3 Simple Ways to Make Slime with Borax

If you’re looking for a slime recipe that’s practically foolproof, you’ll love making slime with borax! Borax is a cleaning powder, but when it’s mixed with glue, it transforms it into the squishy, stretchy slime we know and love. We talked to slime and crafts experts to find out how to make several popular types of slime, including a basic stretchy slime , fluffy slime , and clear slime . If you're looking for slime recipes that don't require borax, check out How to Make Slime Without Borax instead.

How do you make slime with borax?

Slime expert Amy Sheree says to mix 1 tsp (3.8 g) of powdered borax into 1 c (240 ml) of warm water to make slime activator. Then, pour 1 cup (8 oz) of white school glue into another bowl, add food coloring (optional), and stir in the slime activator slowly. Then, take it out of the bowl and knead it.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Making Stretchy Slime with Borax

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1
Dissolve 1 tsp (3.8 g) of borax into 1 c (240 ml) of warm water. Slime expert Amy Sheree says to make a borax solution by stirring 1 tsp (3.8 g) of powdered borax into 1 c (240 ml). “Make sure the borax is fully dissolved,” she adds. ^{[1]
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Amy Sheree
Slime Expert

Expert Interview}
- This is your slime activator. Set this bowl aside for now.
- Sheree advises letting the borax solution cool “to prevent burns, especially if you’re making slime for kids.” ^{[2]
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  Amy Sheree
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Meet the wikiHow Experts

Amy Sheree is a Slime Expert and founder of Amma Slimes, an online slime retailer selling her handcrafted slime products.

Angelina Ly is a slime expert and the founder of Fireflyslime based in Renton, WA.

Lois Wade is a member of wikiHow's volunteer community and a crafts expert with 45 years of experience.
2
Pour 8 oz (1 cup) of white glue into a bowl. Any white school glue will work for this, as long as it contains PVA. Sheree says, “Use about 1 c (240 ml) of school glue, which is usually a whole 8 oz container.”
- It’s okay to use a little more or less glue—you’ll add the activator a little at a time until the consistency is right, so you’ll be able to adjust the proportions as you mix.
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3
Squirt 1–2 pumps of lotion into the glue to make the slime extra stretchy. This step is optional, but Sheree recommends adding a little lotion to your slime. ^{[3]
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Amy Sheree
Slime Expert

Expert Interview} The lotion will make the slime smooth and stretchy. If your lotion has a pump-top, just one or two pumps will be enough. If it’s a squirt top, add about a quarter-sized circle of lotion. Stir the lotion and glue solution until it’s combined.
- Slime expert Angelina Ly says that if you’re making slime at home, “scented lotion is an easy way to make your slime smell good.” ^{[4]
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4
Add 1–2 drops of food coloring if you want colorful slime. You can make your slime any color you want. Just add a couple of drops of food coloring to the glue. But avoid adding too much—it could affect the texture of your slime and might cause your slime to stain whatever it touches.
- “Food coloring is a great way to color slime because it’s concentrated and long-lasting,” says Ly. ^{[5]
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5
Stir in the borax solution 1 tsp (4.9 ml) at a time. Sheree says, “Add the borax solution gradually.” Mix in about 1 tsp (4.9 ml) and stir that in thoroughly. Add more of the borax in small batches until the slime starts to come together—you’ll notice that it starts pulling away from the sides of the bowl. ^{[6]
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- “The slime will become stringy at first, then eventually it will start to come together,” adds Sheree. ^{[7]
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- Don’t add the borax solution all at once—the slime will harden if you do that.
- You probably won't use all your borax solution, so don't worry if there’s a fair amount left over.
6
Pour off any excess water that’s left in the bowl. Crafts expert Lois Wade says that after the borax combines with the glue, you may notice some extra water in the bowl. If that happens, simply tip the glue to pour off any excess. ^{[8]
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Lois Wade
wikiHow Crafts Expert

Expert Interview}
- Wade says not to incorporate the water into the slime—your slime may end up the wrong consistency. ^{[9]
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7
Knead the slime with your hands. Once your slime has clumped up and has begin to pull away from the bowl, take it out and knead it with your hands. This will help make it less sticky. ^{[10]
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- “The more you mix and stretch the slime, the more cohesive it will be,” says Sheree. ^{[11]
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  Expert Interview}
- If your slime is still too sticky, add about a teaspoon of the borax solution and stir or knead it in. Try not to get too much on your hands.
Once your slime has reached the consistency you want, you're free to play with it and stretch it. When you're finished, store it in an airtight container.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making Fluffy Slime

