How To Make Slime Without Borax

Learn how to make slime without borax.

While kids love playing with this gooey and sticky substance and making it is a fun experiment, many of the recipes call for harsh chemicals such as borax. Creating perfect slime is absolutely possible without it, and I’ll tell you how.

What will you need to make slime without borax?

Supplies

• 250ml PVA glue (old-school white glue)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Activator: 2 tablespoons contact lens solution
• 1-2 drops liquid food colouring (optional)
• 1/4 cup glitter (optional)

Equipment

• Mixing bowl
• Mixing spoon
• Tablecloth (optional)
• Container for storing (optional) 

What are the best activators for slime?

While borax is often recommended to make slime, I don’t advise any mom to use it when making homemade slime. Borax is a chemical after all, and it can cause nausea and vomiting if digested. Moreover, it is terrible for children’s skin and there have been reports of several kids developing burns while playing with slime that was made using borax.

Another popular item used as an activator is washing detergent. I’ve made the mistake once and my only advice to moms is, to stay away from this too. Even though it makes perfect slime, just like borax, washing detergent is a chemical, leaving our skin extremely dry, not to mention the obnoxiously strong smell in the room. So unless you want your kids to play with plastic gloves and windows wide open, don’t think about putting washing detergent into that slime recipe.

Perhaps the best activator you could use is a contact lens solution. However, make sure you buy a contact lens solution containing boric acid. Boric acid in contact lens solution is diluted to a tiny amount, meaning it’s way less harmful. Yet it still gives slime that stretchy texture. I’ve tried using contact lens solution without boric acid and it did not work.

I’ve seen some moms recommend a shampoo or liquid dish soap to make slime without borax, however, I’ve never tried it myself. If you have, leave a comment and let me how it went!

3 Tips when making slime

• To make slime at home affordable shop in Poundland, you can find a big bottle of PVA glue, baking soda, glitter, and tablecloths.
• Buy a travel-sized contact solution if you don’t have a contact lens wearer at home. This way you’ll avoid unnecessary waste.
• Dedicate a tablecloth for children’s messy play and you won’t have to worry about the furniture.
• Slime becomes harder to clean off once it dries, soak mixing tools in warm, soapy water while children are playing.

How to make slime without borax

1. Pour glue: pour glue into the bowl.

2. Add baking soda, contact lens solution, and food colouring to the mixture and stir until it’s smooth.

3. Add glitter: add in some glitter if you want.

4. Start mixing: the mixture should begin to harden.

5. Knead: pick up the slime and knead until smooth. If the slime is too slimy, put in some more contact lens solution.

6. Play with the slime!

Playing with slime ideas

Search for hidden treasure in slime. Add various types of confetti to the slime and ask your kids to search for a specific shape by pulling and stretching their slime until they discover it!

Use slime as a construction ground. Use black food colouring to make asphalt and brown to make dirt. Give your children a variety of construction toys and vehicles to play with, they can drive, dig, and dump the slime.

Ideas on more fun things to do at home with kids here.