Will colored kinetic sand stain my hands or clothes?

by Joost Nusselder Updated on: December 12, 2022

Do your child also love to play with kinetic sand? The first thing on your mind as a parent is the mess and possible stains that the sand can cause. 

Kinetic sand generally creates little mess. Provided, of course, that your child handles the sand responsibly. In addition, it contains good quality kinetic sand no ingredients that can discolor fabrics, so you don't have to worry about stains when playing with kinetic sand.

Let's see exactly how this works.

Colored kinetic sand generally does not stain hands or clothes as it is a non-toxic and hypoallergenic material.

It is made of 98% sand and 2% polymers, so it doesn't leave any residue like normal sand.

The polymers in the kinetic sand help bind the grains together, giving it a unique texture that is easy to manipulate without sticking.

This also prevents the colors from getting on your hands or clothes.

And because it's water resistant, the colors stay intact even when washed - making it an ideal choice for little kids who mess easily!

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Can you wash kinetic sand out of your clothes?

Whoops! Your kids have been a little too excited about the kinetic sand, and now it's in their clothes.

Kinetic sand is normally easy to clean up. However, it is possible that the sand ends up on or in your clothes, for example if you wear corduroy trousers or other clothing with a more complex structure. 

Then how do you wash kinetic sand out of your clothes?  

Do not immediately put it in the washing machine

Because sand can get stuck in your washing machine, it is not wise to immediately throw the affected clothing in the washing machine.

The sand won't always cause immediate damage, but it can eventually cause problems.

First you should try to remove as much sand from your clothes as possible. You do this by shaking it out outside yourself and, if you want to store the sand, collecting it in a container. 

How do you remove kinetic sand stains from clothing?

The quality of the kinetic sand you buy determines whether it can still give stains. Cheaper kinetic sand is not always stain-free.

If your child has been playing with colored kinetic sand and it has left stains on their clothes, there are a few ways to get those stains out.

Before trying these methods, shake as much sand out of your clothes as possible. 

Use warm water

Wet the affected area with warm water, let it dry and then wipe it with a cloth.

But you can also just make a ball of sand and pick up the pieces with it. 

Dishwashing liquid

You can also use a simple solution of detergent mixed with water. Put it in a spray bottle and spray it on the areas with sand.

Then clean it with a cloth. You repeat this process if necessary.

You let the mixture dry and then you can collect the remaining sand.

Soak in a detergent solution

Put your dirty clothes in a large container and fill it with warm water. Then add a cup of detergent and let it soak for about two hours.

Once the sand has dissolved, use a cleaning brush or sponge to remove the residue from the clothing.

Then rinse the clothes in cold water.

With that done, you are now going to wash and dry your clothes. Use a mild detergent and warm water.

Use vinegar and baking soda

The combination of white vinegar and baking soda also works against kinetic sand stains in clothing.

To do this, mix a cup of white vinegar with a teaspoon of sodium carbonate (baking soda) and throw it in a container.

Add just enough water to make a kind of paste. Apply this mixture to the stains until they disappear.

Let the product work and rinse the clothing with cold water after about 20 minutes.

Rub with alcohol

Rubbing alcohol on the stains may also work. However, you will have to wait a little longer than 20 minutes for the stains to disappear.

After rubbing, rinse the clothing again with cold water.

This option is still the favorite of many people because alcohol has no smell or taste, which white vinegar and baking soda do. 

Oxiclean dishwasher soap

Another way to remove kinetic sand stains from clothing is by using Oxiclean.

This is only recommended if the above options fail. To do this, mix two cups of Oxiclean with a cup of warm water.

Put this mixture in a spray bottle and spray it on the stains until it is completely clean. 

What if it's on your hands?

When the kinetic sand is on your hands, roll all the sand into a ball and use this ball to 'stamp' the pieces of sand from your hands.

Kinetic sand generally shouldn't stick to your hands, but sometimes it can.

Read here why kinetic sand can still stick to your hands (and what you can do about it)

Joost Nusselder, the founder of Speelkeuze.nl is a content marketer, father and loves trying out new toys. As a child he came into contact with everything related to games when his mother started the Tinnen Soldaat in Ede. Now he and his team create helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with fun play ideas.