1) Ideas for keeping your polymer clay tidy and organized after the packages have been opened.
2) What kind of toaster oven is best for baking fimo clay and other PC brands? My kitchen oven is too big.
Today’s Polymer Clay Q+A topics were submitted by Cindy Erickson and Christine Dixon.
Q-1: How do you store your clay after you have taken it out of the original wrap? The only way I have thought of so far, is to put each color into snack size baggies with a label stuck to the outside stating the brand, color number and name, and the baking temperature. The only problem with this is that when you have a bunch of baggies filled with clay in a plastic box, as I do, it is not very organized and it is a bit frustrating trying to find the color I am looking for at the moment. Any thoughts or suggestions you might have regarding this question would be much appreciated. ~Cindy Erickson
A-1: Well Cindy E. I know exactly what you mean. A plastic box like the Fishing Tackle Box I discussed in previous posts** [See: Polymer Clay Storage and Best Fimo Storage Boxes], is perfect for organizing your clay packages when they are brand new. But once the clay gets out of the package and you have a bunch of different sized pieces and colors, it can be tricky to keep things organized.
First of all you should know that the reason you need to protect your clay is not because it will dry out. It is an oil based product, not water or alcohol based. That means that the material that keeps it soft will not evaporate or dry out.
However, the softeners or plasticizers can leach out by getting absorbed into other materials. This happens when your clay is touching something porous like paper, wood, fabric, concrete and some plastics.
Another reason to protect your clay is to keep it clean. Dust, lint, hair, and dirt can easily get stuck to raw clay and make it look bad.
So what I’m saying here is as long as the clay is in something that won’t absorb the plasticizers and that will keep the dirt out, it doesn’t need to be wrapped super well. A bunch of half opened packages in a box like the fishing tackle box can actually work quite well.
In my plastic storage boxes, I have all my clay blocks sorted by color with the end of the block showing the name of the color facing up. This way I can tell exactly which color I’m using and the brand.
Instead of just ripping off all of the plastic packaging when I open the clay, I carefully open it from only one end. The end that does not have the color name printed on it. After removing a chunk of the clay, I re-wrap it loosely and slide it back into its ‘spot’ in my plastic box.
This method works pretty good until the clay chunk gets too small and the packaging just kind of gets in the way. So what I do is have another more open box for the smaller blocks of clay, still with their original packaging. It is a little bit of a jumbled mess, but I always go to this box first and use up the clay from there before going into my ‘tidy’ box.
Cindy E. your idea is fine too. What you could do is put those zippy bags in a photo sorting box with the tabbed dividers. Put the names of the clay color on the tab and ‘file’ your clay that way.
If you ever run across a color chart brochure you could cut it apart and glue the colors with their names on the tabs too. The colors could be sorted like a rainbow or in color groups.
It would be easier to find what you need that way and once you put the lid on the box it will look all tidy again!
Q-2: Can you tell me what type of oven toaster I may buy for my polymers. I used twice my home oven but it’s too big. I want one same as yours on your freebie vids. ~Christine Dixson
A-2: Any brand of toaster oven is fine to use, you actually don’t need to have a special polymer clay oven like they sell at many craft stores. A cheap one you can find on sale or a second hand one will work just fine. If you can find a low priced convection toaster oven, they are even better because they heat more evenly.
The toaster oven I used in the video you are referring to [See Free Polymer Clay Tutorials], is an older model Black and Decker Toast-R-Oven/Broiler. The inside of this oven is about 11" x 7" with a height clearance of about 3.5" from the bottom rack. I personally would not want to go much smaller than this on the inside or there wouldn’t be enough room for a bead baking rack.
For more info on using toaster ovens for baking polymer clay read this article: How to Bake Sculpey, Premo and Fimo
The topics covered in today’s Polymer Clay Q+A were:
- Fimo, Premo, Sculpey Clay Storage Ideas <AND>
- Tips on Which Polymer Clay Oven to buy for baking your clay.
If this article was helpful, please let me know in the comments section below. Thank you to Cindy E. and Christine for the great questions. And remember… if there’s something you would like to know about making polymer clay beads and jewelry, I’m here to help.
If you have a question or comment about the topics covered in this article, then you can use the comments section below. And if you have a new question, just send me a message using the email form at this link: Polymer Clay Q+A
Thanks Cindy! What a great idea to keep those smaller bits organized with file separators and tab dividers! I really like the idea of putting the actual colors with their names on the tabs too! I am so glad I asked:) I will get some of those photo boxes soon.
