The Best Play-Doh Recipe & Other Uses for Alum Powder

Recently my mom sent me some Alum. It is a white powder that you normally find in the spice section. In the previous century Alum was used in food preparation, especially in pickling. It would help keep pickles crisp and crunchy! It was also a common component of baking powder which helped baked goods rise. It is not commonly used in foods today because they found that consuming large amounts of the spice isn't good for you. 

First, I want to explain why my mom sent me some Alum. We use it to help take away the pain and heal Canker sores of the mouth! All you do is wet your finger, dab it into the Alum powder, and then touch the sore area in your mouth. At first the Alum will taste sweet and then it quickly turns sour. Just immediately spit in the sink once you dabbed it on your sore! Then rinse your mouth with water and spit out to get extra residue of alum out of your mouth! It works by drying out the sore which helps it heal quickly! I'm telling you it REALLY works! 

As I researched Alum to do this blog post I found out a few other interesting uses for it!

• I found that if you mix Alum powder with water to create a paste, you can put it on furniture or other things your dog/cat are chewing in your home and it will deter them from that spot. It will leave a white residue while you are trying to keep your animal away from chewing area. However, after a few weeks your animal will not want to chew the area and the white residue will wash away!
• Alum can also can help you out with Acne!!! A mixture of 1/4 cup of witch hazel and a pinch of Alum can be applied as a paste on acne/pimples! The powder can also be mixed with hot water, rosewater, or egg white and applied on the face as a mask for 15 minutes. This will close the pores and remove acne.
• It is also an ingredient in Play-Doh. Below you will find The BEST Homemade Play-Doh Recipe! It is so soft and will last for MONTHS if you seal in an airtight container!

What you need to make Homemade Play-Doh

• 2 1/2 cups of flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 tablespoon Alum
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 3/4 cup boiling water
• food coloring

Boil some water and then measure out what you need into a glass measuring cup. Then stir in Alum, Oil, and food coloring.

In a separate mixing bowl stir together your flour and salt.

Pour your warm liquid into your flour mixture. Once all ingredients are mixed together, knead well. Add flour if sticking to your hands.

Then, have fun playing and creating with this soft dough!

I suggest cutting this recipe in half if you are only making it with one child!

**Tip** If you can't find Alum in the spice section of your grocery store you can always go to the pharmacy and they will special order it for you. My mom got hers ordered from the Target pharmacy. It's very inexpensive for a large quantity.