Sanity Saving Slime Making Guide

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Whether you shudder or smile at the word “slime,” there’s no denying it’s become a rite of passage for children and moms alike. I’ve been stuck in my own slime-making H-E-L-L-O (just remembered we’re not allowed to swear, and slime makes me swear), and have sincere empathy for any mom about to embark on the quest for perfect slime. 

So here’s a Sanity Saving Slime Making Guide compiled from countless pieces of advice from YouTube videos, blogs and personal experience making slime.  

First, let’s not waste your money.

It’s sad, but true – the industry has really jumped on the slime bandwagon and is super excited to get their product featured in a blog post and/or store shelf about how it’s PERFECT for slime. The following items are NOT perfect for slime: 

  • Contact Lens solution. This does not activate your slime…not even the recommended expensive brand of contact solution activates your slime.  
  • Nickelodeon Slime Activator. Seriously? Nickelodeon is slime royalty, so I was super excited to see their branded activator available at Walmart. And then super disappointed when it…did…nothing. 
  • Edible varieties made from any candy. True, I did make a disgusting looking gummy bear slime, but it quickly turned to putty and then into a rock. Edible slime made from gummy bears, starbursts, etc. mixed with powder sugar is good for maybe 10 minutes of play post cooling off. It’s fun. It’s yummy. But it’s not lasting slime. 
  • Food Coloring. Know what food coloring does? Stain. It stains everything. Do not use food coloring to color your slime. Instead, invest in washable craft paints that come out of your clothes, couch and carpet. And yes, I’m sadly speaking from experience. 

Second, let’s save some time. 

YouTube and the Internet in general is a rabbit hole of awesome slime ideas and recipes, very few of which work. I mean – maybe they work for somebody, I certainly don’t want to call that slime-making blogger a liar, but most recipes I’ve found don’t work for this “let’s give it a try” momma. 

The base for this successful recipe came from Marlee Billeter – a slime queen residing in Phoenix and daughter of my business partner and mom guru. She’s who I turned to first for advice when my own 8-year-old decided her life was incomplete with slime. 

But somehow, I still messed it up!!! So I went online and looked for variations and played with different combinations until I found THE RECIPE that works – a combination from multiple sites and successful slime-making minds.

For me, it’s my fool proof recipe. So much so, I just used it for my daughter’s birthday party and we successfully made 14 different slimes using it!  

Ingredients:

  • 2/3 cup Elmer’s glue (Yes, it’s a brand and yes, it works. No, it doesn’t matter if it’s clear or white)
  • 1/4 cup water 
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 
  • shaving cream 
  • borax water*

Directions: Mix glue, baking soda and water. Add washable craft glue to color along with any texture and/or glitter mix-ins (don’t add too many or they’ll start to fall out of your slime). Add shaving cream to desired “fluffiness.” Then very carefully add 1/2 teaspoon of borax water at a time, working it thoroughly into slime mixture to prevent “clumps.” Once slime stops sticking/can be used to remove slime from hands – you’re good to go! 

*to make borax water, mix 1 teaspoon of borax with 1/2 cup of warm water, mix until dissolved.

Third, here’s how to save that slime if it gets too stiff or still sticks. 

It happens. I don’t know why…but I can follow the same recipe again and again and then “BOOM” I either didn’t add enough shaving cream or added too much borax water. I DON’T KNOW. Regardless of what went wrong – here’s how to fix it: 

  • Add hand lotion. It makes the slime smell lovely and reduces stickiness. 
  • Add more water. You have to work it in, but it’ll help with the slime’s pliability if you added a little too much borax water activator! 

Finally, do what you need to do to make it fun. 

There is absolutely no point in agreeing to make slime if you’re going to freak out the whole time about it getting on your or your child’s clothes, your kitchen counter, the floor, or even stuck in the dog’s tail.

Really evaluate your personal tolerance for mess levels and then take appropriate precautions – e.g., painter’s smock, dogs outside, disposable table clothes for a work space, etc. I suggest purchasing medium size Glad containers for mixing and storing the slime. 

Also remember even the best slime only lasts for a few days. It’s fleeting, and hopefully, so will be your child’s obsession with it. 

 

Much Love – H 

 

2 COMMENTS

    • I’ve used Crayola washable and Creatology washable – most recently their line of “glitter paint” that already has sparkles mixed in! It takes the stress out of spills. 🙂

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