I have just returned home to Littleton, Colorado from a good visit with my Mom in Northern Idaho, and a driving trip through Washington state with my husband. It is good to be home now. The first thing I did when I got home this evening was to check my email for any posts on your site. Now that I’m home, I can hardly wait to get busy with your videos and my clay!!! (I may need a little rest first) :) :) :)
Thanks again for all that you teach us :)
Sincerely, and with hugs, Cindy Erickson
You’re welcome Cindy E.! Glad you’re back and going through your bead course. Send me pictures of what you make!
Cindy Lietz’s last blog post..Traditional Rosary Beads Very Different From Rose Petal Fimo Beads
Great idea to have the color charts! But, where can you get them? Will the clay companies sell them to customers? It seem like they would — another way to make money and market a good benefit too.
I love this clay site! I won’t make the jewelry for sale, but reading about the different pieces is great!
Brenda Thank you for your comment!!
I’m not sure if the clay companies sell color charts. Sometimes I’ve seen brochures at the point of sale but I have also seen them online. If you have a color printer, you could print them yourself.
They should sell big laminated charts with mixing guides on them. Lots of people would hang them in their studios!
Cindy Lietz’s last blog post..Blue Flower Earrings – A Jewelry Making Project Using Premo Sculpey
Can anyone tell me the brand name of cling wrap in the UK? I can’t seem to find any that state “without plastisers”.
Andrea, I was trying to find out which brands in the UK didn’t have plasticizers in the and it wasn’t that easy.
The Glad Cling Wrap that is sold here that does not have plasticizers in it is stiffer than the normal cling film. It can go into the microwave whereas the ones with plasticizers can’t.
You can test out the cling film you have at home to see if it works or not. Take a small piece of clay and wrap it in the film. Leave a few days or more. If the film gets all weird or soft and the clay inside gets all hard and even crumbly than the wrap can not be used.
Here is a link to an information page about plasticisers that you may find interesting:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_wrap
Hey cindy I was wondering how do I wash clean my hands after using any type of clay? & is it ok if I use rubber disposable gloves to work with the clays? I’m concerned that the ingredients used to make these clays may affect ones health if used without protection. And do those ingredients go away when baked? Because when I bake my stuff after it’s cooled off it still smells like plastic. Am I doing something wrong?
Hi Izzy, most polymer clay brands are certified non-toxic, and are safe to use with your bare hands. If you have concerns however, you can definitely wear gloves if you wish. Baby wipes, soap and water or a hand scrub all work to clean your hands. Polymer clay is a plastic, so it will smell like a plastic even after baked… some brands are stronger than others. You may want to use a few different brands until you find one that you like the best. You’re not doing anything wrong.
Thank you Cindy I was wondering if this is a good pasta machine it’s called emporio pasta machine (it says it’s an Italian pasta machine) it doesn’t say it’s stainless steel though, do you think over time it will leave black streaks on my clay?
Hi Izzy, I have seen that machine around but I have no idea whether it is a good one or not. You might want to do a search on Google and see what the reviews are for that machine, by the people making pasta with them. (Apparently the black streaks are an issue for pasta chefs as well. SO even if you can’t find info on people that have used it with polymer clay, you should be able to find enough info to make a decision on buying it.) If it is cheap enough, and being that it was Made in Italy it might be worth taking a chance one. Let us know if you do buy it and how it goes. It would be nice to be able to share that info with everyone!
OK for a while there I thought I would have to give up on polymer clay, but now I know I don’t have to give up on it now. Thanks Cindy.
Thanks Cindy, I found some, it’s Sainsbury’s own brand non pvc food wrap 60 metres,for anyone else trying to find it.
That is excellent Andrea!! Thank you so much for sharing that… I’m sure all the UK Clayers will appreciate you for doing that!
Hello,
After reading all of these great ideas, I wanted to share a few of my own.
I defer to Cindy of course for her expert tutorials and only wish to share some of my trial and error ideas.
Walmart, and Micheals sell these smaller plastic baggies that Cindy was talking about. The baggies come in 4 sizes I believe now. One of the middle ones is perfect to fit the small blocks of clay into. I put my clay in those baggies, new or ramnants alike. I label my baggies with a sharpie and sometimes staple a small peice of paper to them with the clay information.
