Instant Snow Instructions: How to Make, Play With and Clean Up Party GOAT Instant Snow
This page covers mixing, snowballs, setup and cleanup. The free Instant Snow Activity Guide, with more than 20 games, experiments and printable yeti posters, has its own page: Snow games and activities. Running an event? See our fundraising ideas.
Everything you need to get from a bag of powder to a pile of snow that glistens, packs into snowballs and still looks like snow at the end of the day. Mixing takes about a minute. Read the ratio before you start, because snow uses less water than you might expect. Haven't got your snow yet? See the pack sizes on the Instant Snow product page.
How to make Instant Snow
Pour the water onto the powder, not the other way round, and watch it grow. Then spread it out in a thinner layer. Spread out, it covers a much bigger area, because the fluffy structure has more air between the particles.
Use the amounts in the table. Half a gallon of water makes a gallon of snow.
Swipe sideways to see the whole table.
| Powder | Level tablespoons, 15 ml (US, Canada, NZ) | Level tablespoons, 20 ml (Australia) | Water | Makes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2½ oz (71 g) | about 6 | about 4½ | ½ gallon (1.9 L) | 1 gallon (3.8 L) of snow |
| 5 oz (142 g) | about 12 (¾ cup) | about 9 | 1 gallon (3.8 L) | 2 gallons (7.6 L) of snow |
| Whole 500 g (18 oz) pack | the whole pack | the whole pack | 3½ gallons (13.5 L) | 7 gallons (27 L) of snow |
| Whole 1.1 kg (39 oz) pack | the whole pack | the whole pack | 7½ gallons (28.5 L) | 15 gallons (57 L) of snow |
Check your spoon. A US, Canadian or New Zealand tablespoon holds 15 ml; an Australian tablespoon holds 20 ml, which is why we show both. The tablespoon counts printed on the box were written for the 20 ml spoon. If your kitchen has 15 ml spoons, use the first spoon column above rather than the box.
Note: this is not the same ratio as our Instant Slime. Slime uses one gallon of water per gallon of slime. Snow uses half a gallon of water per gallon of snow.
For the most realistic snow, err on the drier side. You can always add more water, but you can’t easily take it back out. Plain tap water is fine in most places. Very hard water, common in places like Arizona, gives you less snow because the minerals in it get in the way of the polymer; if you know your water is hard, filter your tap water first. Avoid salt water or heavily chlorinated pool water for the same reason. Warm water works a little faster than cold.
Powdery snow or packing snow?
How much water you use changes the snow. A drier mix is powdery, so it stays loose and fluffy when you run it through your fingers, and it looks and feels the most like real snow. It won't hold together well though. If you want packing snow for snowballs or molds, add a little more water at a time and mix it through until it holds its shape when you squeeze it. Start on the dry side either way.
How to make snowballs
Snowballs come from snow you've already made, so one batch gives you two activities. Start with powdery snow for the display, then convert some of it. Sprinkle in a little more water, mix it through and squeeze a handful. If it crumbles, add a touch more water and try again. When it holds its shape in your hand, you have packing snow.
The snowball part is in the mixing video above, after the first batch is made.
To throw a snowball without it breaking apart, push it from the shoulder like a shot put rather than flinging it. Eye protection is a good idea for anyone in a snowball fight, and never aim for the face.
Where to set it up
The best spots are a tub, a sensory tray, an inflatable pool, or a groundsheet on a soft surface. Containment keeps the snow where you can scoop it back up, so the same snow gets reused all afternoon and your pack goes further.
Instant snow behaves like real ice underfoot and is extremely slippery. Set it up away from tiles, concrete, decking and any area people walk through. Play in it sitting or kneeling, and don't walk or run through it. If you can't clear it away straight after, set up an exclusion zone around it so nobody wanders in.
We don't recommend setting up straight on the lawn. Snow sinks into thick grass and is hard to scoop back out afterward, which means snow you paid for that you can't reuse. A groundsheet or pool on the lawn solves both problems. Skip the tarp, though: a snowed tarp is more slippery than the ground under it. We have found that a thick shade cloth underneath the snow can help to reduce slipperiness.
Get the free Instant Snow Activity Guide
Every pack comes with a free printable Activity Guide: more than 20 snow games, science experiments and classroom activities, plus yeti target posters. Enter your email and we'll send it to you.
Can I make it ahead of time?
