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Simple, fun, and safe slime recipes for kids and adults
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Who doesn’t love slime? It’s squishy, stretchy, and oh-so-slimy! It’s also super cheap, easy to make and, incredibly versatile and customizable. In this article, we’ll teach you 5 simple ways to make slime at home. All you need is a sticky slime base (usually glue) and a slime activator (typically borax or contact solution). Keep reading to learn how you can make your own slime with ingredients you likely already have lying around!

Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

3-Ingredient Slime

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Slime
    Mix two 4 oz (118 mL) bottles of washable glue and 1 tsp (5 g) of baking soda. The color of the glue is completely up to you. Use colored glue, glitter glue, or plain school glue (as long as it’s washable, it’s perfect for slime). Mix the glue and baking soda in a large bowl with a spoon or popsicle stick until they’re smooth.[1]
    • Elmer’s School Glue is a popular brand for making slime.
    • Only have white glue on hand? No worries! Try spicing it up by dying it with food coloring or adding chunky or fine glitter.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Slime
    Add 2 US tbsp (30 mL) of contact solution into the mixture. Saline or contact solution activates the slime, giving it that stretchy and stringy texture. Mix everything slowly until the contact solution is well incorporated and the mixture starts to solidify and form a ball.[2]
    • Double check that your contact solution contains boric acid (most brands do). Otherwise, the slime may not form the correct "slimy" consistency.
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  3. Pick up the slime ball and squeeze it between your hands until it becomes smooth. For a slimier texture, add another 12 US tbsp (7.4 mL) of contact solution. If your slime is too slimy, sprinkle more baking soda over it.[3]
    • Store your finished slime in an airtight container at room temperature until it dries out or hardens.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Slime
    For even more of a sensory experience, try adding small figurines, foam balls, or pom poms to the slime. This can shorten the life of the slime but make it even more fun to play with![4]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Borax Slime

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  1. Mix 4 US tbsp (59 mL) of borax powder and 1 cup (240 mL) of warm water. Put these ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir until the borax is completely dissolved. This will be your slime’s activator.[5]

    Slime is harmful if consumed. Therefore, parents are encouraged to supervise children playing and making slime at all times.

  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Slime
    In another bowl, mix these ingredients until well combined. This will be the base of your slime.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Slime
    Choose any color of food coloring you like! Start with a few drops of food coloring, then stir. If you want the color to be brighter, add a few more drops. Just keep in mind that the more color you add, the greater the chance the slime will dye your hands.[6]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Slime
    Dump the borax mixture into the glue mixture slowly, stirring occasionally. If you add too much too fast, the slime could harden and lose its elasticity. Keep mixing until the slime starts pulling away from the side of the bowl.[7]
    • Start kneading the slime with your hands at this point. It might be sticky, but keep mixing. Add more activator (borax) if the slime doesn’t thicken.
    • If you make smaller amounts of slime in separate containers, evenly divide the borax solution among the containers.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Slime
    Once the slime pulls away from the bowl and doesn’t stick to your hands, it’s ready to be played with. If the slime doesn’t stretch but rips while you play with it, you may need to begin the process over. If the slime is too sticky and doesn’t form a ball, try adding more borax and water.[8]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

“Living” Slime

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Slime
    Also known as oobleck, this slime moves all on its own! To start, add your cornstarch and vegetable oil to a large bowl and stir them together.[9]

    When making this type of slime, it's possible to substitute the cornstarch with arrowroot or tapioca powder.

  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Slime
    Place the bowl in the refrigerator and leave it there until the mixture is fully chilled (about 1 hour). The cold temperature will help the slime solidify and reach the ideal consistency. Once the hour is up, remove the mixture and stir it well to recombine all the ingredients (some separation is normal).[10]
  3. Rub a block of styrofoam on a rug to create a static charge. Any size of styrofoam works as long as you can hold it in your hand. Run the styrofoam on your hair or a carpet several times. This builds static electricity.[11]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Slime
    Place the piece of styrofoam just in front of the slime before you start pouring (roughly about 1 in (2.5 cm) away). The static electricity will cause the slime to stop flowing and appear to take on a life of its own.[12]
    • Try moving or wiggling the styrofoam around the slime—the slime will follow it!
    • Rub the styrofoam back on your hair or carpet to give it more charge as you play.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Soap Flake Slime

