If you’ve ever been around kids, you may have noticed how obsessed with slime they are. Heck, even I was obsessed with slime as a kid! (I still kinda am now, but don’t tell anyone!)
Okay, let’s talk about making slime! While you can just head to the shop and buy slime, you can also make a DIY version! Plus, it’s a good way of killing time on a rainy afternoon.
Several recipes for making slime call for the use of Borax, but since this is a cleaning agent, I would advise against it. Borax contains chemicals that should not be ingested or come into contact with one’s eyes. The thing with children is, they love rubbing their eyes and touching their faces, so there is a chance they may ingest or irritate their eyes with it.
For a safer alternative, instead of Borax, use baking soda! The consistency may come out a bit different, but at least you won’t have to worry about any unwanted accidents.
Why Can Baking Soda Be Used To Make Slime?
Baking soda is something you should always have in your cupboard. You may know it as an important ingredient in baking that helps give your cakes and cupcakes that light and fluffy texture. However, its uses extend beyond baking. It can be used as a deodorizer, a cleaning agent, an air freshener, and a vital ingredient in slime-making!
So, what’s in baking soda that’s perfect for making slime? Well, in simple terms, baking soda helps your slime helps it have more form and be more firm. Scientifically speaking, there’s some interesting reaction that goes on behind it.
To make slime, you need two vital ingredients: polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and borate ion. These can be found in most of your basic household items, but we’ll get to that later. When you mix the polyvinyl alcohol and borate ion, it undergoes a chemical reaction called an endothermic reaction. When these two ingredients come into contact, they slowly turn into a viscous and gooey mass that is now your slime. You can play around with its viscosity by adjusting the quantity of each ingredient.
Making The Perfect Slime
Lucky for you, this post doesn’t just offer one way of creating slime! Here are four recipes that you can use to make the perfect slime with your friends, students, or children! Make sure to read the notes at the end of the recipe to avoid any issues with your slime.
BAKING SODA AND CONTACT LENS SOLUTION
Ingredients: • 1 cup of PVA glue (Elmer’s is a perfect example)* (see notes) • ½ cup of wáter • Liquid food color of your choice • 1 tsp of baking soda (otherwise knowns as sodium bicarbonate) • 1 tbsp contact lens solution (must contain boric acid and sodium borate)* (see notes) • 1 bowl • Designs (e.g. glitters or sequins) (optional)
Method: 1. In a bowl, mix together your glue and water. Continue mixing until the two are fully incorporated. 2. Add your food color slowly until you get the color you want. Stir continuously as you incorporate your food coloring. 3. Once you’re satisfied with the color, it’s time to add your designs! If adding glitter, slowly pour it in and mix well. Of course, this is fully optional. 4. Time for the slime! Slowly add in your contact lens solution. You should start to see the mixture thicken up rather quickly. Mix well until you get the slimy texture. If you’re not too satisfied with the texture, you can add a bit more contact lens solution. Be careful not to add too much as it may make your slime hard and brittle. 5. Knead your slime for about a minute until you reach your desired consistency. Enjoy your slime!
Method: 1. In one bowl, add seven tablespoons of skim milk. It’s important to make sure that the milk you have is skim milk. The fat in whole milk may affect the reaction and not result in the right texture. 2. Add in one tablespoon of vinegar and stir. By now, solid chunks of milk should slowly form as your milk begins to react to your vinegar. As you continue to stir, the chunk should be sinking to the bottom of the glass. Set aside. 3. Take your other bowl and place a coffee filter over it. Then, take your other bowl and slowly pour the milk in, leaving the chunks of milk behind. 4. Make sure to squeeze the chunks, ensuring all liquid is drained. Pat it dry and transfer it to a clean bowl. 5. Add in one-fourth teaspoon of baking soda and knead together until you get a texture that’s similar to vanilla pudding. 6. If you’re still not happy with the consistency, sprinkle in a bit of baking soda until you reach your desired consistency. 7. Add in your food coloring and mix thoroughly. Continue adding food coloring until you get the shade you want.
WHY THIS WORKS
Milk contains a protein called casein (a polymer that gives milk its white color). If you mix it with vinegar, the casein splits from the liquid part of the milk and forms a clump. Adding in the baking soda (a base substance) neutralizes the vinegar’s acid, which causes the casein to return to its liquid form. And, ta-da! Now you have slime!
BAKING SODA AND SHAVING CREAM (FLUFFY SLIME)
Ingredients: • ⅔ cup white Elmer’s glue* (see notes) • ½ teaspoon baking soda • ¼ cup wáter • 3 cups shaving cream • 1 ½ tablespoon contact lens solution (must contain boric acid and sodium borate) • Liquid food color • Bowl
Method: 1. Take your bowl and pour the white glue into it. 2. Add in your water and half a teaspoon of baking soda. Gently mix them together. 3. Add in shaving cream one cup at a time until you’re satisfied. Mix again. 4. Slowly add in your food color until you get the color you want. 5. Now, time to add in your contact lens solution. Start adding half a tablespoon of your contact lens solution and knead for two to three minutes. Then, repeat the process until you get the consistency you want. Be careful not to add too much or the slime may harden. Note that this slime recipe is only good for one day. Shaving cream will settle the next day, so your slime will not be as fluffy by then.
BAKING SODA AND GLITTER
Ingredients: • 1 bottle Elmer’s Glitter Glue* (see notes) • ½ teaspoon baking soda • 1 ½ tablespoon contact lens solution (must contain boric acid and sodium borate) • Extra glitter (optional) • Bowl
Method: 1. Take your bowl and pour out the entire contents of your Elmer’s Glitter Glue. 2. Add half a tablespoon of baking soda and mix thoroughly. 3. Add in your contact lens solution. Start adding half a tablespoon of your contact lens solution and mix until it begins to take form. Then, repeat the process until you get the consistency you want. Be careful not to add too much or the slime may harden. 4. Take it out of the bowl and knead. The slime will start out with a very sticky consistency but just keep on kneading until the slime becomes less sticky.
Notes: • If you’re making slime with the kids, make sure they get dressed in art clothes or clothes you wouldn’t really mind getting dirty. • White glue and clear glue are not exactly the same, so you may need to adjust your recipe slightly. • To see how the contact lens solution affects how sticks and runny slime is, make different batches with different concentrations. It’s also a good way of teaching the kids about viscosity. • For best results, store your slime in a ziplock with no air. • Make sure the kids wash their hands before so as to not get any germs on the slime • If you want to have a clear, glittery effect, it’s important that you use glitter glue instead of clear or white glue.
Hi, my name is Elena Jones, and my full-time job is a teacher. Through teaching, I have discovered that children learn in many different ways, and have seen the positive impact both STEM and Montessori toys have on children.
Through this site I hope to educate parents and adults about these toys, providing them with useful information on how they can be used, and provide some in depth reviews of different toys to consider too.
