Slimes have been popular since the 90s, and making them at home has become popular more than 5 years ago. All the ingredients for them can be bought in stores, all that remains is to mix them correctly.
Sodium tetraborate has always been considered the main binding component, but it turned out to be unsafe. Then slime lovers came up with new ways to prepare a thickener to create a viscous toy.
What You Need to Know Before Making a Thickener
The correct consistency for slime is created by a chemical reaction between polymers and sodium tetraborate. Polymer is PVA glue. To keep it in a liquid state and maintain the elastic properties of the slime, you need a thickener. Sodium tetraborate, borax or boric acid do a good job of this task.
The interaction of the two main ingredients is called cross-linking. Glue is a long, viscous strand of molecules that harden when exposed to oxygen, allowing it to tightly bond different surfaces.
Sodium tetraborate makes these threads denser, prevents drying and turns liquid glue into a plastic, soft mass. In science, the consistency of slime is called a non-Newtonian fluid because it cannot be called a solid substance or 100% liquid.
Beginners don't always succeed in creating a slime on the first try. Before you start making slime at home, you need to know how to eliminate the shortcomings.
| Problem | Solution |
| The slime is too runny | Gradually add thickener until viscosity improves. |
| The slime is very thick | Add a little of the main ingredient according to the recipe (PVA, shampoo, soap). |
| The thickener does not work | It is important to choose the right container. Do not mix ingredients in aluminum or plastic containers. The thickener may react with these substances. It is recommended to use glass or ceramics. |
| Borax does not dissolve in warm water. | The water temperature may not be warm enough for complete dissolution. You can warm the solution in the microwave. |
| The slime sticks to your hands really badly | You need to add a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide. |
| The slime doesn't stretch well | You should add 2 drops of 6% vinegar during the cooking process. The finished mucus will no longer be able to acquire elasticity, you will have to repeat the cooking. |
| The mucus does not slide well in your hands. | The finished slime must be coated with glycerin and kneaded well. |
| The toy dries in a sealed package. | After each use, the package should be sprayed with water and a pinch of salt added. |
A slime is considered successful if its consistency is uniform. It stretches well, is elastic, and does not stick to your fingers.
How to make a thickener for slime at home without sodium tetraborate
Tetraborate is considered the best thickener for slimes, but it has a serious drawback. It can cause severe allergic reactions on sensitive baby skin.
It also poses a danger if inhaled over a long period of time. Games with such slimes should be carried out under adult supervision, no more than 15 minutes., and after, you must thoroughly wash your hands with soap.
But kids love slimes, so adults have found a way to create a sticky toy without using a dangerous ingredient. These slimes are slightly different in consistency. Their elasticity is slightly worse than store-bought ones, but this is not considered a big minus. The main thing is safety.
In addition, making hand gum is a fun process that will introduce children to the basics of chemistry and physics, and playing with artificial slime will help develop hand motor skills.
Liquid for lenses
This liquid can be purchased at a pharmacy or in optical stores. It is important to purchase a solution for cleaning lenses, not for storage. The cleanser contains boron. Before buying, you need to make sure that this substance is present by reading the composition on the package. If the product does not contain boron, then it is not suitable as a thickener.
Additional ingredients for the contact lens slime recipe:
- soda;
- food coloring;
- guar gum;
- distilled water.
Pour water into a glass bowl and sift guar gum into it through a sieve. You should get a paste-like mixture. To prevent lumps from forming, rub the mass through a sieve again.
Then add a few drops of dye, as well as lens cleaner and soda, 2 tbsp each. Mix everything well. When you get an elastic mass that does not stick to your palms, the slime is ready.
Liquid starch (Sta-Flo)
This substance is used in washing clothes. It helps things become softer and easier to iron. You can buy liquid starch at any industrial supermarket. If there are none nearby, you can always order the product online.
Sta-Flo is considered one of the most popular and affordable products. It contains natural ingredients, as well as sodium tetraborate, but in a very small amount (2%).
Besides liquid starch, the slime recipe contains only 2 additional ingredients:
- water;
- PVA glue.
This will allow small children to conduct an unusual experiment on their own. It is recommended to choose transparent glue and add glitter or dye at the end of preparation.
In a bowl, mix glue and water in proportions of 1:1. The next step is adding decorations and paint. If the PVA glue is white, the shade of the slime will be pastel. To get a bright color, you need more dye. For transparent slimes, on the contrary, you will need 1-2 drops.
