloon. You can cut just above the knot for a cleaner finish, though this creates a weak spot where soap can leak through.
Tips and Storage
Dish soap gradually breaks down the balloon rubber, so the surface may get sticky after a few days as soap leaks through. Doubling up the balloon, either by slipping a second balloon over the first or transferring the clay into a fresh balloon, slows this down and extends the lifespan.
Expect a few days to a couple of weeks of use depending on balloon thickness.
This recipe turns two everyday kitchen items into a soft, moldable squishy in about ten minutes. It won't last as long as a store-bought one, but it's cheap, customizable, and easy to remake whenever the balloon gives out. When yours starts leaking or loses its squish, mix a fresh batch.