How to make slime at home: Easy recipe guide

For more ideas on crafts and activities you can do with your child, take a look at how to make the best playdough or a colourful rainbow with cotton wool balls. And for Christmas-themed activity ideas to do with your child over the Christmas break, here are 10 easy Christmas craft ideas for children.

Here's how to make your very own slime at home...

Slime recipe

Makes 1 small ball
Total time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 100ml white PVA glue (children’s craft glue or CE-marked glue)
• 1-3 tsp contact lens solution (must contain boric acid)
• Gel food colouring, in a colour of your choice
• 1/2 tsp bicarbonate soda
• Glitter, beads or sequins (optional)

Equipment

• Glass or plastic mixing bowl
• Mixing spoon
• Measuring spoon
• Airtight container for storage

1. Squeeze all the glue into your mixing bowl and then add the bicarbonate of soda. You can add your glitter or beads to the bowl at this point too. Mix well until smooth.
2. Add a drop or two of your food colouring into the mixture. Add more drops of food colouring for a brighter, vibrant colour.
3. Pour in 1 teaspoon of contact lens solution and mix. Your slime will begin to form but will start off watery, add in and stir together the remaining contact lens solution and the mixture will start to take form and peel away from the bowl.
4. Keep mixing until a ball of slime forms in your bowl. Once done, you can take it out and knead it until it's firm to your liking and comes away clean from your hands. The slime should be stretchy and ready to play with!

How to make your slime unique

There are lots of ways you can adapt your slime and make it even more fun and exciting to play with. You might be wondering how to make clear slime or how to make glossy slime – by adding extra ingredients, you can have all different types of slime. Here are just a few ideas you can try:

• Butter slime – Add some Superlight Air Drying Soft Clay from Hobbycraft to make a super smooth, buttery slime.

• Glossy slime – Add a few drops of baby oil which makes your slime shiny and glossy.

• Cloud slime – Add fake snow which will give your slime a weird, sandy-looking texture.

• Fluffy slime – Pop a few blobs of shaving cream, to make a nice smelling, almost bubbly slime.

• Fishbowl slime – This is made using clear PVA glue (which can be quite tricky to work with) and throw in fishbowl beads, and you’ve got fishbowl slime.

• Floam slime – By adding floam beads (tiny polystyrene balls) your slime can become super textured and tactile. And yes, the balls will fall out of the slime and you’ll find them everywhere – so whether or not you try floam slime is your prerogative!

• Scented slime – If you add a few drops of scented oil to the above recipe, you'll have scented slime.

Christmas-themed slime

With Christmas being upon us, you can make your slime with a festive theme to it. Simply add sequins, beads and anything else but make sure they are either red, green, white or silver in colour. Alternatively, you might want to try getting creative with these fun, festive activities such as making salt dough Santa ornaments or crafty Christmas paper chains.

Tips for troubleshooting common slime problems

Help! My slime is too brittle – how do I make it gloopier?

If your slime feels brittle, try adding less contact lens solution. Mix it in slowly and gradually, one drop at a time until it starts to turn stringy and peels away from the bowl. Then give it a good knead.

I want fluffier slime

For extra fluffy slime, just add a small blob of shaving foam and mix well.

I want to make more slime!

If you need a bigger batch, simply double or even triple the quantities in your recipe.

My slime is still too sticky after kneading

Just add a tiny bit more contact lens solution, one drop at a time, until the slime becomes less sticky.

My slime isn’t coming together

This might be because of your solution. Saline solution (used for cleaning lenses) doesn’t work for slime. You’ll need a branded contact lens solution that contains boric acid.

How do I make marbled or unicorn slime?

To make magical, marbled slime, create two or more batches in different colours. You can add glitter for extra sparkle. Roll each batch into a sausage shape, lay them side by side, then gently twist them into a plait and knead to create a fun, swirly effect.

How do I get the slime off my carpet?

Pour some white vinegar into the carpet and rub vigorously – the slime will lift and rub out. Always do a patch test first.

How do I get slime off my clothes?

First, remove any excess slime and then simply wash in the washing machine following your clothing's regular laundering instructions.

How to store and preserve your slime

Slime can last a while if you store it properly between playing. Simply place the slime in an airtight container at room temperature and away from direct sunlight or warm areas to avoid moulding.

You can also keep it cool and place the container in the fridge to prevent the slime from melting.

Pic: Getty Images

Read more:

• 26 indoor games to play with your 3 or 4 year old
• How to make an (almost) mess-free rainbow with cotton balls
• How to make amazing dandelion art