Finally, you need to add liquid starch 3:1, in relation to the liquid in the bowl. If the volume of water with glue is 300 ml, then you will need 100 ml of starch. The slime begins to form immediately. It is necessary to continuously mix the ingredients so that all the liquid turns into slime.
Borax
This substance can be in liquid and bulk form. It is used in the household, so you can buy the product in a household chemical store, in the building materials department, or order it online.
What else will you need:
- PVA glue;
- warm water;
- dye.
Pour the glue into a glass or ceramic bowl and dilute with water 1:1. Mix the water and PVA thoroughly, strictly until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Then add the dye and mix again. After that, you can pour in borax. For 200 ml of liquid, you will need 1 teaspoon of powder.
First, dissolve the borax in half a glass of warm water. Carefully pour in the mixture and mix thoroughly. When it becomes difficult to mix with a spoon, you can knead the mucus with your hands. This will create an elastic, soft chewing gum for your hands, on which you can leave prints.
Soda
Baking soda makes an unusual slime that retains its shape. It feels like regular chewing gum. It's just as viscous, dense, but soft. These slimes are called "handgum." They are loved because they are pliable and stay in the position you give them.
Additional ingredients:
- warm water;
- salt;
- vinegar 6%;
- soap solution.
To obtain the last ingredient, you need to mix liquid soap with water in equal proportions. Mix dry soda and salt in equal parts, then pour in soapy water in a thin stream, add 2 drops of vinegar.
Mix everything until it becomes a paste, put it in a bag and put it in the refrigerator. The slime should cool for at least 3 hours. After playing with the slime, it should be put back in the refrigerator. When stored in unsuitable temperature conditions, it loses its elastic properties.
Hairspray
A thickener for homemade slime can be found on the dressing table in the bedroom, or in the bathroom cabinet. Hair spray with strong hold is suitable for creating slimes. Before starting work, you must put on a protective mask to avoid inhaling hairspray particles.
What else is needed:
- soda;
- PVA;
- dyes.
Pour the glue into a bowl. You can use transparent or white PVA. The liquid is colored by adding dye to the glue and constantly stirring it with a spoon. Once you have a homogeneous mass, you can use the spray. One press should last at least 7 seconds. Then mix everything and check the thickness of the slime.
If the slime is not thick enough, spray the varnish again. When the glue changes its properties, add soda. The proportions are calculated depending on your preference, monitoring the consistency of the toy. After adding soda several times, the slime will be completely ready.
Air freshener
Making this slime is similar to the previous one, the only difference is that you don’t need soda. The glue is mixed with the dye and the freshener is sprayed into the bowl, stirring the mass until it thickens and begins to peel off the sides of the bowl on its own. The consistency of such a slime will resemble viscous cotton wool and have a pleasant smell.
When spraying air freshener, you need to protect your respiratory tract with a mask.
Gelatin
The thickener can be made from gelatin. This is a food additive used to make jelly. Slimes with this ingredient are elastic and hold their shape well. One of the easiest ways to make this slime at home is to mix melted plasticine and a natural thickener.
Gelatin is poured with water and left to swell. Plasticine is kneaded well in the hands. So that it warms up and becomes soft, and then a piece is put in hot water and stirred until a homogeneous mass is formed. Gelatin is brought to a boil over low heat and the two components are combined, mixing thoroughly. They should cool in the refrigerator, after which the slime will be ready for use.
There is another recipe for gelatin slime. To make it, you will need dishwashing liquid. Add 2 tbsp of gelatin to 50 g, mix thoroughly and leave to swell for 2 hours. Then put the jelly in the refrigerator for a day. You get a sticky, elastic mass that stretches well. The shelf life of such slime is 3-4 days.
Boric acid
This substance is used by doctors as a disinfectant. It can be purchased at a pharmacy or in industrial stores, because borax has also found its application in the home.
To thicken slimes, a solution is prepared from acid by mixing the powder with water. All proportions are indicated on the package. If you buy a ready-made solution on alcohol, then you do not need to dilute it with water.
To make slime you will need:
- PVA;
- shaving foam;
- hair styling mousse;
- borax solution.
Mix the glue with foaming agents in equal proportions. Add dye and boric acid solution. The latter is carefully poured in a thin stream, carefully monitoring the consistency. When stirring with a spoon becomes inconvenient, you can knead the slime with your hands.
The slime turns out fluffy, resembling marshmallow in appearance. You need to store such a toy in the refrigerator, and wash your hands thoroughly after playing. It is not recommended to give it to younger children.