Yes. There's no need to make Instant Snow on the day. Make it whenever suits, then keep it covered where possible so dust and debris stay out. Snow will slowly dry out if kept in a dry location. It usually takes a few weeks to completely shrink back to its original size.
Need more snow?
Packs from 7 gallons to 100 gallons, with the same mixing ratio at every size. Larger packs cost less per gallon.
INSTANT SNOW POWDER!
How to clean up Instant Snow
Snow is easiest to clean up while it's still in one place, so scoop the bulk first and deal with the stragglers after.
- Tubs and pools: empty into the bin, or spread it into garden beds away from foot traffic. Party GOAT snow is made from potassium polyacrylate, the same base material farmers use as a soil amendment to help plants hold water, so your garden beds will appreciate it.
- Snow on grass: scoop up the bulk first and bin it or move it to a garden bed. Then spread what's left thin and hose it well into the grass so it reaches the soil. Hose it once, properly, then leave it to dry out; hosing it again day after day only re-swells the snow and slows things down. Anything too thick to hose through needs scooping or a wet/dry vacuum, or it will sit wet on top of the grass for a long time.
- Spills and leftovers on hard floors: clean them up straight away, before anyone walks through. A regular vacuum works on dry snow; use a wet/dry vacuum for a wetter mix.
Avoid washing large amounts down the drain, as it can clog pipes.
Safety
Instant Snow is slippery, especially in thick piles, and it mimics real ice on hard surfaces. Keep it away from tiles, concrete and decking, never set it up in foot traffic areas, and stay low (sitting or kneeling) rather than walking or running through it. Clean up straight after use, or set up an exclusion zone around the snow until you can.
Eye protection is recommended if throwing snow. If snow gets in your eyes, flush well with water to prevent irritation.
Eating Instant Snow is unlikely to cause harm but should not be encouraged. Keep the dry powder away from young children. Recommended for ages 3 and up, with adult supervision.
Party GOAT Instant Snow is non toxic: it is not classified as hazardous, and it is toy safety tested by a CPSC-accepted laboratory, with no heavy metals or phthalates detected. The Safety Data Sheet is on our MSDS page.
Ready to play? Our Instant Snow Activity Guide has more than 20 games and classroom activities, from snowball shot put to building an igloo. See all the snow games and activities, or scroll up to get the printable guide by email.
Instant Snow FAQs: mixing and using
How much water do I add to instant snow?
Half a gallon (1.9 L) of water for every 2½ oz (71 g) of powder, which makes a gallon (3.8 L) of snow. Scale from there: a whole 500 g pack takes 3½ gallons (13.5 L) of water and makes 7 gallons (27 L) of snow. Pour the water onto the powder, then fluff it up and spread it out. Spoon counts are in the table above.
How do I get the full volume of snow from a pack?
Spread it out. Finished snow is water plus the air between the particles, and in a deep tub the bottom layer squashes down under its own weight. Fluff it up and spread it in a shallow layer and you see the full volume. A 15 gallon pack covers about 24 square feet at 1 inch deep.
My snow turned out wet or gel-like. What went wrong?
Almost always too much water. Check the ratio in the table above: half a gallon of water makes a gallon of snow, and it is easy to pour double. Start on the dry side and add a little at a time; a drier mix looks and feels most like real snow. If your ratio was right, very hard water can stop the powder absorbing properly, so try filtered tap water.
How do I make snowballs with instant snow?
Take snow you have already made and mix in a little more water until a handful holds its shape when you squeeze it. Throw with a shot put push rather than a fling so the ball stays together. Eye protection is recommended.
Can I make instant snow the day before?
Yes. There is no need to make it on the day. Keep it covered so it stays clean and does not dry out.
Can I use instant snow outside in the sun?
Yes. Party GOAT Instant Snow is made from premium crosslinked potassium polyacrylate with a UV stabilizer, so it keeps looking like snow in direct sunlight, where most instant snow breaks down within an hour.
Can I put instant snow on the lawn?
You can, but we recommend a groundsheet, tub or pool on top of the lawn instead, as it makes for much easier cleanup. Snow sinks into thick grass and is hard to scoop back out, so you lose snow you could have reused. For small amounts that do end up on grass, scoop the bulk, spread the rest thin and hose well into the soil.
How do I clean up instant snow?
Scoop the bulk into the bin or garden beds, vacuum spills (regular vacuum if dry, wet/dry vacuum if wet), and spread small amounts on grass thin before hosing them in. Avoid washing large amounts down the drain.
