My Favorite Slime Recipe

A few years ago, making your own slime was all the rage. People swapped recipes and even swapped slimes. Now, you can buy all the pre-made slime you want, in a variety of colors, textures, and themes. But there is something special about creating your own slime. This activity is great for keeping children busy on a rainy day, or helping them learn to follow step by step directions.

WARNING: This recipe uses Borax, which can be toxic if someone eats it. It does not taste good, so people are unlikely to eat it. But it is best to only do this project with children who can understand that they should not put the ingredients or finished slime into their mouths.

Supplies

Glue. Elmer's School Glue works best for this.

20 Mule Team Borax. You can buy it on Amazon or find it in the laundry section at a local store.

Water. Tap water is fine, preferably slightly warm.

2 bowls. I recommend using disposable bowls, or cheap bowls that will only be used for slime making. Its fine to use your own personal dishes, but make sure to clean them very well before using them for food!

Spoons. Again, you might want to use disposable spoons or get cheap spoons to only be used for slime and other crafts.

Measuring cups.

Food coloring (optional)

Glitter or sequins (optional) 

Shaving cream (optional) 

A Word About Glue 

Any polymer glue will work for making slime. Elmer's glue (white or clear) is ideal. You can also use off-brand glue, such as Amazon's brand. We have not had much success with Dollar Tree glue, but we have heard that some others have used it with satisfactory results. Use clear glue if you want clear slime or slime with a translucent tint. Use white glue for white or solid colored slime. You can even use glitter glue, which will eliminate the need to add your own glitter.

Steps 

1. Pour your glue into a bowl or container. You will need at least 4 ounces (½ cup) of glue. 

2. Add food coloring, if desired. 

3. Fill a separate bowl or container with about a cup of warm water.

4. Stir in one teaspoon of Borax.

5. Pour just a little of the Borax solution into the glue. Stir. 

6. Repeat this process over and over, pouring a little bit of solution, and then stirring. It is important to add just a little at a time, to keep the slime from getting too rubbery. You will see the glue begin to form a blob. Continue to stir it until most of the glue and water are now part of the blob.

7. Pick up the blob. If it sticks to your hands like wet dough, it is not ready. If that happens, put it back into the bowl and add a little more Borax.

8. When the slime is ready, you should be able to pick it up, knead it, and stretch it. It will be wet at first, but the more you play with it, the firmer it will become.

9. If you want to use shaving cream, add it now. Lay your slime on a flat, nonpourus surface such as a countertop or baking tray. Flatten it out. Squirt the shaving cream directly onto the slime. Use about a cup of shaving cream for each 4 ounces of glue that you used. The shaving cream will make the slime fluffy for a few hours. However, the foam will eventually dissipate, leaving regular slime. You can always make it fluffy again by squirting shaving cream onto your slime and then kneading it in. 

10. You can now fold in any glitter or sequins. 

11. Store in an airtight container when you're not using. If you leave slime out of its container, or leave the lid off, it will dry up within a day or so.

Clean up

Scrape as much glue residue from the bowls into the garbage. Rinse the dishes with very hot water to prevent drain clogs. 

A Note For Parents and Caregivers

Slime will stick to any porous surface, such as cloth, wood, clothing, furniture, hair, or carpeting. If you leave a glob of slime on a table, it may ooze off the edge of the table and onto the floor. If you do get slime stuck to a porous surface, scrape as much of it as possible off with the edge of a spoon or a butter knife. Then, pour vinegar on the spot, let it sit for several minutes, and rinse with hot water. 

Conclusion

Slime making is a fun activity for children and adults alike. As you get more proficient at making slime, you can experiment with different textures, colors, and add-ins. The internet is full of additional recipes for slime, so you can experiment until you find your favorite!