How to Make the BEST Homemade Slime
The BEST homemade slime recipe made with only 3 ingredients! Only takes a few minutes to make and will entertain your kids for hours!
This post may contain affiliate links and I could earn a small commission at no cost to you. However, I will never recommend anything that I do not believe in or use myself. You can read more about my disclosure policy here.
Looking for an easy, fun, and budget-friendly way to entertain your kids? Homemade slime is the perfect solution! It’s one of those classic DIY projects that never seems to go out of style.
My kids are obsessed, and honestly, I totally get it. Slime is oozy, stretchy, and endlessly fun to play with—and it’s super simple to make! Plus, it’s a great activity when you’re stuck inside and need to keep little hands busy.
Why Make Slime?
Slime has this magical ability to keep kids entertained for hours. It’s almost like a sensory toy they get to make themselves. It’s squishy, stretchy, and strangely relaxing.
I have been on a mission to find the perfect slime recipe and had quite a few trial and error moments over the years. We have finally figured out the best recipe and we use it often (among a variety of other slime recipes). This recipe makes wonderfully stretchy, slimey goo your kids will love to play with!
The best part is that it only takes three ingredients that we always have at home—school glue, baking soda, and contact solution. No fancy or hard-to-find stuff here!
Why Slime Is the Perfect Activity
Slime isn’t just fun—it’s practical. Weather your looking for a fun summer activity or you’re dealing with long, rainy winter days, you need activities that will occupy your kids for a while. That’s where slime comes in.
It’s the perfect “quiet play” activity, meaning your kids can be happily entertained while you catch up on work or get a few moments of peace. I’ll often sit at the kitchen table and work while my kids play with their slime for what feels like hours!
Plus, it’s one of those rare activities that’s fun for multiple age groups. Whether you have a preschooler or an older child, everyone loves getting their hands in some gooey slime. And, because the recipe is so simple, older kids can even make it themselves (with a little supervision, of course).
Why Slime Is Awesome for Kids
Slime is more than just a fun, gooey mess. It’s actually a great sensory play activity that helps kids develop fine motor skills and provides them with tactile stimulation. The squishy, stretchy texture is relaxing, and kids love the hands-on engagement. It’s also a calming activity that can be used as a quiet play option when you need a little break.
Plus, making homemade slime is a great way to introduce kids to basic science concepts. The combination of glue and baking soda, activated by contact solution, is a simple chemical reaction that turns liquid into a flexible solid. You’re basically doing a mini science experiment every time you make slime!
The Best Homemade Slime Recipe
Here’s the ultimate go-to slime homemade slime recipe we use again and again. It’s quick, easy, and gives you that perfect stretchy slime texture every time. Plus, it only takes three simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry:
Ingredients
- 8-ounce bottle (1 cup) Elmer’s white school glue (Elmer’s delivers consistent results)
- 1 tablespoon of baking soda (this helps give the slime its structure)
- 1 ½ to 2 tablespoons of contact solution (this is the slime activator and must contain boric acid or sodium borate)
- Optional: Food coloring, glitter, slime charms, pom poms, or other fun add-ins (because who doesn’t love a little sparkle?)
Instructions
1. Mix the Glue and Color
Start by squeezing the glue into a bowl. If you want colorful slime, this is the time to add a few drops of food coloring. Mix it all together until the color is even. (Tip: Go light on the food coloring! A little goes a long way.)
2. Add the Baking Soda
Next, add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to the glue mixture. This will give your slime a bit of structure and thickness.
3. Add the Contact Solution
Slowly add in 1 ½ tablespoons of contact solution while stirring. As you mix, the slime will start to form and thicken. If it’s still too sticky, add a little more solution, about ½ tablespoon at a time. You want it to be stretchy but not gluey.
4. Knead the Slime
Once the slime is thickened, it’s time to get in there with your hands! Knead the slime for a few minutes until it’s smooth and fully mixed. At first, it’ll be a bit sticky and wet, but don’t worry—just keep working it until it comes together.
5. Store
After playtime, store your slime in a zip-top bag or airtight container. This will keep it fresh and ready for future use. (Though let’s be real—your kids will probably play with it all in one sitting!)
Why No Borax?
You might see Borax in a lot of traditional homemade slime recipes, but I prefer to skip it. Borax can be pretty harsh on sensitive skin, and there are concerns about repeated exposure to it. Some sources say it’s okay if diluted properly and used with gloves, but why risk it?
Besides, the baking soda and contact solution recipe makes a softer, more pliable slime that feels better in little hands and doesn’t smell funky like Borax-based slime. It’s just a safer, more kid-friendly option.
Tips for Slime Success
If you’re new to slime-making or just want to make the process smoother, here are a few pro tips I’ve picked up along the way:
- Go for travel-sized contact solution: If no one in your house wears contacts, buy the small, travel-sized bottles. They’re just the right amount for one batch of slime and less expensive than a full-sized bottle.
- Dollar stores are your best friend: You can find glue, baking soda, glitter, and other slime-making supplies at the dollar store to make this activity super affordable.
- Protect your surfaces: Cover your table with a plastic tablecloth or trash bag. Slime can be a little messy, and this makes clean-up a breeze.
- Wash your hands: Make sure everyone washes their hands before and after playing with slime to avoid sticky fingers and potential irritation.
- Soak tools for easy cleanup: Mixing bowls and spoons can get sticky fast, so soak them in warm soapy water while the kids play for easier cleanup.
Fun Variations
One of the best things about homemade slime is how customizable it is. You can mix in all kinds of fun stuff to make it extra special!
1. Hidden Treasures
Hide small toys, like cars or plastic animals, inside the slime and let your kids dig them out.
2. Holiday-Themed Slime
Try making different colors for various holidays. Green, purple and orange for Halloween, red and green for Christmas, or even pastel colors for Easter. You can also add glitter or holiday-themed confetti to make it extra festive.
3. Glitter Glue Slime
If you don’t want to deal with loose glitter, grab some glitter glue! It adds all the sparkle without any of the mess.
4. Polka-Dot Slime
Add soft pom-poms into clear slime for a fun and colorful texture.
5. Stretch and Measure
Give your kids a ruler and see how far they can stretch their slime. You can also use kid-safe scissors to cut the slime into measured pieces—it’s a sneaky way to throw in a little math practice.
Final Thoughts
So, whether you’re looking for a fun and engaging summer break activity or just want to try something different, homemade slime is always a great choice. It’s easy, affordable, and totally customizable. Plus, the kids will love it—and you might even enjoy playing with it too!
