How To Make Slime (5 EASY Recipes For Beginners)

• What is slime?
• Easy slime recipes
• Where to buy slime
• How to clean up slime

 
Slime - we've all heard of it, and you'd be lying if you said you didn't want to give it a try!

With countless recipes out there, it can be hard to know where to start. Worry not - if you want to know how to make slime, you've come to the right place.

Today we're sharing our favourite, super simple slime recipes! You don't need any fancy ingredients, because you should have most of these supplies to hand already. 

We know you're probably worried about all the mess that slime makes too, so we've even included some handy tips for cleaning up all those sticky messes too! Ready? Let's get started...

What is slime?

Maybe your child has asked you to make some slime and you're unsure exactly what it is? For those of you that have been living under a rock, let's go back to basics! Slime is the term given to a substance that is often sticky and somewhere between a liquid and a solid. It comes in many forms and variations from foamy to glow in the dark.

What do you need to make slime?

If you're wondering what supplies you'll need to make slime, it can be made from a whole host of different components. The ingredients for a basic slime in the USA are glue, borax and water. In the UK, borax is much harder to come by, so substitutes such as baking soda, saline solution and laundry detergent are often used. 

You might be surprised to hear that you can whip up a batch of slime from some pretty unexpected things too - shampoo, chewing gum and shaving foam have all been used to great effect! We've even found some recipes to transform a glue stick into slime!

Easy slime recipes

For those of you that are brave enough to try your hand at making your own slime, you've come to the right place! Here are our top 5 ways to make slime...

1. Basic slime recipe

 For a classic slime recipe, you can't go wrong with this. 

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp clear school glue
• A few drops of paint or gel food colouring
• 2 tsp laundry detergent

1. Add the clear glue and paint/food colouring to a bowl and mix until the colour is evenly spread.
2. Add the laundry detergent and knead.
3. That's it - we told you it was simple!

2. Glitter slime recipe

Glitter can be messy, but not when it's worked into a fun slime mixture. 

For this recipe, you'll need:

• 2 tbsp clear school glue
• 2 tsp laundry detergent
• 2 tsp glitter
• A few drops of paint or gel food colouring (optional)

Instructions

1. Mix the clear glue and the glitter together in a bowl.
2. If you would like, you can colour your slime by adding a few drops of paint or gel food colouring. This will give your slime a base colour, so it's best to use a colouring that'll match your chosen glitter. Mix this into your slime mixture now and distribute evenly.
3. Add half (1 tsp) of the laundry detergent to the mixture and stir. Add the remaining half, and knead the slime with your hands until the ingredients have combined. It should become less sticky as you knead.  

3. Glow in the dark slime recipe

Looking for a slime recipe that's out of this world? Give glow in the dark slime a try! All you need for this recipe is:

• 2 tbsp white school glue  (PVA glue)
• 1/2 tsp baking soda (Bicarbonate of soda)
• 3 tsp saline solution (Contact lens solution)
• 1 tsp glow powder

Instructions: 

1. Mix together the white school glue and baking soda. Work the baking soda into the glue as fast as you can to ensure that it doesn't clump together.
2. Add the glow powder to the glue and baking soda mixture and then stir to combine. 
3. Slowly add in the saline solution until you have achieved the desired consistency. If your slime is still a little sticky, add in a few more drops of saline solution. 
4. Activate your slime by placing it under a light source - preferably a desk lamp. Leave for at least 10 minutes. 
5. Your slime should now glow in the dark! The longer you leave your slime under the light, the better it will glow. It can be reactivated with a light source for endless fun!

4. Baking soda slime

Baking soda is perfect for making slime! Give this recipe a try...

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp white school glue  (PVA glue)
• 1/2 tsp baking soda (Bicarbonate of soda)
• 3 tsp saline solution (Contact lens solution)
• A few drops of paint or gel food colouring

1. Add the white glue to the mixing bowl and add in the baking soda. Mix quickly to avoid any clumping. 
2. Add the paint and mix until the slime is evenly coloured. 
3. Add the saline solution and knead into a ball. 
4. If the slime is too sticky, add a little more saline solution.

Baking soda can also be used to make oobleck. Take a look at our recipe to find out how. 

