How to make slime: 3 simple recipes to make at home

It’s stretchy, it’s gooey, it’s addictive and it’s a super fun science project to take on at home. If you’re a parent and you haven’t done it yet, it was only a matter of time before you hit the search bar during home isolation  and typed in ‘How to make slime’.

The global slime phenomenon has well and truly taken hold, with families all over the world figuring out ways to make slime by transforming regular household ingredients into blobs of tactile, mesmerising goo.

And it doesn’t look like it is going anywhere soon. So get your lab coat on, it’s time to talk home science.

What you need to make slime

All slime recipes require different ingredients which you’ll need to source. However there are some other basic pieces of equipment that will help you turn your home into a slime science centre!

Anyone wanting to make slime at home should have the following items to hand:

• Disposable cups for pre-mixing ingredients
• Disposable BBQ skewers or Paddle Pop sticks for mixing
• Large bowl for bringing it all together
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons or syringe droppers
• Latex gloves
• Large disposable table cloth for making clean up easy

How to make stretchy slime

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup clear PVC school glue
• Water
• 1/4 teaspoon Borax
• Liquid food colouring
• Glitter or any other add-ins you wish to mix through

Method:

Mix glue and 45mls of water in one disposable cup.

In another cup, mix Borax and ¼ cup of water until the Borax is completely dissolved.

Transfer the glue mix to a large bowl, adding in a drop or two of food colouring and your glitter if you’re using it.

Slowly add your Borax mix to the bowl, it will immediately begin to react with glue mix and come together. Mix well for 30 seconds or so, using a skewer or Paddle Pop stick then you can begin to stretch and blend it with your hands.

Hot tip #1: Borax is not that nice so make sure your kids avoid touching their face and mouth while playing with slime, and always wash their hands thoroughly after every slime session.

How to make fluffy slime

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup clear PVC school glue
• Food colouring
• 3-4 cups shaving cream
• 1 tablespoon saline solution
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• Baby oil (optional)

Method:

Add glue and food colouring into a large bowl and combine using a skewer or Paddle Pop stick.

Add the shaving cream and mix well.

Next, mix in the saline solution and baking soda, mix thoroughly and knead the mixture until it gives you a fluffy slime consistency.

If your slime is too sticky, adding a drop or two of baby oil will fix that.

Hot tip #2: Food colouring may make your slime look fun and bright, but it can also stain, so make sure to keep any coloured slime away from surfaces such as carpet, good clothes or upholstery.

How to make Borax-free slime

Ingredients:

• 400g tin of condensed milk
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• Food colouring

Mix the condensed milk and cornstarch together in a saucepan over low heat.

Continually stir the mixture over a low heat until it thickens to a slime consistency.

Stir in a couple of drops of food colouring and allow to cool completely.

When you are finished playing with this safer, edible slime, store it in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator.

Hot tip #3: Borax is a naturally occuring mineral but it may still cause irritation in some people. There have also been reports that it has caused burns in children, so if you are concerned, it’s best to stick with the Borax-free recipes.