Thickeners for slime. List without sodium tetraborate, with glue

Slimes, or as they are also called - "lizuns", are confidently winning more and more fans among children and adults involved in children's games. Jelly-like and viscous, soft as butter and elastic like a bouncy ball, airy and those that can be cut with a knife, slimes are made from a wide variety of materials.

And the main ingredient in the recipes is a thickener, which can also be quite diverse. For those who are keen on creating these toys, it is useful to know the list of thickeners, the properties and features of using each of them with a particular material, as well as the advantages and benefits of a particular slime recipe.

The role of thickener in slime

Thickener is a mandatory main ingredient for creating slime, without which it is impossible to make the right toy. The binder is responsible for the consistency of the slime, gives it the necessary density and the ability to stretch well.

When mixing slime, both ready-made thickening compounds (activators) and improvised means that have the necessary properties are used. Medicines from the home medicine cabinet, household chemicals, some food products - all this can be used for experiments.

It is important to be careful when doing this – wear gloves, protect your eyes, and for children, work only under adult supervision.

Slime thickeners, the list of which is always indicated in the recipe, are not universal. Each of them has its own positive and negative features and characteristics.

Pros and cons of activator-thickener for slime making

Activator-thickener	Pros	Cons
Boric acid	Strong thickening effect; economical consumption; slime is flexible and pleasant to the touch; sold in pharmacies at a reasonable price.	Not suitable for every glue; With prolonged contact it causes nausea, dizziness, peeling of the skin on the hands.
Washing gel (and washing)	A good option for creating runny slimes; sold in any convenience store; Depending on the additives in the gel itself, the slime can be colored, with a pearlescent sheen.	It has an intrusive, strong aroma that not everyone likes; may cause skin irritation; high consumption.
Air freshener	Prevents you from accidentally making the toy too hard; the prepared slime has a pleasant aroma; can be bought in any store	It is inconvenient to control the amount of added substance – it is difficult to achieve the desired consistency; long kneading process weak stabilizing ability; uneconomical consumption; a sharp, persistent smell – it is better to work outdoors or in a ventilated area; requires caution from people suffering from allergies and asthma.
Baking soda	Safe when used as directed; cheap and accessible; low consumption; The resulting toys are elastic, but not too stretchy.	May cause skin irritation; If you add too much, the slime becomes liquid and loses its shape.
Gelatin	Hypoallergenic product; safe for children; does not irritate the skin.	Works only in combination with plasticine and water.
Cornstarch	Quick to prepare; safe for children of all ages; has no smell; it is easy to control the density of the future toy.	The resulting slime is less elastic; a finished toy cannot be stored for long and may become moldy; high consumption; The cooking process and result depend on the level of humidity in the room.
Sodium tetraborate	Suitable for creating any type of slime – from classic taffy to elastic handgum; works fast; affordable price; odorless, non-toxic; When purchasing at a pharmacy, no prescription is required.	Sold only in pharmacies; it's easy to make slime too thick; It dissolves poorly in water and requires long mixing of the mass.
Hydrogen peroxide	Allows you to make a light, foam-like, airy slime; sold in any pharmacy at a low price; safe when used as directed; economical consumption, a couple of drops are enough.	Requires careful insertion. If you overdo it, the slime will be runny; Playing with this slime for a long time can cause skin irritation.
Arco shaving foam or gel	Allows you to create fluffy slimes with a light, voluminous structure.	Does not work with every glue; high consumption; takes a lot of time to prepare.
Contact lens fluid	Colorless, well suited for creating crystal slimes; harmless to skin; has no smell.	High consumption; high price; works only in combination with soda.
Teymur paste (spray, liquid soap or cream)	Works with any glue; non-toxic; sold in pharmacies without a doctor's prescription.	Specific unpleasant odor; it is difficult to calculate proportions when mixing with water; high consumption.
Eye drops Levomycetin	Safe to use; low cost; easy to find in a pharmacy.	They act weakly; high consumption.
Nasal drops "Naphthyzinum"	Fast results; does not contain aromatic fragrances; sold in any pharmacy low cost price.	After prolonged use, they cause dry skin; Even to get a small slime you will need several bottles of drops.
Borax (Tinkal, Borax)	Gives good results in a short time; economical consumption affordable price no foreign flavors.	Hard to find for sale; has health restrictions.
Hairspray	Easy to find in any cosmetic store.	Not every glue gives good results; Only strong hold hairspray works; has a sharp smell that is not pleasant for everyone; low quality of the resulting toy; may cause allergies.
Iodine	Sold in any pharmacy; inexpensive price; allows you to make a hard, slightly stretchy slime.	Has a specific smell; may cause skin irritation; paints hands; Do not use if you have fresh cuts on your hands.
Salt	There is one in every home; inexpensive price; low consumption; has no smell.	Suitable for thickening office glue only; dries the skin; It is not recommended to use if there are wounds on the skin - it causes a burning sensation.
Sugar, powdered sugar	There is one in every home; safe; does not produce foreign odors; You can decorate a cake with slime figures and powdered sugar.	High consumption; When exposed to heat, the slime will melt.
Baby powder	Safe for skin; non-toxic; has no smell.	You can only make 1 type of slime – handgum; high price; high consumption; causes coughing during cooking.
Silicate liquid glue	Nice price; no smell; safe when used as directed.	It does not work in combination with every brand of PVA; The resulting slime is hard and breaks when stretched.
Alcohol	Safe when used as directed.	It has a specific pungent smell.
Nail polish	Sold in any store/cosmetics department; allows you to make slime in bright colors, with glitter or matte.	Very high consumption – 10-20 bottles of varnish are used for one slime; high price; smells strongly of solvent; may cause headache, nausea, skin irritation; The slime is very tight and doesn't stretch.
Foot cream (for sweaty feet)	Gives the slime softness and glossy shine; increases the elasticity of the toy; does not dry out the skin of your hands even with prolonged use; low consumption at low price.	Requires refrigeration; shelf life – no more than 10 days.
Flour and hand cream	Safe; hypoallergenic; accessible and inexpensive; It's easy to make a new slime from a failed one.	The prepared slime dries quickly; Only 1 type of slime is available - soft, non-stretchy.
Dishwashing liquid	you can make a soft slime; low price; freely sold in stores; flavored and colored, no additional ingredients required.	It is difficult to calculate the required amount of gel.
Condensed milk	Nice color; sweet aroma; When combined with starch and cream, you get an edible slime.	Doesn't stretch very well, more suitable for handgum slime.
Marshmallow	The slime stretches well and smells nice; the slime can be eaten; An unusual way to dispose of dried marshmallows.	Dries quickly; If you plan to eat slime, you shouldn't play with it.