I then found some small baskets at most of the dollar stores, and Walmart carries them They are about 8 inches long by just a little over 2 inches wide. They stack easily and they hold the little baggies just right. I stack those in a medium size sterlite container. I pack them in by color so when I am looking for items for a project I can quickly find what I need. They also have larger baskets. These run about 3 for a dollar.
Also, color strips…..If any of you live near a Menards store this is a great bargain! They have several sections in their paint departments that have color boards, and booklets with every color and combination of color that you could dream of.
I picked up some of them that are even sorted by groupings. Lake…Relaxation, Ocean, neutral.etc.etc.
These are of course free and small enough squares of color that you could cut them out if you wanted to.
Okay, I think I have used way more of my chat space lol…
Excellent idea Debi!! Thank you so much for sharing your storage tricks with us!
I bought some 1 lb. blocks of clay to take advantage of the lower cost per ounce. I did not want the clay to dry out so, after cutting off a chunk to use, I wrapped the balance back up in its original paper so I can see the type (Premo, Kato, Studio, etc.) and the color. Then I placed that big block in a narrow size bag for my Food Saver, which sucked the air out and sealed the clay inside. I think this will be better than even the way the blocks come. What I don’t use of what I cut off, I just wrap in cling wrap.
Thank you Carolyn for sharing your tips and ideas here at the blog. I (and many others) really appreciate your input.
Dear Cindy,
I am at my wits end. I am baking Sculpey polymer clay and it comes out like a piece of rubber. I have tried temps from 130 to 285 for 20 min to 30 min…no change. If I bake the piece more than once I lose the color. I am using a Black and Decker Toaster oven, brand new, Calrod technology heat lights, no infrared.
Thanks for any help you can provide me.
Robert
@Robert L: Hi Robert, sorry you’re having such difficulty. I know how you’re feeling! For most Sculpey clays/colors (Sculpey III, Premo Sculpey,) you should be baking somewhere around 265 – 275° Fahrenheit. Check your package directions for the correct temperature, then get a separate oven thermometer (from a dollar store or with kitchen stuff in grocery or discount stores.) It will help you get an accurate read of your oven’s temp, as the dial is often WAY off from how hot your oven actually is (even in a new oven.) Cindy recommends baking most beads for an hour, or even longer for thicker pieces. Baking at the correct temperature is vital; monitor the temp carefully throughout the curing process to ensure it’s done properly.
You said your clay is rubbery. It could be under-cooked, or it could just be really thin (very thin clay pieces can remain flexible after baking.) But if your clay is thicker, it should be quite hard after it’s completely cured. Chances are, it just needs to bake longer. Try baking for an hour at the correct temp, checked with a thermometer, until your clay is hard like it’s supposed to be. If you continue to have problems, of course, please leave another comment/question.
As far as the changes in color, you can try to protect your clay to keep this from happening. However some clays, including Sculpey III, can fade a bit sometimes. There are some things you can try, though. One of them is in this article, Burying Your Beads in Cornstarch.
I left the last comment on that article’s page for someone asking about baking info. It provides more details about burying your pieces in cornstarch, and other baking tips like tenting beads, which also help with color change. There’s more baking information and links to some of Cindy’s other articles, with great tips that help stabilize the oven temp, which then helps with the color problem and other things. It also has instructions on how to use the search box to find more info on this website.
I found an older article, How to Bake Sculpey Polymer Clay in a Toaster Oven.
It has some good toaster oven info, and explains temperature spikes, how to test for hot spots, etc. It goes over some of the other ideas I mentioned for shielding the clay from color change. Tenting your beads is one of them. Be sure to read the comments under the article, as well. Cindy’s first comment explains what can happen if your clay isn’t completely cured.
I’ve had trouble sleeping — need to try to sleep now. I hope this helped you some. Try reading the articles and comments, and see if that solves your problem. Please leave another question if you still have trouble, or if something else comes up. Best of luck, and have a great day!
hi – can i use a toaster oven (in my very ventilated garage)to bake polymer pendants, beads & other small items?
@ Cathleen Lehne: Yes, you can use a toaster oven. Be sure to use a good quality oven thermometer so that you bake at the correct temperature. See the article just above your query here for more info.
