What is something that’s super fun to play with and even therapeutic? You guessed it – SLIME! The squishy, gooey and stretchy substance that’s full of sensory fun has gotten into everyone’s hands, literally. With lots of different types, from fluffy slime to slime without glue, there’s so many to choose from to keep the kids entertained.
A huge hit with both the young and young-at-heart, slime and DIY slime kits have been around for a while but saw exponential growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, where they became an easy and affordable option for families to keep children occupied and even provide relief from mild anxiety, as well as keeping boredom at bay during lockdowns.
The craze is still going strong with many everyday Australians (including children) even turning their love for slime into a business, selling DIY slime kits or pre-made slime in an array of textures, fragrances and colours.
Want to know how to make slime? There are so many different types of slime you can make. Here are 5 fun slime recipes you might want to try making at home using some common household ingredients!
Simple Slime Recipe:
Easy to make and fast forming, this one allows you to make slime with glue and Borax.
What you need:
- Glue (clear glue, school glue, white glue)
- Borax (Sodium Tetraborate)
- Food colouring (optional)
- Water
- Two bowls
How to make this slime recipe:
- In one bowl, mix about ¼ of the glue bottle and ¼ cup of water
- If you want coloured slime, add food colouring to the above mixture
- Add ¼ cup of liquid Borax to the mixture and stir slowly
- The slime will begin to form immediately
- Stir as much as you can then dig in and knead it with your hands until it gets less sticky
- When not in use, store slime in a plastic bag in the fridge to keep it from growing mold
For more information click HERE.
Super Slime Recipe:
This slime is the clear, gooey kind that you might have seen in movies – and is also non-toxic!
What you need:
- Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)
- Borax (Sodium Tetraborate)
- Beaker, jar or bowl
- Food colouring (optional)
How to make this slime recipe:
- Pour ½ cup of PVA into a beaker, jar or bowl
- If you want coloured slime, add food colouring to the solution
- Add 2 teaspoons of Borax into the PVA solution and stir slowly
- Once the slime has formed, you can play with it
- When not in use, store slime in a plastic bag in the fridge to keep it from growing mold
For more information click HERE.
Glooze Slime Recipe:
Want to make slime without Borax? Glooze (slimy and ooze-like) is an excellent option using ingredients from your kitchen.
What you need:
- Skim milk
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Coffee filter
How to make this slime recipe:
- Add 7 teaspoons of skim milk and 1 tablespoon of vinegar to a cup
- Gently stir the mixture until solids have formed
- Let the solids sink to the bottom of the mixture then drain off the liquid using a coffee filter (or similar)
- Let the solids drain for a few minutes
- Add ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to the solids
- Knead together to form a slimy mixture from milk
For more information click HERE.
Oobleck Slime Recipe:
Another option is to make slime without glue or borax that does not use Borax or glue. Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid that resembles quicksand using cornstarch.
What you need:
- Cornstarch
- Water
- Big bowl
How to make this slime recipe:
- In a mixing bowl, combine small amounts of water and cornstarch together
- Form a mixture that looks like heavy whipping cream with the consistency of honey
- Use 2 cups of cornstarch to every 1 cup of water
- Start with less water and slowly add it until the desired consistency is reached
- Gently lay your hand on the surface of the mixture – you should notice you hand sinks in like you would expect it to
- If your mixture is deep enough to submerge your entire hand in it, try grabbing a handful of the mixture and pull your hand out quickly
- You may notice a difference if you try relaxing your hand then pulling it out slowly instead
- Try punching the mixture – if the substance splattered everywhere add more cornstarch
- If you gently and slowly move your hand through the mixture, it behaves like a liquid
- If you try to move your hand through it quickly or with force, it behaves like a solid
For more information click HERE.
Fluffy Slime Recipe:
This type of slime is a regular slime made with shaving cream added – the more you add, the “fluffier” it will be!
What you need:
- Elmer’s white glue
- Baking soda
- Water
- Shaving cream
- Bowl
- Contact lens solution (must have Boric Acid and Sodium Borate in the ingredient list)
How to make this slime recipe:
- Add 2/3 cup of Elmer’s white glue to a bowl
- Add ¼ cup of water and ½ teaspoon of baking soda and mix
- Add 2-3 cups of shaving cream to the mixture (do not use shaving gel)
- Add food colouring (optional)
- Slowly add in 1.5 tablespoons of contact lens solution
- Mix and knead until slime becomes sticky (that’s normal)
- If too sticky, you can add some baby oil or lotion to your hands
For more information click HERE.