Is instant snow safe for kids?
Yes. Party GOAT Instant Snow is non toxic and safe for kids: it is not classified as hazardous and is toy safety tested by a CPSC-accepted laboratory, with no heavy metals or phthalates detected. It is for ages 3 and up with adult supervision. It is very slippery on hard floors, so set it up away from foot traffic and play in it sitting or kneeling. Eating it is unlikely to cause harm but should not be encouraged. The Safety Data Sheet is on our MSDS page.
About Instant Snow
What is instant snow made of?
Party GOAT Instant Snow is a premium crosslinked potassium polyacrylate, a superabsorbent polymer that soaks up many times its weight in water. Most instant snow on the market is sodium polyacrylate, the material used in disposable nappies. Ours is a different base polymer with a UV stabilizer added, which is why it keeps looking like snow in the sun.
How does instant snow work?
The dry powder is made of long polymer chains that attract water. Pour water on and the chains swell and lock the water inside each particle, so a spoonful of powder grows into a fluffy pile of snow in seconds. The water is held inside the particles rather than sitting between them, which is why good instant snow feels dry to the touch and holds its shape.
Is instant snow toxic?
No. Party GOAT Instant Snow is non toxic. It is not classified as hazardous under safety data sheet criteria, and it is toy safety tested by a CPSC-accepted laboratory, with no heavy metals or phthalates detected. Eating it is unlikely to cause harm but should not be encouraged. Keep the dry powder away from young children and use it with adult supervision. For ages 3 and up. The Safety Data Sheet is on our MSDS page.
Is instant snow cold?
It feels cool to the touch, and coolest when you make it with cold water. Finished snow is mostly water, so it tends to stay a little below room temperature, and customers love the cool feeling. Make it with warm water and it will feel warm at first, then cool down over the next few minutes.
Does instant snow melt?
No. Instant snow doesn't melt like real snow, it slowly dries out. Left uncovered it shrinks back toward small granules over time. Keep it covered between uses to hold its look. Dried snow can be rehydrated and reused, though it will not be quite as fluffy as a fresh batch.
How long does instant snow last?
There is no single answer, because it depends on where it is and what it is doing. Indoors, covered and undisturbed, a display keeps its look for a long time. Outdoors, Party GOAT Instant Snow keeps looking like snow in direct sun where most instant snow breaks down, but sun and wind dry it faster, thin layers dry faster than deep piles, and rain turns it to slush. Snow that is squeezed and trodden all day compacts and can start to feel sticky, so for a busy play area swap in a fresh batch rather than expecting one to last.
How much does instant snow cost?
Prices and pack sizes, from 7 gallons to 100 gallons, are on our Instant Snow product page. Larger packs cost less per gallon, and for a school or event order you can email sales@partygoat.com with your numbers for a quote.
Where can I buy instant snow?
Party GOAT Instant Snow is sold on partygoat.com and on Amazon in the US, Canada and Australia. Buy it here on our Instant Snow product page, or search Party GOAT Instant Snow on Amazon.
Is instant snow safe for pets?
Yes. Party GOAT Instant Snow is non toxic and safe for your lawn, your garden, your pets and wildlife. The mixed snow is mostly water, and the dry powder is not classified as hazardous. As with any play product, don't let pets eat it: like for people, eating it is unlikely to cause harm but should not be encouraged.
Is instant snow bad for the environment?
No. Party GOAT Instant Snow is made from potassium polyacrylate, a high-grade soil amendment farmers use to help soil hold water. When you're done, spread it in garden beds or bag it for the bin. Avoid washing large amounts into drains, as it can clog pipes.
Can I use instant snow to make cloud slime?
We haven't tested it for that. Party GOAT Instant Snow is made to look and behave like snow: it holds its shape, packs into snowballs and keeps its look in the sun. We have had one report that ours did not give the drizzly cloud slime texture the maker was after. Our best guess is that the finishing stage that makes our snow glisten also smooths the particles, and that cloud slime recipes work better with the sodium polyacrylate snow most brands sell (the material used in diapers). If you try it, we'd love to hear how it goes.
How do I dispose of instant snow?
Empty tubs and pools into the bin or into garden beds away from foot traffic. Vacuum spills, scoop or vacuum leftovers so nobody slips, and hose small amounts on grass thin into the soil. Avoid washing large amounts down the drain. The full cleanup steps are in the cleanup section above.