If you’ve been working in your studio over the last few weeks, you’ll probably have noticed one thing… it’s hot.
While the UK is no stranger to the occasional warm spell, we’ve experienced one of the most prolonged periods of high temperatures in decades. For ceramicists, that’s more than just an excuse to open the studio windows, it can have a real impact on how clay behaves.
Clay naturally contains water, and prolonged heat speeds up evaporation. Left unchecked, this can cause clay to stiffen, dry out more quickly and become harder to work with than expected.
The good news? With a few simple storage habits, you can keep your clay in excellent condition, even during the hottest weather
Keep clay sealed
The biggest cause of drying out isn’t the heat itself, it’s exposure to air.
Always keep unopened bags sealed until you’re ready to use them, and once opened, reseal them as tightly as possible. If the original packaging has been damaged, place the clay into an airtight plastic bag or container to help retain moisture
Store somewhere cool
It might sound obvious, but where you store your clay matters.
Avoid conservatories, greenhouses, sheds with direct sunlight or anywhere temperatures fluctuate dramatically throughout the day. Instead, store clay in a cool, shaded area where the temperature remains as consistent as possible.
Even a few degrees can make a noticeable difference over several weeks
Don’t leave clay in your car
It’s an easy mistake to make after collecting an order or returning from a workshop.
The temperature inside a parked vehicle can quickly become significantly hotter than the outside air, accelerating moisture loss and affecting the condition of your clay. If possible, unload your clay as soon as you arrive home.
Wrap work in progress well.
If you’re working over several days, remember that your pieces are just as vulnerable as the clay in the bag.
Cover work with plastic sheeting or wrap it carefully to slow down moisture loss. In particularly warm studios, you may find you need to check pieces more regularly than usual to prevent uneven drying, cracking or warping.
Keep an eye on smaller pieces.
Smaller items naturally dry much faster than larger work, and the current temperatures will only speed that process up.
If you’re making handles, decorative elements or joining components later, keep them covered until needed so they remain workable.
What to do if my clay has dried out?
Don’t panic.
If your clay has become slightly firmer than usual, it can often be recovered by allowing the moisture to redistribute naturally. Keeping it sealed inside an airtight bag for a few days can sometimes help rebalance the moisture throughout the block.
If it has dried more significantly, you may need to rehydrate it gradually before use. Avoid adding large amounts of water all at once, as this can create inconsistent moisture levels within the clay.
More on methods of salvaging clay that is too hard can be found here
A note from us.
At Valentine Clays, we carefully control moisture levels throughout our manufacturing and packing processes to ensure your clay arrives in optimum condition. However, once it leaves our factory, storage conditions play an important role in maintaining that quality.
With the current spell of unusually hot weather, taking a little extra care with storage will help keep your clay performing as it should and a few simple precautions now can save frustration later.
Happy making and don’t forget to stay hydrated too!