Bath and shower gel
You can make a thickener for slime at home from bath foam, shower gel or shampoo.
Such toys are not durable, but they deserve attention due to the simplicity of the recipe. For preparation you will need only gel, starch and water. All ingredients are mixed.
Gel and water in equal proportions, and starch 2:1, in relation to this liquid. The mixture is placed in a bag and cooled for 10 hours. You can take the slime out and play. Its shelf life is 3-4 days.
Toothpaste
Slime made from toothpaste is viscous and aromatic. If you use white toothpaste, you can add coloring.
What else will you need:
- liquid soap;
- flour.
In an iron saucepan, mix a tube of toothpaste and add liquid soap in a 1:1 ratio. Mix thoroughly until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Then carefully pour in the flour. It can vary in density, depending on the manufacturer, so it is important to monitor the consistency of the slime.
When the desired consistency is reached, the slime is kneaded by hand and put into the refrigerator. After 3 hours of cooling, the slime should be slightly moistened with cold water and kneaded. It is ready for use.
Sugar
This recipe is considered difficult because it is difficult to get the proportions of ingredients right.
What you need:
- powdered sugar;
- shampoo;
- liquid soap.
Mix shampoo and soap in equal quantities, then add powdered sugar. You should get a paste-like mixture, which is put in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Then cool for an additional 30 minutes in the freezer.
Salt
You can make a thickener for slime at home from a salt solution. Such a slime will not stretch, but it can be crushed and torn into pieces.
Components:
- silicate glue;
- hot water;
- salt.
Dissolve 5 tbsp of table salt in 200 ml of water. Add 1 pack of glue and leave for 30 minutes without stirring. Carefully collect the glue from the surface of the water and transfer it to another bowl. Squeeze the water out of the resulting mass to make a slime.
Shaving foam
Foam slimes are called "Fluffy Slimes." They have a pleasant, airy consistency. You can twist them into ropes, leave prints, and smear them on smooth surfaces.
"Fluffy" consists of 3 components:
- table salt;
- shaving foam;
- shampoo.
Squeeze the foam into a bowl and stir it with a spoon. If the foam is too thick, add a few drops of water. Then pour 1-2 teaspoons of shampoo into the container and stir again. Add salt gradually, in small pinches, until the slime reaches the desired consistency.
PVA glue, glue stick
A thickener for slimes at home can be made from a glue stick. This recipe will come in handy if you run out of PVA or don’t have it at hand.
Additional ingredients:
- borax powder;
- dye.
The glue is completely taken out of the package and placed in a glass bowl. Set the microwave to medium power and melt the glue in it until it becomes liquid. Add a few drops of dye. In a separate container, dilute the borax solution with water. Then gradually pour it into the glue mass, stirring constantly, until the slime begins to thicken.
There is another option, without using borax, for preparation you will need:
- glue stick;
- water;
- liquid laundry detergent;
- dye.
Pour 100 ml of hot water into the container. Take the glue out of the tube, cut into equal pieces, 5 mm thick, and put into a bowl of water. Stir until a uniform consistency is obtained. Add food coloring. Carefully pour the washing liquid into the glue solution and stir.
It is necessary to monitor the thickness of the future slime, when it reaches the desired result, stop adding the product. The mixture is stirred for 5-10 minutes until it stops sticking to your hands. The slime turns out glossy and stretches strongly. The recipes described above do not contain sodium tetraborate, but allergic reactions can be caused by other components.
Glue, detergents and borax are not considered completely safe, so precautions should be taken:
- When preparing slime, use a mask and gloves.
- Work in a well-ventilated area, especially if sprays are used as a thickener.
- Do not give the toy to children under 3 years old. Children will want to taste it, and boric acid, glue or shampoo can cause poisoning!
- Do not allow slime to touch clothing or walls. Slimes leave greasy stains that are difficult to remove.
- After playing, you should wash your hands well. Mucus leaves a thin, greasy film on your palms, which can later get on the mucous membrane and damage it.
- Children aged 3 to 7 years old should play under adult supervision. Slime is difficult to remove from long hair, animal fur and fleecy surfaces.
Sometimes you come across a low-quality dye that stains your hands. In this case, the slime must be washed in cold water. Slimes prepared on the basis of detergents cannot be washed.
At home, you can choose a suitable thickener for slimes without using sodium tetraborate. The main thing is to correctly observe the proportions. For younger children, it is recommended to make slimes from safe and edible ingredients.
Article formatting:Natalie Podolskaya
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