Hello~
I’m just getting into Polymer Clay Charm-making but my biggest problem is deciding on a dedicated oven. I’m looking at Toaster ovens and have been looking at this Black and Decker one for quite a while. I’m worried though, as I hear Black and Decker is prone to spiking, thus leading to clay burning. And I am beyond nervous about burning clay.
I have researched a lot but right now I am just hoping for an opinion from some experienced crafters.
It’s called: Black & Decker 4-Slice Toaster Oven
Product in Inches (L x W x H): 15.875 x 9.5 x 8.25
I am unsure about the size exactly. I mean, is that big enough for a good oven?
(if the link is needed just ask!) I’m looking at it from online. Its under 25$ so that’s why I’m leaning towards it. Also, can anyone suggest a thermometer brand? I’m looking at Wal-mart but I don’t know of a good cheap one.
So any help on this Toaster Oven would mean the world. I just want to make charms without a worry, but first I have to decide on an oven. Any suggestions on different brands of oven? I am aiming for something cheap.
Thank you for your time and sorry for the inconvenience.
Hi Em :)
Welcome to the wonderful medium that is polymer clay… I’m sure you’ll have a heap of fun working with it!
To get to the subject of your enquiry, I’d start by saying that ALL toaster ovens are prone to spiking.
Cindy has some very helpful suggestions on what to do with toaster ovens to minimise spiking in her post from last September, Simple Tips To Avoid Burning Your Polymer Clay. There are other suggestions in the comments on that post so read them too for a few more ideas, and maybe search this site and see what’s suggested in other threads.
However — and I’m almost certainly in the minority here so keep that in mind! ;D — due to issues like spiking and the fact that the heating elements are both exposed and physically close to the items being baked, I’d personally NEVER use a toaster oven for baking polymer clay, even with Cindy’s suggestions applied and the aid of oven thermometers. I normally use a convection oven for baking my polymer clay, but I also have a portable benchtop oven that I can use at a pinch (I can’t remember the exact oven volume but it’s slightly smaller than a mid-size microwave, so probably around 25-30L which is a lot more than any toaster oven I’ve seen). Both of those are more expensive than toaster ovens, however (the convection oven more so than the portable benchtop oven), but for what it’s worth I’ve never burnt any polymer clay. Clay (and everything else) is more expensive here in Australia, but I think it’s worth paying a bit more up front for a decent oven: if you spoil only a few batches of polymer clay items you’d already be out of pocket for the price difference anyway.
Another cost-minimising approach to consider is baking your polymer clay pieces in your normal oven inside a dedicated covered roasting pan. That would prevent clay residue from building up in the oven, meaning it wouldn’t affect its use for cooking food. (I have a double oven in my kitchen, and I used one of those in my very earliest polymer clay days. I’d still use one of them if I needed to bake something too large for my polymer clay convection oven.)
If the Black & Decker toaster oven you mentioned is the one I found first in my Google searching, you’d have to use it in “Stay On” mode because the 30 minute maximum period of the timer is insufficient for adequately baking polymer clay (no matter what it says on the packaging!). I can’t really comment other than that because I’m not familiar with the model, and I don’t/won’t use a toaster oven for polymer clay anyway. I do think the note up top about trying to find a *convection* toaster oven makes sense though.
One other thing to be aware of is that the “polymer clay ovens” I’ve seen are basically relabelled toaster ovens, with all of the normal toaster oven drawbacks. It’s one of my pet peeves that they’re marketed as such even though they don’t actually provide optimum or near-optimum baking conditions, so you’d want to follow Cindy’s suggestions from her September post mentioned above with that kind of oven too.
I hope that helps a bit, even though I know I’m not answering your questions directly…. I’m sure other members who actually use toaster ovens will chime in with more directly targeted information!
Sue
—- I was looking at this Oven. ^ It sold out just now and I’m not sure to look elsewhere or wait.
—- This one also looks Ok. ^ The dials do look confusing though..
I’m making my bet by the reviews.
Amazon is where I usually shop, but Walmart has some cheap ones.
Thank you, Sue. For the fast reply and the help.
I actually had just saw that video by Cindy, I’ll have to keep an eye out for some tiles if I can find one.. I’ll look in the comments too!
The convection ovens are far too expensive for me, and I have no home oven, sadly. I was afraid of that.
Clay is pretty cheap here in the US, but I haven’t had a chance to use any of it.