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Add 1 tsp (3.8 g) of borax powder into 1 c (240 ml) of hot water and stir until the water is fully clear. Set this aside for later.
2
Pour 8 oz (1 cup) of school glue into a bowl. In a separate bowl, pour out about 8 oz (1 cup) of regular school glue . You can use any glue that contains PVA.
- If you’re using an 8 oz (1 cup) bottle of glue, pour in the whole thing.
3
Add about ¹ ⁄ ₂ cup (120 ml) of shaving cream to the glue. Sheree recommends adding shaving cream if you want your slime to be fluffy. ^{[12]
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Amy Sheree
Slime Expert

Expert Interview} Mix the glue and the shaving cream together. The resulting texture should be fluffy, thick, and soft. ^{[13]
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- It’s okay to add more shaving cream if you want your slime to be even fluffier.
4
Put in a few drops of food coloring, if you want. If you want colorful fluffy slime, pick out a food coloring of your choice and add 1–2 drops to the glue and shaving cream mixture. Mix in the food coloring until there are no more streaks. Don’t use too much food coloring, or it could cause your slime to be less fluffy than you’d like.
- According to Wade, it’s a good idea to wear gloves if you use vegetable dye to color your slime. Otherwise, your hands could become stained! ^{[14]
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5
Add the borax solution a little at a time. Be careful not to the borax solution all at once, since that will make your slime harden. Instead, add 1 tsp (4.9 ml) at a time, stirring well each time you add more of the borax. The slime should begin to clump up and pull away from the bowl. ^{[15]
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- It's unlikely that you'll use all of your borax solution, so don't be surprised if you have a fair amount left over.
6
Knead the slime with your hands. Once your slime has clumped into a solid form, take it out of the bowl and begin to knead it with your hands. After a few minutes of kneading, the slime should become less sticky and more stretchy.
- If your slime is too sticky to knead, add in a bit more of the borax solution and knead it in.
7
Play with your slime! Once your slime has reached the right consistency, you'll have a fluffy, soft slime. Have fun twisting, stretching, and squeezing your fluffy, stretchy borax slime!
- When you’re finished playing with your slime, Ly recommends putting it in an airtight jar or zip-top plastic bag. Otherwise, it will dry out. ^{[16]
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- “Store your slime out of direct sunlight,” adds Ly, “or the heat will melt it.” ^{[17]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making Clear Slime

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Add 1 tsp (3.8 g) of borax powder into 1 cup (240 ml) of hot water, and stir until the water is fully clear. This will be your slime activator—set it aside to use later.
Pour about 1 cup (8 oz) of clear school glue into a separate bowl. The clear glue will give your slime a clear, oozy appearance.
3
Add the borax solution a little at a time. Don’t pour the borax solution in all at once or your slime will harden. Instead, carefully add 1 tsp (4.9 ml) at a time. Stir it in slowly so that it doesn't form bubbles. You should see the glue begin to clump and pull away from the bowl.
- You're probably not going to use all of your borax solution, so don't be surprised if you have a fair amount left over.
4
Knead the slime with your hands. Once your slime has fully clumped together, pull it out of the bowl with your hands and begin to knead it. This will get rid of any residual stickiness.
- If your slime is still too sticky, add in a little bit more borax solution and then knead it in, being careful not to get it on your hands.
Sometimes when you’re kneading your clear slime, air bubbles will build up, making the slime look opaque. If that happens, put the slime into an airtight container or zip-top plastic bag. After a few days, the slime will become clear again!
Once your slime has cleared up, stretch it, poke it, and play with it as you see fit. Store it in an airtight container when finished.

Join the Discussion...

What's the best way to make slime?

WikiToadDiver848

I want to learn to make slime at home! I've heard a lot of recipes use glue and I think I have some at home, so that should be okay. Just in case, are there any slime recipes that don't use glue either?

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Why is my slime runny?

Lois Wade
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Lois Wade has 45 years of experience in crafts including sewing, crochet, needlepoint, cross-stitch, drawing, and paper crafts. She has been contributing to craft articles on wikiHow since 2007.

Lois Wade

wikiHow Crafts Expert

Expert Answer

Remember to pour off the excess water after your borax combines with the glue. If you try to incorporate the water into the slime mixture, it will be too runny.

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Can I use any type of glue?

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As long as the glue contains PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol), it will work.

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Will shaving gel work?

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Yes, shaving gel will work just as well as shaving cream.

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Tips

You can make various types of slime with a borax solution - try looking up some slime recipes for ideas.

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Try mixing things into your slime before adding the borax solution. For example, if you add glitter or beads, you can end up with glittery slime or fishbowl slime !

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Watercolor paints can be used in place of food coloring, but they can stain more.

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Warnings

Some people may experience skin irritation after handling borax. Avoid touching the borax powder, don’t add excess borax to the water, and limit contact with the activator solution. ^{[18]
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3 Simple Ways to Make Slime with Borax

How do you make slime with borax?

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Making Stretchy Slime with Borax

Making Fluffy Slime

Making Clear Slime

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