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Slime
    Mix 1 cup (240 mL) of soap flakes with 4 cups (950 mL) of hot water. Carefully add the hot water to a large bowl. Measure the soap flakes and place them into the bowl with the water. Stir thoroughly until the flakes fully dissolve.[13]
  2. Food coloring is optional, but it may make the slime more fun! The more food coloring you add, the brighter your slime will be.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Slime
    Letting the mixture rest allows it to reach the desired gelatinous consistency.[14] Once the hour is up, mix the mixture as quickly as you can. Continue mixing until the mixture is slimy to the touch and easy to pour. Then, play with it as much as you’d like!
    • Don’t be alarmed if the mixture starts to froth up as you stir—this is normal.
    • Store your slime in an airtight container away from direct sunlight and heat, and make a new batch when it hardens.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Edible Slime

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  1. Place a pan on your stovetop. Add 1 tbsp (10 g) of cornstarch to the milk and stir until the ingredients are well-combined.[15]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Slime
    Set your burner to low and constantly stir the mixture as it heats up. If you don’t stir continuously, the mixture may stick to your pan and burn. Remove the mixture from the heat once it becomes gelatinous and hard to stir.[16]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Slime
    Choose any color you want! Green is always a classic, but experiment or allow your kids to pick a color. The more food coloring you add, the brighter your slime will be.[17]
  4. Before you start playing with your slime, let it cool down so it’s safer to touch (about an hour or so). Once cool, remove the slime from the pan and squeeze it between your hands, taking an occasional taste.[18]
    • This slime may stain surfaces, so lay down a placemat or paper towel before playing.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How can you make your slime last long?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Store it in an airtight container or a zip lock bag. If it's already hardened then add baby oil to the slime.
  • Question
    Is it possible to make slime without borax, glue, or cornstarch?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes. Some people make theirs with shampoo, washing up liquid, and salt. There are many different and easy ways to make slime. In fact, here is another way to learn How to Make Slime Without Borax.
  • Question
    Can I make slime by using toothpaste and glue?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can. It works the best if the toothpaste you use is Crest or Colgate.
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Tips

Tips from our Readers

  • When playing with slime, try not to wear any fake nails—they may stick to the slime, which will be difficult to remove. Your nails will be ruined.
  • Make sure your hands are moisturized when you play with your slime—this prevents it from sticking to your dry hands.
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Warnings

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Things You'll Need

3-Ingredient Slime

Borax Slime

  • 12 cup (120 mL) of craft glue
  • 1 cup (240 mL) of warm water
  • Food coloring (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of borax powder

“Living” Slime

Soap Flake Slime

  • 1 cup (240 mL) of soap flakes
  • 4 cups (950 mL) of hot water
  • Food coloring (optional)

Edible Slime

  • 1 can (14 oz.) of sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of cornstarch
  • Food coloring (optional)

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About This Article

Amy Guerrero
Reviewed by:
Arts & Crafts Specialist
This article was reviewed by Amy Guerrero and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Amy Guerrero is an Arts and Crafts Specialist and the Owner of Sunshine Craft Co., a crafting studio based in Phoenix, Arizona. Amy specializes in macrame, DIY crafting, and teaching fiber arts. She offers monthly in-person and online workshops along with having developed a range of DIY craft kits for at-home projects. Amy holds a BS in Industrial Design from Philadelphia University. She worked as a graphic designer before starting her own business. Sunshine Craft Co. is a creative hub that offers a wide range of workshops, tools, and resources for any craft project to inspire creativity and community engagement. This article has been viewed 3,970,993 times.
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Co-authors: 301
Updated: June 10, 2024
Views: 3,970,993
Article SummaryX

To make basic slime, first mix 3/4 cups of water (180 milliliters) with 1/2 a cup (125 milliliters) of glue. Add a few drops of food coloring if you want colored slime. Then, in a separate bowl, mix 1 cup of water (240 milliliters) with 1 teaspoon of borax until it’s fully dissolved. This mixture is the slime activator. Slowly add 1 teaspoon of the slime activator at a time, stirring after each addition, until the slime starts to thicken. Finally, knead the slime until the ingredients are fully combined. If your slime still feels a bit too slimy, add a little more of the slime activator until it feels right. For more tips, including how to make edible slime, read on!

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