- How to make slime with a glue stick and water
- How to make slime with a glue stick and contact lens solution
- How to make slime with a glue stick and laundry detergent
Icky, gooey, and oh-so-much fun — slime is always a winner with kids!
Over the last five years, slime has become a significant trend here in the UK, according to a report from the Guardian.
While you can now buy slime in every colour at most toy shops, you can make the stuff at home if you’re on a budget. So, here’s what you need to know about how to make slime with a glue stick!
1. How to make slime with a glue stick and water
Let’s start with the basics! By far, the easiest way to make slime with a glue stick is to use water and a pinch of food colouring. That means that you don’t have to raid your cupboards to find a whole load of expensive ingredients.
This super low-cost DIY trick takes no time at all and is one of our sure-fire ways to keep your kids busy. So without further ado, here’s how to make slime with a glue stick and water.
Ingredients:
- Glue stick
- Water
- Food colouring (of your choice!)
Equipment:
- Chopping board
- Knife
- Medium bowl
- Spoon
- Cup
- Freezer
Directions:
- First up, you’re going to need to chop up your glue stick. Twist the stick out and cut it into small chunks on a chopping board.
- Transfer the glue stick pieces into a bowl and use a spoon to start mushing them up. You will need a bit of elbow grease for this step. The firmer you are with it, the easier the next step will be!
- Fill a cup up with cool water. Then, as you’re mushing the glue, periodically add some water into the bowl. Make sure that the glue stick mixture is never fully covered in water.
- Take a spoon and start stirring the mixture until you get a slime-like consistency. You may need to add some more water at this point to get the texture right.
- Next up, it’s time to add some food colouring! Again, you can use any brand or colour that you want. Add as much as you need to get the tone right for you.
- Put the bowl in the freezer for 10 minutes. Take it out and knead the mixture. Enjoy your slime!
2. How to make slime with a glue stick and contact lens solution
While there’s no doubt that the easiest way to make slime is with a glue stick and water, there are other ways to go. If you wear contact lenses, this next DIY trick could be the one for you.
Learning how to make slime with a glue stick and contact lens solution could not be easier. Here’s everything you need to know to get started:
Ingredients:
- Glue stick
- Water
- Contact lens solution
- Food colouring
Equipment:
- Chopping board
- Knife
- Spoon
- Medium bowl
- Cup
Directions:
- To get started, you’re going to need to chop up the glue stick again. You should use the chopping board for this (as it could be messy!) and divide the stick into small chunks.
- Put the chunks into a bowl, add some water and stir well. As you do so, you should find that the glue starts to dissolve into the water.
- Next up, you want to get your food colouring involved. Add a few drops into the mixture and stir well. Again, you can add as much as you like depending on the tone you want.
- Splash in a bit of contact lens solution and mix. You don’t need a lot of this ingredient for the reaction to take place.
- Keep stirring the mixture until it has a slime-like consistency. Finally, knead the mixture with your hands to get rid of any small lumps, and you’re finished!
3. How to make slime with a glue stick and laundry detergent
Laundry detergent isn’t just excellent at getting slime out of clothes! You can also use this ingredient when you’re making slime at home.
This final recipe is super easy and will take you a matter of minutes to master from start to finish. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how you can make slime with a glue stick and liquid laundry detergent.
Ingredients:
- Glue stick
- Water
- Liquid laundry detergent
- Food colouring
Equipment:
- Chopping board
- Knife
- Spoon
- Medium bowl
- Cup
- Microwave
Directions:
- Once again, you need to start this slime making tutorial by chopping up your glue stick on a chopping board. Make sure that the chunks are small and even.
- Put the chunks into a microwaveable bowl (check out our article on things you should never microwave) and pour in some water. Make sure that the water entirely covers the glue stick pieces.
- Pop the bowl in the microwave and blast it for around 30-40 seconds (until the glue has dissolved). Note that how long you need to heat the solution may depend on your microwave type.