Slime thickeners, the list of which is growing with each new attempt to create an interesting slime, can be interchangeable if they have similar properties or components in their composition.

So, boric acid is replaced with Teymur cream/spray, starch – with flour or baby powder, air freshener – with hairspray. Much depends on the proportions of the substances on the basis of which the slime is created.

Slime Making Methods

There are as many recipes and methods for making slime as there are slimers in the world. At home, the following proven improvised substances are most often used.

Using PVA glue

Slimes made with PVA glue are very popular. However, not every PVA glue is suitable for their production. The glue should be thick, have a good shelf life, and ideally, just bought. The best ones are PVA-M from Luch and PVA Stolyar Universal from Moment.

Slime thickeners, the list of which is given above, are mixed with PVA glue in certain proportions, strictly according to the recipe. This way you can make any kind of anti-stress toy - from handgum to fluffy.

Exposure to cold

To get a quality toy, in some cases it is necessary to keep the slime in the refrigerator. At low temperatures, the slime will ripen in 30-60 minutes and acquire the desired consistency.

Slimes based on glue, creams, detergents, and plasticine respond well to the effects of cold. The main condition is that the mass should be in a tightly closed plastic or glass container and not come into contact with food.

Using a thickener

All methods of making slime using a thickener are based on the formula "adhesive substance + thickener (activator)". It is important to remember that the products presented in the list give the toy different properties. Some make it soft as butter, others - airy and crispy, others - elastic and resilient.

The texture of the resulting toy and its durability also depend on the activator.

During the slime preparation process, the thickener is gradually added to the main components, stirring thoroughly each time. The main thing is not to overdo it, otherwise the elasticity of the “hand gum” will be lost.

