Everything you Need to Know About How to Make Slime

Everything you Need to Know About How to Make Slime with and without Glue and Borax Plus 15 DIY Slime Recipes

I’m writing this article in honor of my 7-year-old who has begged me time and time again to make slime. I get it. It’s feels cool and messy and experimenting with it is half of the fun! The thing is that there are SO many tutorials and videos online which lead me to research all about it and the different ways make it. That said, the recipes I chose to share are combos of several popular ones plus our experiments with them.

Be forewarned! This article contains my research including 15 DIY slime recipes!

Initial Observations from My Slime Research

• Use a small bowl to hone in on your favorite recipe. There is a lot of trial and error. Start small with each recipe before you decide to make a big batch.
• There is lots and LOTS of mixing and kneading. Your arm will get tired and for old people like me you might get a hand cramp or two. Haha! The key is…
• I noticed that even in the videos, there was a lot of trial and error. It’s about your preference for slime consistency.
• You can add color to any of these recipes by adding 1 or 2 drops of food coloring. BUT through experience we learned that if you color it and play with it a lot, your fingers will get stained.
• An alternative to food coloring is acrylic craft paint! Just add a small amount and it won’t stain your hands.
• The consistency of each slime recipe is different. They are not all perfect like the slime you buy at a store.
• Lastly, experimentation is necessary for desired results. There isn’t always an EXACT measurement. For example, depending on the recipe you make:
  • Lotion makes it stretchy
  • Corn starch thickens it
  • Foaming body wash makes it fluffy
  • Foaming shaving cream makes is fluffy

It’s important to note that there are SEVERAL variations of these recipes. But first…

What’s the Deal with Borax?

Wikipedia says that, “borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid.”

Borax is a mild irritant, but generally safe. Indirect contact with Borax for cleaning is OK BUT for DIY slime recipes, use caution because it can irritate your skin when using it directly on your skin. For kids using it for these slime recipes can be dangerous.  For example, using it and then putting your hands in your mouth can be toxic.

Good Housekeeping has an article warning parents about DIY slime using Borax after several kids were burned when using it. Please be careful and use your best judgement!!

How to Make Slime with Borax and Glue

Let’s start out with the recipe using borax and glue. Like I said, borax is generally safe, however please make sure you use adult supervision when making this recipe.

Fluffy Slime Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon borax
• 1 cup of hot water
• Foaming body wash or foaming soap
• White glue
• Cornstarch
• Food coloring (optional)
• Lotion (optional)

Instructions:

In a bowl, add 1 teaspoon of borax and 1 cup of hot water. Mix and dissolve the borax in the water and set it aside. This will be your activator.

In another bowl, pour a half cup glue and add a half cup shaving cream and mix. Add a half cup foaming body wash or foaming soap and mix. Add one tablespoon of cornstarch to thicken the mixture and mix some more.  If desired, add 2 pumps of lotion to make it stretcher. Add color if you want by mixing in 1 or 2 drops of food coloring.

Lastly, add 3 teaspoons of borax mixture and mix and knead. If it is too sticky add another small amount of borax and knead it until you get the desired consistency.

 

DIY Slime Recipes Without Borax or Glue

I had no idea there were so many recipes to make slime without using borax and glue. In fact, you can make your own slime using regular household ingredients like soap, toothpaste, and yogurt. I even saw a recipe for making slime with Styrofoam. Yup. Styrofoam. Crazy!  Let’s start with some easy ones.

One Ingredient Slime Recipes

Yes. You can make slime with just one ingredient! Crazy! Here are two.

1 Ingredient Recipe #1: Soap

The brand Soft Soap seems to work well.  All you have to do is pump the desired amount of Soft Soap in a bowl and leave in freezer for about 5 minutes. Take it out and play with it! We tested it with a small amount and it worked! The thing with this one, is it will only last a short time.

1 Ingredient Recipe #2: Gel/Paste Toothpaste Combo

Squirt a gel/paste combo toothpaste like Aquafresh into a bowl. Mix it until the gel and paste is combined. Place it in the microwave for about 5-10 seconds. It will be hot. It will also look pasty. Once it is cool enough to touch but still warm, knead it.

