Fab or flub: Does Squishy Sand hold up or will it crumble?

This week’s Fab or Flub review is dedicated to the kids (and adults) dreaming of warm-weather days spent at the beach playing in the sand. Known as Squishy Sand ($14.99 at Walgreens), this As Seen On TV product promises a little dose of beachtime fun without the trouble of even going outdoors.

If you’re a parent, you may have just cringed at the possibility of sand being spread over every inch of your home, but Squishy Sand claims to leave that worry behind thanks to the sand’s special ability to stick to itself — eliminating leftover sandy residues. Lucky for me (or maybe not), I got to try it out and see if this would prove true.

First impression

Bravely, I took the 1 1/2-pound resealable bag and dumped its contents onto my clean kitchen countertop (instructions recommend using the sand on a non-wood, sealed surface), along with the accompanying three-piece tool kit.

The first thing I noticed about the Squishy Sand was how moldable it is. It retains its shape easily (just like real sand when it is wet), yet it also crumbles when touched. The sand felt soft between my fingers and was very stretchy.

Fab or flub?

Fab! A fun way to spend a lazy afternoon indoors, Squishy Sand can give families or youngsters a quick sand-castle fix. Sort of a cross between Play-Doh and sand, Squishy Sand magically sticks together and can be molded into just about anything you want, and you don’t have to worry about forms losing their shapes (I made a starfish and a snowman).

Unlike real sand, Squishy Sand did not stick to my hands and did not leave them dirty. While the product is definitely targeted toward kids (recommended for age 3 and up), my experience with the product was very enjoyable and even a bit therapeutic.

But, what about the mess? My cleanup was a quick and easy experience. I was able to collect most of the Squiashy Sand with just my hands and return it to the resealable plastic bag.

For the tiny spots of sand that remained, I simply rolled up a clump (per the product’s instructions) and touched it to the surfaces where any loose residue remained. They stuck like it was a magnet. That took care of most of my cleanup, then I did a quick once-over on the table with a wet rag to remove any remaining granules. Voila.

This story was originally published March 20, 2015 at 1:51 PM with the headline "Fab or flub: Does Squishy Sand hold up or will it crumble?."