How long do Orbeez last in water

Cautions

Water beads should not be used by children under 3 years old due to the size being a choking hazard. While water beads are non toxic, they are not safe to eat, especially if the balls are dehydrated. No matter how old your children are, make sure to supervise your child when using water beads in any activity.

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Water beads should also not be consumed by animals. Therefore, if there is any concern at all that your child or pet will put these in their mouth, do not use them!

Read on below for a taste-safe alternative that is a better option for young kids and families with pets.

How to Store Them

Full sized water beads can be stored in air tight containers, like a jar with a lid, plastic bag, or container with a snap on top. Rinse them first and then store them without water out of reach from pets and children.

Water beads can be rehydrated when you are ready to play again by just adding water.

How Reuse Water Beads

You can rehydrate and dehydrate the beads. If you want to dehydrate them, you can lay them on a single layer and allow them to dry out. A place with low humidity is best for quick results. Once dehydrated, place them in a sealed container for future use.

Unused, dehydrated water beads can last for years if properly stored. Hydrated water beads can also last for years if properly stored in an airtight environment with low humidity.

When and How to Dispose

The shelf-life of untouched water beads is much longer than those that were played with as the likelihood of mold forming is high. Be sure to properly examine for black spots before reusing water beads. If you see black spots that means that there is mold and the water beads should be immediately discarded.

Water beads are biodegradable. When you are done with them, you can toss them outside or add them to your potted plants – this is a great way to hydrate your garden! Water beads are safe for the environment, but if you have any concern that wildlife or pets will try to eat them, you can simply toss them in your garbage can.

Cautions

Water beads should also not be consumed by animals. Therefore, if there is any concern at all that your child or pet will put these in their mouth, do not use them!

Read on below for a taste-safe alternative that is a better option for young kids and families with pets.

How to Store Them

Water beads can be rehydrated when you are ready to play again by just adding water.

How Reuse Water Beads

Unused, dehydrated water beads can last for years if properly stored. Hydrated water beads can also last for years if properly stored in an airtight environment with low humidity.

When and How to Dispose

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Orbeez are tiny, absorbent beads that grow into squishy, bouncy balls when soaked in water. You can grow Orbeez from a package at home, or you can use tapioca pearls to make an edible version of this product, called a "water marble.” Orbeez are great for sensory play with children, or you can use them as an adult for stress relief.

1
Purchase a package of Orbeez in-store or online. Visit a craft store or toy store to find Orbeez, and choose a package in your favorite color or get a mixed package. If you plan on making a lot of Orbeez,"look for multi-packs, which can contain up to 10,000 Orbeez pellets, to save money. Otherwise, stick to packages of 100, 200, or even 500 Orbeez.[1]
- If you can’t find Orbeez in a store, you can order them online through the company’s website or Amazon.
2
Open and pour the package of Orbeez into a container. Use a pair of scissors to open the packet, making sure not to spill any of the tiny Orbeez on the ground. Carefully empty the contents of the package into a large bowl.[2]
- If you do spill the Orbeez on the floor, you can use a vacuum to clean them up. After you sweep them up, empty the vacuum chamber and dispose of the spilled Orbeez.
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3
Add 1 cup (240 mL) of warm water for every 100 Orbeez. Use filtered water to make the largest beads, and carefully pour the water over the beads in the bowl, making sure that none of the water splashes out. Make sure you have enough water for the Orbeez, since they’ll absorb the water as they grow and expand in the bowl.[3]
- If you want to preserve the Orbeez and play with them for a long time, add a pinch of salt to the water. The Orbeez won’t be as large, but they will retain water for longer.
- If you don’t have filtered water, you can still make your Orbeez. They might be a bit smaller than ones made with filtered water, but they’re still fun to play with!
4
Soak the Orbeez in the water for at least 4 hours. The Orbeez will slowly grow to about 100 times their original size in the water. Check on them every hour to make sure there’s enough water for them in the bowl. If not, add an additional 1 cup (240 mL) of water. For very large Orbeez, replenish the water after 4 hours and leave them to soak overnight.[4]
- If the Orbeez aren’t perfectly round, that means they haven’t soaked up enough water. Leave them in the water until they’re perfect spheres.
5
Strain the Orbeez to remove the extra water from the bowl. There may be extra water at the bottom of the container in which you soaked your Orbeez. Pour the entire bowl into a strainer to remove the extra water, and then transfer the Orbeez back into the bowl.[5]
6
Play with your Orbeez! Run them through your fingers, bounce them on the ground, or play a fun game with them. If you drop one of the beads on the floor, pick it up to avoid slipping or falling, since Orbeez can be slippery.
- Play mini bocce ball, where you and your friends try to get your Orbeez close to a target ball, like a marble. You can use different color Orbeez for different teams, and each team can take turns rolling the target ball.
- Try playing bullseye with a friend and two different colors of Orbeez. Simply draw a bullseye on a sheet of paper and take turns with your friend trying to roll an Orbeez into the center of the bullseye.
- Play Orbeez croquet with your friends. You can fold pieces of paper or use paper clips to create your course "hoops."
- Create an Orbeez obstacle course, like putt-putt golf. Challenge your friends to get Orbeez through the course in as few tries as possible.
- Use different colored Orbeez to play classic games, like marbles or Chinese checkers.
7
Store the Orbeez in a resealable bag or container. When you are finished playing with them, put them into a container with a lid or a plastic bag with a zipper. Make sure the container is completely closed and airtight, and store them for up to a week.[6]
- If your Orbeez accidentally dry out, don't worry. Just re-soak them in warm water to make them grow again.
- If your Orbeez smell moldy, throw them away and grow a new package.
8
Dispose of your Orbeez in the trash or by reusing them in your garden. When you’re done playing with your Orbeez, never rinse them down the drain. Instead, throw them away or mix them into the soil of your potted plants, where they will help the soil retain moisture.[7]
- Orbeez were originally developed to slowly release water into soil, watering plants gradually. As they sit in the soil, they will release their water and become smaller. If you mix them into the soil, you won't have to water your potted plants as often.