- Add a couple of drops of food colouring into the mixture and stir well. You can add more colour to get a deeper, darker tone.
- Next, add a splash of liquid laundry detergent into the mixture. Stir well until the concoction has a slime-like consistency.
- Finally, knead the slime mixture with your hands until it has the right texture for you.
More slime tutorials
Those are our 3 methods for making glue stick slime! For even more slime recipes, be sure to check out:
- How to make oobleck without cornstarch
- How to make cloud slime
- The best messy play ideas
- How to make slime (5 easy recipes for beginners)
If you've found yourself in a sticky situation, you might find how to get slime out of hair helpful!
Warning: Avoid Making Slime with Borax
When you search the web for ways to make slime, one recipe comes up again and again. It includes using borax or boric acid to make your concoction. However, if this particular tutorial tempts you, here’s a word of warning. This chemical could be potentially harmful to your children (and yourself!), which is why you should steer clear at all costs.
In 2018, the BBC reported that this potentially toxic chemical could be found in various commercial slime products. Which? also warned that parents should be careful when making homemade slime using borax or boric acid.
Worrying stuff! For that reason, whenever you see a tutorial that includes this particular ingredient, you should avoid it! It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to our health. Making slime at home can be fun if you use safe ingredients and ensure that your kids don’t ingest the mixture.
Q&A
Do you have to add food colouring to make slime?
Adding food colouring to your slime mixture means it will have a bright, vibrant colour! However, you can make this stuff without it. Keep in mind that if you don’t add food colouring, the mixture will likely appear clear or cloudy, depending on your method.
What type of food colouring should I use to make slime?
That’s entirely up to you! Most commercial food colourings will do the job well enough. You should pick a colour that your kids will love. Of course, green will always be the most popular slime colour, but you can choose any tone that you fancy.
Can I use detergent powder to make slime?
No! While you can use a glue stick and some liquid detergent to make slime, you don’t want to use the powdered version of the ingredient. Doing so won’t have the same reaction and will result in a major mess! Avoid this mishap at all costs.
Is homemade slime safe for kids?
Yes and no. When you make slime at home, you should keep a watchful eye on your kids. The mixture should be safe for them to play with, so long as they are careful.
However, ingesting this type of concoction could be a hazard, especially with small kids who love putting things in their mouths! Watch your children and make sure that this does not happen. You should also watch out for any skin reactions!
Can I add glitter to my homemade slime!
Absolutely! If your craft box is overflowing, feel free to add glitter to this mixture and make it appear extra magical.
Can I use salt instead of a contact lens solution?
No, salt will not have the same effect on the mixture. If you don’t have any contact lens solution or liquid laundry detergent in the house, try making slime with water instead.
How long does homemade slime last?
Since you won’t be eating it, homemade slime does not go bad over time. However, you may find that it begins to dry out and get stiff. If it does so, you might want to throw the concoction away. Instead, store your slime in an airtight container to make it last longer.
Did you find this tutorial useful? Share your creations with us on social media!
Great but what happens if add too much water
If you add too much water to glue stick slime, it will become too watery and lose its stretchy, gooey consistency. It may also become difficult to mould or shape. Therefore, adding water slowly and mixing well is essential to achieve the desired consistency.
but what if I add too much the glue stick
Hi Toni! If you've added too much glue stick, you need to balance it with more activator. Whether using water, contact lens solution or laundry detergent, add a little at a time and knead the slime until you get a perfect consistency.
What if i add cold water with the glue stick and not put it in the frige?
When making slime with glue sticks, the water should ideally be at room temperature or slightly warm. Using cold water may result in the glue not dissolving correctly and clumping together, preventing the slime from forming a smooth consistency.
Hi im trying to make jelly cube slime how shold i do that
To make jelly cube slime, mix clear glue, gelatin powder, and food colouring, then add a borax solution to make it less sticky. Pour the mixture into a small square-shaped mould and let it sit until it firms up, then remove the mould and repeat the process to make more jelly cube slime.