Honestly, I’ve been looking at all kinds of ovens. I’ve seen plenty of the clay community using Toaster ovens without a problem, but I just don’t know what brand to get for myself. B&D, Hamilton, Rival, etc. I was hoping someone could take a look at what I’ve got and give me an opinion of whether its okay or to search new. I’m not entirely sure what I’m looking for in an oven– I’m Sorry. I’ve never done this.
Yes, I know what you’re talking about with the “Polymer Clay Ovens”. Its a shame.
Well, thank you so much for your opinion. It did help.
I’m sorry if I’m bothering you since you don’t use a Toaster oven. For me, its the only way I can bake clay.
Em, I actually got my first crafting first toaster oven from a yahoo group called Freecycle. It was “free”and worked perfectly fine. Are you familiar with Freecycle?
I’m not.
Is it safe? Tell me more.
I have a Black and Decker Convection Toaster Oven I bought at Walmart that I use for baking my polymer clay. I like it a lot and I have not seen temperature spikes with it and while I had to play around to find where to set the temp once I got it set up it has consistently done a good job for me. It has a 60 minute timer.
Hi Em,
Welcome to the addictive world of Polymer Clay. I’m going to say don’t worry as much about the brand of oven. I had the same concern when I started but realized several things.
Cheap toaster ovens are in the category of small appliances produced to be cheap and convenient, and disposable when you move on to something nicer. Consistent quality control is something that gets sacrificed for price. And even factories making the oven can change between batches shipped to stores. So the odds are higher you could still get a bad one with recommended models. I checked the testing group that doesn’t like having its name used and pretty much all the cheaper name brand ovens (B&D, Hamilton Beach, Procter Silex) were in the middle with okay but not great scores. The price also requires using the cheapest parts and basically no insulation, so temp regulators will be basic and the oven will lose a lot of heat. This means it can spike.
I recommend that you look for a known brand that has easy to use controls and enough space, i.e. height as Cindy mentioned, but fits in the space you have with a empty buffer of a few inches around it so you don’t burn or scorch other stuff. Test your oven with two thermometers over about a 30 minute time period. (Toss in some mozzarella sticks if you want. ;-). ) Check to see what the thermometers read every few minutes to see how the temperature fluctuates. It’s likely you will get different readings from the thermometers and if they are within less than 25 degrees of each other just use an average. If one is way off your set temperature then exchange it and try again. If the oven is way off, exchange it. Basically, every clayer needs to test their oven, whether a low cost toaster or a mid-price kitchen oven.
The best thing you can do is follow the recommendations of covering the clay to protect it from scorching or spiking. Cindy has excellent info on this as well as how long to bake your clay. If you cook it long enough at the recommended temp (plus or minus 10 degrees) for most of that time, it should be okay.
Most oven thermometers also fall into the cheap and disposable category. This is why many experienced people recommend getting two. You probably want to spend at least $6 each, and look for brands that make lots of kitchen tools. (I’m not home now so I can’t check my brands.)
If you have time and opportunity, garage sales and thrift stores can be a great way to get stuff to use with clay cheap, especially a nice quality pasta maker. (0r check with recently married friends who’d rather have cash instead of 4 toaster ovens.)
Hope this helps, or at least eases your concerns somewhat.
@ Donna L : Wow, thank you! I’ll keep an eye out for that one. I appreciate the suggestion!!
@ Bertha A : This helped me by a lot. Thank you very much~!!
I’ll have to take a trip to the store then and try those tips. Wish me luck~
I was wondering if I should pre-heat my convection toaster oven before I put in my clay or does it matter.
Thank you so much,
Terri
Hi Terri
yes I would preheat it – couldn’t hurt – and you would also know you’ve cured your piece for the full hour at the right temp:)
of course all of this is mute if someone that has a micro/conv oven pops in and says other wise:D
if you really want to learn the ins and outs of baking your clay the search box at the top right is real good at this site-have fun
Hi Cindy
Is it normal for the white polymer clay to change color slightly once baked?
Thanks, Marilyn
Hi Marilyn, it depends on the brand of clay you are using and how you bake it, as to how much the white clay’s color changes after being baked. I use Premo Clay and if it is tented and baked at the right temp of 265F -275F, my clay will stay very white… even when baked for 1 hour. If you do a search on ‘white clay’ or ‘baking’ using the search box at the top of the page you will find lots of information that will help you. Good luck!