1
Purchase a bag of tapioca pearls from a grocery store. These should be available at most grocery stores, but if you're having difficulty in your search, check specialty Asian markets. Look for a clear package with round, white spheres.[8]
- Since the pearls are usually used for making food, it’s safe for small children to put them in their mouth as they’re playing. They’re normally unflavored, so children probably won’t have an adverse reaction if they eat them.
2
Boil 4 cups (950 mL) of water. Pour the water into a large pot and place the pot over high heat. Cover the pot with a lid and wait 10-15 minutes until the water is at a rapid boil. Then, open the bag of tapioca pearls.[9]
- Depending on the size of your pot, it may take slightly more or less time to boil the water, so keep an eye on the water.
3
Pour the bag of tapioca pearls into the boiling water. Make sure all of the pearls fit into the bowl and are submerged in the water. Use a wooden spoon to stir them around for about 10 seconds to prevent them from sticking together. Keep the heat at a high temperature for 1-2 minutes to begin cooking the pearls.[10]
- If the pearls aren’t submerged, add 0.5 cups (120 ml) of water at a time until they are.
4
Simmer the pearls in the water for 20 minutes. Lower the heat to a medium-high level and let the pearls cook and expand in the water. Stir them occasionally with a wooden spoon, but don’t try to break apart any pearls that stick together. The pearls will separate naturally as they cook.[11]
- When the pearls are ready to strain, they’ll look like bubbles with a milky white center.
5
Strain and rinse the pearls in a colander. Pour the contents of the pot into a strainer, and run cool water over the pearls to rinse them. Be sure to rinse the pearls until they’re cool to the touch. Keep in mind that some steam might rise off of the pearls as you rinse them with the cool water.[12]
- Make sure you’re gentle with the pearls while you strain them due to the quick temperature change. If any of them break, simply remove the broken pearl from the strainer.
6
Play with your water marbles! They are great sensory stimulation for young children, so have them wash their hands and show them how they can hold and touch the pearls. Then, put the finished water marbles in a container and let your children play with them between their fingers.[13]
- Some of the games recommended for store bought Orbeez might not be ideal for your homemade batch. Starch can dry and leave a glue-like trail behind, so you should plan accordingly when you play games with your homemade water marbles.
- You might want to try using your water marbles to make art, making bubble tea, playing water marble checkers with different colors for different teams, or organizing water marble bingo using the marbles as chips to cover squares that have been called.
7

Store your water marbles for up to a week in a container in the refrigerator. Like most foods, tapioca pearls will spoil if left uncovered or if stored for too long. Put them in a plastic container or zipper bag, and place them on a shelf in the refrigerator where they can last for up to a week.[14]
- Avoid using the pearls for making food or drinks after you’ve played with them, since that can spread germs and bacteria to the food.

Add New Question

Question
What happens if someone eats a grown Orbeez ball?

Samantha L. Campbell
Community Answer
If someone eats 2-3 Orbeez, the balls will pass through their digestive system easily, since they're non-toxic and won't stick together. If someone eats a substantial number of Orbeez, they should seek immediate medical attention to prevent illness.
Question
If I break an Orbeez, can I fix it?

Samantha L. Campbell
Community Answer
Sadly, once an Orbeez ball is broken, you won't be able to grow or shrink it since it won't hold any water. To get rid of it, you can throw the broken ball away in the garbage. Never put a broken Orbeez ball in a drain.
Question
How do we make our Orbeez small again?

Samantha L. Campbell
Community Answer
You can shrink your Orbeez by placing them in an open container for 24-48 hours. To speed up the process, put them in direct sunlight and spread them out on a paper towel so they release their moisture.

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Do not ingest Orbeez. They are non-toxic, but are not meant to be consumed. Consult a doctor if you ingest a large number of Orbeez.
Orbeez are not for children under 5, as they can be a choking hazard.

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Article SummaryX

To make Orbeez, carefully open the packet and pour the tiny pellets into a bowl. Measure 1 cup of warm water for every 100 or so pellets and pour the water over the Orbeez. If you want the Orbeez to last longer, add a pinch of salt to the water, but keep in mind that the Orbeez won’t be quite as large if you do this. Soak the Orbeez in the water for at least 4 hours, or until the pellets have grown to perfect spheres. Once they’re ready, pour the Orbeez into a strainer to remove any excess water, then enjoy playing with them! Keep reading to learn how to make your own Orbeez out of tapioca pearls!

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Reader Success Stories

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How long do you leave Orbeez in water?

Soak the Orbeez in the water for at least 4 hours. The Orbeez will slowly grow to about 100 times their original size in the water. Check on them every hour to make sure there's enough water for them in the bowl.

What happens if you leave Orbeez in water?

No, Orbeez should not be left in water overnight. Orbeez are meant to absorb all the moisture they can in a few minutes, not several hours. If you leave them overnight, your results will be the same as in a few minutes.

How long does it take for Orbeez to degrade?

Orbeez are technically biodegradable but can take 7 to 9 years to do so.

How long do water beads last?

Expect them to shrink up fast over the course of about 2 weeks. Yep, that's how long those lovely water beads took to dehydrate themselves on my kitchen counter. Thankfully my husband didn't question me when I had tens of water beads just chillin' on the kitchen counter… for two weeks.