Two Ingredient Slime Recipes

2 Ingredient Recipe #1: Facemask Slime

To make facemask slime, the facemask ingredients must contain Polyvinyl Alcohol. Place the desired amount in a bowl and mix. Add about three tablespoons of clear laundry detergent (or contact lens solution, or water) and mix. Add 1 drop of color if desired. Mix and mix some more! Once it is thick enough, put it in container and will become clear in two days.

2 Ingredient Recipe #2: Flour & Water

This one reminds me of when I made playdough as a kid about 35 years ago! All you need is flour and water and of course food coloring if you want color but that’s optional. All you do is mix flour and water in a bowl until you reach the desired consistency. That’s it!

2 Ingredient Recipe #3: Yogurt & Cornstarch

For this recipe use two heaping teaspoons yogurt without fruit in a bowl. Color and mix until it is blended. Add 3 heaping teaspoons corn starch and mix. Then add 2 more teaspoons cornstarch and mix. Once it is thick enough knead it with your hands.

2 Ingredient Recipe #4: Soda & Metamucil

Any type of soda will work for this recipe. Pour about a cup into a bowl and add 2 heaping teaspoons of Metamucil. Mix your heart out.  Place it in microwave for 30 seconds and mix in 30 second cycles, Be careful because it gets hot! Cool in for 10 seconds.

2 Ingredient Recipe #5: Shampoo & Shaving Cream

Use a shampoo and body wash combo for this one and shaving cream. Mix them in bowl. Next, add a pinch of salt and mix again. Freeze it for about 15 minutes.

2 Ingredient Recipe #6: Playdough & Lotion

Place fresh playdough in a bowl and add about 5 pumps of lotion to a regular sized Playdough can to start. This one is messy at first because it’s best to just knead it with your hands. Don’t put too much lotion or the playdough will clump apart. This slime is thicker in consistency than regular slime.

2 Ingredient Recipe #7: Shampoo & Cornstarch

Add 2.5 tablespoons of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of shampoo and mix.  Add another half tablespoon of shampoo and mix, mix, mix, and knead. This one gets messy. Knead until you get the slime consistency.

2 Ingredient Recipe #8: Shampoo & Body Wash

Mix and combine 2 tablespoons of 3-1 shampoo and 1 tablespoon of body wash. Mix and knead until you get the right consistency.

Other Easy DIY Slime Recipes

These next three recipes have slight variations.  They are also mainly two ingredients but with table salt. With these, you use a small dash of salt to speed up the thickening process.

Recipe #1:

Mix equal parts of gel toothpaste and a thick shampoo like Head and Shoulders. Mix, mix, and mix again. If it is too liquid add a small amount of shampoo and mix, mix, mix until solid. Add a dash of salt, mix, and then freeze for 5-10 minutes.

Recipe #2:

Use half and half gel shampoo and thick shampoo like Head and Shoulders for this one. Slowly add more Head and Shoulders and mix. Add a dash of salt and mix. Freeze for 5-10 minutes.

Recipe #3:

Again, use a thick shampoo like Head and Shoulders and mix with equal parts shower gel. Mix and add a dash of salt and mix some more. Slowly add a little more shower gel and mix. Put it in the freezer for 5-10 minutes. Take it out and knead it and then put back in the freezer for 5 more minutes.

DIY Edible Slime

I saved the best for last! Slime you can eat! You will need a bag of Marshmallows and Nutella. The ratio is 3 marshmallows per tablespoon of Nutella. Microwave a bowl of marshmallows and remove. Mix in the Nutella. Once it is mixed wait 10-15 minutes and knead and then eat and enjoy!

OK… one bonus recipe and in our opinion, THE BEST one!

The Best Slime Recipe EVER

This one we tested a few times and it really works, PLUS it lasts a long time! If kept in an airtight container it’ll last for over a year!!

Ingredients:

• Tide liquid laundry detergent
• Elmer’s glue

Instructions:

After testing, Tide and Elmer’s seemed to be the brands that work the best. We placed about a half bottle of glue into a bowl. You can use white or clear or glitter. Next, slowly add the laundry detergent. You will see it thicken immediately. Mix your heart out!  That’s it!

To color it add one drop of food coloring or a small dab of craft paint.  To thicken it use a small amount of corn starch. To make it fluffy, add shaving cream!

Have you tried any of these? Which one is your favorite?

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