Please help! I am having no luck with a toaster oven. I watched your video and spent the entire weekend trying to make that method work for me. But it doesn’t. I end up ruining more projects than I save. Is it dangerous or just a bad idea to use stove oven that I cook with? I know polymer clay is non toxic but I wasn’t sure about using my oven with it.
Hi Vela, are you using an oven thermometer? Your oven may be a lot hotter than your dial says it is. Also, it is not a problem to bake in your regular oven if you want. That is what most people do until they get a separate oven. If you find there is a plasticy smell in your oven after baking, then you may want to clean your oven before baking food in there. You can also bake inside a roasting pan with a lid, if you don’t want to have to clean your oven all the time. The manufacturers say that the product is safe to use, and it is certified non-toxic, so it should be fine.
Cindy
Will closed packages of premo clay survive winter weather if left in basement with a temperature of 40 degree of F from Oct through late April? I don’t feel like shipping all the clay down to Florida.. I have 2 planko fishing tackles full of clay. Hubby is getting pissed of with all my Safti’s. creation stuff. He does not seem to understand that it my way of staying sain…( not great at spelling) …
Natalie Herbin
Hi Natalie, I think it should be fine. I just found a box of clay in our trailer that I forgot to bring in over winter and it was just fine. The trailer is insulated (kind of) and there was no heat. It was a fairly mild winter but it froze several times. Don’t know if that helps. I have heard of people storing their clay in the freezer, so I am assuming clay should be able to handle it, but other than what I just did with the clay in the trailer, I haven’t got more experience with it than that.
I’m back to playing with clay after seven years without resources to spend on hobbies. I am really enjoying your YouTube tutorials, and really didn’t have a clue when I started back then, other than from books I checked out from the library. Actually, library books are how I got interested in playing with clay.
Like many short on funds, I started with Sculpey and a box-store toaster oven. When I could afford to start playing with clay again, I bypassed the Sculpey for Sculpey III. The blue Sculpey was nearly impossible to condition, even with my craft store conditioner, so I had to not work in blues, greens, and purples. Sigh.
Now, I’m moving on to Primo!, Fimo soft, Souffle (love, love), and Cernit.
I think my big obstacle now is my cheap little toaster oven, Yes, I use an oven thermometer. I’ve been using oven thermometers since I became serious about baking in the late 60’s. But, I’m ending up with petrified wood, or worse, even when I put my creations on insulation, tent with foil, and watch the thermometer like a hawk. I think the toaster oven is just too small.
So, I would like to see you do a review of toaster ovens, even compared to a full sized oven. What America’s Test Kitchen rates as best for toast browning and chickens may not be the best model for clay. I know an investment in a better oven is unavoidable; but a review for clay purposes rather than toast would be very helpful.
Thanks for your videos. Always entertaining, and worth watching again and again.
I have done one test video on the Kitchenaid Convection Oven. I have been using it for a couple years now and still love it.
And here is the Amazon link if you would like to pick one up for yourself.
Thanks Cindy!
I think the issue is that my toaster oven is way too small, and the clay is too close to the heating elements because of the oven size. I’m looking into a larger oven with convection.
Thanks again,
Beatrice
Hi Cindy!
Love your videos so much! I can’t seem to find a video or link that can help me with my polymer clay baking and was wondering if you could help or do a video. The problem that I been having with baking my clay is that when it’s in the oven baking I smell the fumes of the polymer clay and after I clean my jewelry it has a strong smell of plastic. I tried washing it in soap and even put it in a container with an air freshener and I can’t seem to get rid of the smell, what am I doing wrong? I baked my jewelry at 270 for 30-45 minutes using scoulpey premo and soufflé. Would greatly appreciate your advice.
Thank you for your time.
Hi Jodee, first of all you haven’t done anything wrong. Polymer clay is Vinyl so it will smell like plastic. Some brands have VERY strong vinyl smells like Kato Polyclay… I can’t even work with it because I am sensitive, and some clays hardly have a smell at all. I haven’t found Premo and Soufflé to be strong, but it sounds like you are sensitive to it. Washing it won’t help. The only thing you can do is considering trying different brands until you find one that doesn’t smell bad to you. A couple brands with very little smell are Cosclay and Cernit.
BTW if you’re baking Premo and Soufflé you should be using an oven thermometer and baking hotter and longer than you are. It will make a huge difference in the strength of your pieces. I bake all my Premo and Soufflé at 275F-285F for 1 hour. Hope that helps!