How to Remake a Picky Pad (Muddy Dog Creations Guide)
This guide is specifically for Muddy Dog Creations Picky Pads, which are designed to be remelted and remade. Instructions may vary for other products.
Unlike many disposable or single-use products, Muddy Dog Creations Picky Pads are intentionally designed to be remade and reused.
What Does It Mean to Remake a Picky Pad?
Remaking a Picky Pad means melting down the gel base and reshaping it into a new pad using beads, textures, or mix-ins.
One of the biggest benefits of a reusable Picky Pad is that it’s not a one-time-use product. Instead of throwing it away, you can remelt, redesign, and recreate it again and again.
You should remake your Picky Pad once all of the inclusions have been fully removed from the gel base.
Before remaking, it’s important that all beads and inclusions are taken out, as they should not be placed in the microwave.
There’s no “right way” to pick your pad. Some people enjoy removing all the inclusions in one sitting, while others prefer to pick a little at a time and come back to it later. It’s a completely personal sensory experience.
Once all the inclusions are removed, you can remake your pad whenever you’re ready. It does not need to be remade immediately.
If you’re not ready to remake it right away, you can store the gel base in an airtight container or bag to keep it in good condition until you’re ready to use it again.
What You’ll Need
To remake your Picky Pad, you’ll need:
• Your existing gel base
• A microwave-safe container or mold
• Beads or inclusions (new or reused)
• A microwave
• Optional: a small amount of water (if needed)
1. Prepare Your Gel Base
Carefully remove all beads and inclusions from the gel base before remaking.
Inclusions should never be placed in the microwave, so it’s important to fully pick through your pad and remove everything first.
You can save your beads to reuse later or swap them out for a completely new texture.
2. Place in a Microwave-Safe Container
Place your gel base into a microwave-safe container or mold.
You can use any microwave-safe option—there’s no specific mold required.
Some people choose to tear or cut the gel base into smaller pieces before heating. This step is not required, but it can help the gel melt more evenly and a bit more quickly.
3. Heat in Short Intervals
Microwave the gel base in short intervals (10–15 seconds at a time) until it becomes fully melted.
Heating time will vary depending on the size of your Picky Pad:
• Mini size: about 10–15 seconds total
• Regular size: start with 15–30 seconds
• Big Daddy Patty: about 30–60 seconds
Each Picky Pad also comes with step-by-step instructions, but it’s important to get familiar with how your specific microwave heats.
Watch the gel base closely while heating.
As soon as it turns liquid—or just before—it should be removed from the microwave.
👉 It’s better to slightly underheat than overheat.
If there are small unmelted pieces, you can carefully stir the gel base to help them finish melting.
Avoid overheating, as this can remove too much moisture from the gel base and affect the overall texture.
4. Add Water (If Needed)
If the gel base appears thicker, you can add a very small amount of water (about 1/8 teaspoon) and stir it in into the melted gel base (before adding inclusions back in).
This helps restore moisture and keeps the texture smooth.
5. Add Your Inclusions
Add your beads, textures, or mix-ins while the gel base is fully melted.
This is where you can customize your pad—different combinations create completely different sensory experiences.
Once your inclusions are added, you can carefully and slowly stir them into the gel base. Many people find it easiest to use a fork for this step, as it helps evenly distribute the inclusions without making a mess.
Take your time while mixing to ensure everything is evenly incorporated before the gel begins to set.
6. Let It Set
Allow the gel base to cool and fully set before using.
Curing time will vary depending on the size of your Picky Pad:
• Mini: about 15 minutes
• Regular: about 30 minutes
• Big Daddy Patty: about 60 minutes
These times are based on room temperature. Warmer environments can increase curing time and may affect how well the gel sets overall (this gel is heat sensitive!).
If you’d like to speed up the process, you can place your remade Picky Pad in the refrigerator to help it firm up more quickly.
Once fully set, your Picky Pad is ready to use again.
Tips for the Best Results
Don’t Overheat
Overheating removes moisture from the gel base and can change the consistency over time.
Adjust Beads as Needed
If your gel base has been used many times and has reduced in volume, use fewer inclusions to keep the balance right.
Expect Natural Changes Over Time
Because the gel base is reusable and biodegradable, it may gradually change in texture after many remake cycles. This is normal.
A Fun Way to Keep Using Your Gel Base
As your gel base gets thinner over time, you can still keep using it.
One of my favorite things to do is turn it into a squishy using fun molds instead of a traditional pad.
There are tons of molds available at places like Walmart, Amazon, or Dollar Tree with different shapes and themes. It’s a fun way to give your gel base a second life and continue enjoying the sensory experience in a new way.
Final Thoughts
Remaking your Picky Pad is part of what makes it such a unique sensory tool.
It’s not disposable—it evolves with you.
Each remake is a chance to create a new texture, a new design, and a new sensory experience.
Stay curious, keep exploring textures, and take care of your nervous system.
— Emily, Founder of Muddy Dog Creations
