How to Make Laundry Detergent Slime

Reviewed by Anne Schmidt

Last Updated: September 30, 2024 References

Slime is a fun kind of putty to play with. It is icky, sticky, and gross. While you can always head out to the store and buy some, it is much more fun to make it at home. One of the most popular slime recipes requires borax, but not everyone has that. Luckily, there are countless other ways in which to make slime using ingredients from around your home. One of the easiest ways is using liquid glue and liquid laundry detergent. If you enjoy making laundry detergent slime, you can try other ways of making putty .

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Making Normal Slime

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Pour 1/2 cup (120 millilitres) of water into a bowl. Next, stir in 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) of white school glue. Make sure that you get all of the glue out of the measuring cup. Use a fork, spoon, or mini rubber spatula to get it all out. ^{[1]
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Start with 2 drops of food coloring. Give the mixture a stir, then add more food coloring, if needed. If you want to make your slime sparkly, add 1 teaspoon of glitter. Give the mixture a stir, then add more glitter, if desired. ^{[2]
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3
Stir in 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) of liquid laundry detergent with a fork. As you stir the laundry detergent into the glue, the mixture will begin to stick together. Keep stirring until you have a glob. ^{[3]
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- Use a clear laundry detergent or a color that matches your food coloring.
If the bowl is too small for this, dump the slime onto a smooth counter, and knead it there. The more you knead the slime, the firmer and less watery it will become. This will take about 1 to 2 minutes.
Play with the slime, then store it in an airtight container. A plastic box with a tight-fitting lid or a zippered sandwich baggie will work the best for this. Keep in mind that the slime will eventually dry out after a couple of days and turn hard, especially if you play with it a lot.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Making Silly Putty Slime

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1
Pour 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) of clear school glue into a bowl. Use a spoon, fork, or mini rubber spatula to get all of the glue out of the measuring cup and into the bowl. You can use regular clear school glue or glitter school glue. ^{[4]
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- If you are using clear school glue, add 2 drops of food coloring and 1 teaspoon of glitter to make it more interesting. ^{[5]
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The glue will start to come together and turn into a glob. ^{[6]
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Research source} You can use any type of laundry detergent you want, but be aware that it will color your slime. For best results, match the color of the detergent to the color of the glue. You can also use clear laundry detergent if you can find it.
The glue will get harder, so you will need to press the detergent into the glue with the flat side of the fork. ^{[7]
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4
Knead the slime by hand for about 1 to 2 minutes. Pick the slime up with your fingers. Squeeze and squish it between your fingers until it starts to turn firm and become less watery. This will take about 1 to 2 minutes. ^{[8]
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- The more you knead the slime, the firmer and more putty-like it will become.
- If the slime is still too sticky, add some more liquid laundry detergent. Start with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon. ^{[9]
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5
Add some shaving cream for fluffy slime if desired. If you wish to give your slime a softer texture , place the slime back into the bowl and add a dollop of shaving cream on top. Knead the shaving cream into the slime, making sure to pick up all the shaving cream from the sides of the bowl. This will take a few minutes of kneading. ^{[10]
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- Make sure that you use the foam kind of shaving cream, not the gel.
- The slime will be lighter in color after you add the shaving cream.
A plastic box or a Ziploc baggie is the best place to store the slime. Keep in mind that the slime will eventually dry out after a few days and turn hard. How long the slime lasts depends on how much you play with it. The more you play with it and expose it to air, the faster it will dry out.

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Question

What laundry detergent can I use?

Community Answer

You can use Dynamo or Tide -- or test out other brands.

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Question

Can I make this slime with liquid detergent, or do you have to use powder like in the picture?

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You can use liquid or powder. If you use powder, you have to mix it with liquid.

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Can I use liquid laundry detergent?

Community Answer

Yes, but keep in mind you can't make clear slime using laundry detergent.

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Tips

If you do get it on your clothes or the carpet, wipe it off immediately with a damp towel. ^{[11]
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If your slime is not stretchy add lotion or moisturizer.

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Your slime can be any color you want. Keep in mind that the color of the liquid laundry detergent will also change the color of the slime.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

As an alternative to shaving foam, put some shampoo and water in a plastic bottle and shake it up until the bottle doesn’t make a sound. This makes a foam that can be used for fluffy slime.
When you start to knead your slime with your hands, put some cornstarch on your hands so it won’t be as sticky.

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Warnings

Don't place the slime in a cold area when it's finished. It may become less stretchy.

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Do not eat the slime. Small children must be supervised while playing with it.

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Things You'll Need

Making Normal Slime

1/2 cup (120 milliliters) water
1/2 cup (120 milliliters) white school glue
1/4 cup (60 milliliters) liquid laundry detergent
Mixing bowl
Fork
Airtight container
Glitter and food coloring (optional)

Making Silly Putty Slime

1/4 cup (60 milliliters) clear school glue
3 teaspoons liquid laundry detergent
Mixing bowl
Fork
Airtight container
Glitter and food coloring (optional)
Foam shaving cream (optional, for fluffy slime)

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How to Make Laundry Detergent Slime

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Making Normal Slime

Making Silly Putty Slime

Video

Community Q&A

Tips

Tips from our Readers

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Things You'll Need

Making Normal Slime

Making Silly Putty Slime

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