5. How to make foam slime

Foam slime, also known as floam, is a real hit with kids. It's soft and makes some pleasing sounds as you stretch it apart. This slime recipe makes a wonderful stress relieving tool - just like a stress ball! 

You will need:

• 2 tbsp clear school glue
• 2 tsp laundry detergent
• 1 tbsp mini styrofoam balls

1. Mix together the clear school glue and foam balls
2. Add the laundry detergent and then mix and knead with your hands to combine.
3. You can also add food colouring to make different coloured foam slime.

For similar cloud slime recipes check out our other blog post.   

Where to buy slime

Want to cheat your way to a slimy good time? Making your own slime can be tricky, expensive and time-consuming, so why not just buy some? 

Whether you're looking for a slime kit to get yourself going, or a ready-made batch of the sticky stuff, here are a few of our favourites from Amazon: 

• Unicorn Fluffy Slime
• Elmer's Slime Starter Pack
• National Geographic Mega Slime & Putty Lab
• Learning Resources Play Foam 

How to clean up slime 

Making slime doesn't have to be messy - though that is part of the fun, of course! Check out these tips to make cleaning up a lot easier... 

1. How to store slime

Making the perfect batch of slime is no easy task, and we don't blame you if you want to preserve it for as long as possible. But how do you keep slime activated without making a huge mess? 

Always store slime in a plastic container with the lid sealed tightly. If you don't seal the container properly, or if you leave slime out in the open, it will dry out. Your slime should last for the best part of a month if stored correctly. 

TOP TIP: You might want to label the container so that no one mistakes it for a tasty treat! 

2. Work in small batches

We know it's tempting to throw all of your ingredients together in the hopes of making a monster slime, but slow down! When trying a new recipe you should always start small. Perfect your slime on a small scale, and then go big. 

It's very easy to make a failed batch of slime, and all that waste will make a right mess!

3. How to get rid of slime stains from skin

If you add food colouring to your slime, you might find that the pigment stains the skin. The best way to remove pigmentation from the skin is to use rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer. Gently rub the area with some cotton wool soaked in rubbing alcohol, and you'll soon see the stains disappear.  

4. How to get slime out of clothes

Wondering how to get slime out of clothes? It's easier than you might think! You just need to treat the stain with white vinegar. If the slime has already hardened, pop the garment in the freezer to make it easier to peel off. 

5. How to get slime out of hair

You don't need to resort to a haircut! If you're want to know how to get slime out of hair, you might be surprised to hear how easy it is. Shampoo will break down the ingredients in the slime with ease. Take a look at our guide to read the tips. 

Q&A

Is slime dangerous?

Slime is as safe as you make it. If you decide to buy your slime, check the ingredients and ensure that you're buying from a trustworthy retailer. Some slimes have been labelled toxic because they contained a worrying amount of boron.

You can lower the risks of danger by taking a couple of simple steps. If you're worried that the slime may get eaten, you might want to make an edible variation. If you're working with ingredients like laundry detergent, be sure to take appropriate precautions such as hand washing.  

Can I rescue hard and rubbery slime?

To reactivate hardened, rubbery slime, try leaving it in a bowl of hot water. Once the water has cooled completely, remove the slime from the water and stretch it in your hands. If this doesn't work, the slime might be beyond saving.

Can I make my slime less sticky?

When stored incorrectly, or for too long, slime can either go sticky or harden. If it's sticky, try adding a few drops of laundry detergent or saline solution. Knead the slime until it reaches the desired consistency. 

My slime is too soapy. How can I fix it? 

Soapy slime is the result of adding too much laundry detergent. Try adding some glue to the slime until it balances out. You can also knead the slime a bit more or use a kitchen towel to remove some of the soapy bubbles.

Why isn't my slime stretchy? 

If your slime snaps when you try to stretch it, it's probably because you've used too much baking soda. You can rescue your slime by adding more glue and saline solution.

Why does my slime keep failing? 

The number one mistake people make when mixing slime is adding too much of an ingredient. Check your measurements and always add the ingredients slowly. It's much easier to add and correct than to undo a mistake! 

 

Thanks for reading! What do you think of slime? Most people either love it or hate it, so we'd love to hear from you in the comments below...

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