Top 3 Slime Making Recipes

Slime without PVA glue with sodium tetraborate

By following the recipe exactly, you can get a beautiful, high-quality toy with a pleasant texture. This slime stretches well and makes a crunching sound when pressed.

You will need:

• shower gel – 6-7 pumps of the dispenser
• toothpaste – 1 tsp.
• water – 2 tsp.
• sodium tetraborate
• glitter, dye – for decoration.

Additionally: a container with a tight-fitting lid (plastic or glass container), a deep plate, a spoon/stirring stick.

Preparation procedure:

1. Pour 1 teaspoon of water into a container. Add shower gel and any toothpaste.
2. Close the lid and shake the contents of the container well for about 10 minutes.
3. Transfer the resulting foam to a plate, add glitter and color the mixture if desired. Mix thoroughly.
4. Add a few drops of sodium tetraborate (thickener). Mix until the desired consistency is reached, for 20-30 minutes.

The Easiest Slime Recipe for Beginners

Slime thickeners, the list of which is given above, make it possible to make a slime using what is at hand, without purchasing special components additionally. The first slime made by hand in life can pleasantly surprise a child. The ingredients of the recipe are simple, accessible and inexpensive, and the result should be amazing.

You will need:

• Water – 2 tsp.
• shampoo or dishwashing gel – 1 tsp.
• Hand cream – 0.5 tsp.
• PVA glue – 5 tsp.
• Soda – 0.5 tsp.
• Drops "Naphthyzinum"
• Acrylic paints or gouache

Additionally: deep container, spoon/stirring stick.

Preparation procedure:

1. In a deep bowl, mix water and shampoo, beat until foam appears.
2. Add cream, stir. It is not necessary to achieve uniformity.
3. Pour in water and glue, stir well so that the glue is evenly distributed throughout the mass.
4. If desired, tint the future slime with a couple drops of paint of the desired color.
5. Add a few drops of Naphthyzinum and stir until the mixture begins to come away from the edges of the container.
6. As soon as the slime becomes dense and elastic, the toy is ready.

The resulting slime stretches well, is kneaded by hands, and can be used to make “bubbles.” It can be stored for up to 10 days.

Super Slime Made From Glue And Toothpaste

Very large, very crispy, airy, loudly clicking and stretching into a film slime. The recipe has quite a lot of ingredients, but they are all necessary. It is not recommended to replace them or remove any one.

You will need:

• Silicate glue – 200 ml.
• Dye (gouache or special food coloring)
• Toothpaste – 0.5 tsp.
• Shaving gel – 20 gr.
• Sodium tetraborate – 2-3 drops.

Additionally: a large deep container, a spatula for stirring.

Preparation procedure:

1. Pour the glue into the container and give it the desired color by adding the dye you have at home.
2. Add toothpaste, stir thoroughly until completely dissolved. The mixture should become lighter.
3. Pour in the shaving gel and beat the mixture well until fluffy.
4. Add sodium tetraborate. Stir with a spatula.
5. When the slime begins to thicken and it becomes difficult to stir with a spatula, continue kneading the mass with your hands until the desired consistency is reached.

What to do if the mixture does not thicken?

It happens that even when using activators, the slime mass remains semi-liquid and unsuitable for play.

There may be several reasons for this, most often these are:

• violation of proportions and cooking technology;
• use of thickeners and bases with expired shelf life;
• the mass is poorly mixed;
• the slime didn't have enough time to "set";
• Too watery components were used.

Depending on the reason why the slime doesn't work, There are several ways to achieve the desired consistency:

• check if everything is done strictly according to the recipe. If some ingredient was forgotten, add it and knead the slime well again;
• add a little more activator. Mix in portions, otherwise the slime may completely float;
• if the activator does not help, check the expiration date of the glue and other ingredients in the recipe. Buy new ingredients if the existing ones are expired;
• Place the mixture in the refrigerator for half an hour to an hour, away from food;
• continue to actively knead the slime for another 10-15 minutes.

The most important components of slime – thickeners – are not necessarily expensive and hard to find. A whole list of products suitable for this can be easily found at home. Experimenting with them, you can make slimes with different properties and textures with your own hands. And by showing creativity in decorating them – you can collect your own designer collection of these toys.

Video about thickeners for slime

How to thicken slime without sodium tetraborate: