How To Make Slime Without Glue
Make this popular craft without scouring the craft store.
getty When I was a young girl, Nickelodeon released one of the most popular cheap toys kids could get. It was called Gak. Kids couldn’t get enough of the gooey, strange texture. They’d throw it, poke it, toy around with it, and occasionally give moms a nervous meltdown by letting it melt into car seats. It was great.
These days, parents are starting to bond with their kids by creating a classic craft that really isn’t that unlike Gak. I’m talking about slime, of course. As just about everyone knows, slime’s main ingredient is glue. This DIY craft has become so popular, there are actually glue shortages in certain stores around the US!
So, what happens when your kiddo wants to make slime but you don’t have any glue around? Good news: you don’t need to stock up on Elmer’s after all. Here’s how to make slime without glue (or borax) being involved in the process.
If you’re like me, you’re already breathing a sigh of relief because of the fact that you don’t need to hunt for glue to get things done. But there’s a better perk worth pointing out with this recipe. The best part is that this recipe doesn’t have that obnoxious “glue-y” smell standard slime tends to have. It’s scented!
1. First, go shopping for the ingredients.
Though you don’t need glue to make slime, you will still need some things. You will need a bottle of the body wash of your choice, some food coloring, and a box of cornstarch. You also will need a mixing bowl, a spoon, and access to tap water. If you want to add glitter, grab some of that too.
2. Start out by pouring a couple of tablespoons of body wash into the mixing bowl.
It’s important to take note of how much body wash you have put into the bowl. Since this recipe makes a decent amount of slime, I’d suggest starting with only two or three tablespoons.
3. Add your food coloring.
I personally love adding just a little extra color. A word of advice: if your body wash is heavily colored, stick to a similar food color additive. Otherwise, it might come out murky. This is also a good time to add your glitter. Stir everything up until it’s evenly mixed.
4. Mix the cornstarch in with the rest of the ingredients.
Remember how I mentioned that you needed to take note of how much body wash you added? You will now add the same amount of cornstarch to the mix. If you started small as suggested, this will amount to two or three tablespoons of cornstarch.
Stir the pseudo-slime until the consistency is somewhat even. Eventually, it’ll come to a slightly floury texture with clumps inside.
5. Now, knead it.
There’s going to be a point where stirring with a spoon won’t be doing much to keep the consistency good. When you’re at that point, you’re going to need to use your hands. Knead the slime like you’re making bread.
If the slime isn’t really slimy enough, add a little more body wash.
6. To put some stretch in your slime, add a little bit of water.
You probably were wondering where access to water comes in, right? Water is what adds the stretchiness to the slime. Since everyone has their own idea of what’s the best slime consistency, I can’t really tell you how much to add.
I actually add only a little sprinkle at a time, since too much water can turn your slime into glop. If you accidentally overwatered your slime, then add equal parts cornstarch and body wash until it becomes more solid.
7. Continue to add the ingredients as you see fit, until you have enough slime.
This is definitely a project that can take on a life of its own, which is why it’s wise to start small. You’ll be surprised at how quickly “a little extra of this and that” can build up into a hefty wad of slime.
8. Once you make enough slime, start playing with it!
Stretch it, toss it, throw it — just play with it. That’s the fun thing about making slime, right? You just made a new toy.
And then once you’re done, it’s important to know how to store it. Using an airtight container will keep it fresh for at least a week. If your slime gets gross from a little too much dust, it’s time to dispose of it. Don’t flush it or pour it down the sink; toss it in the trash. It’ll eventually biodegrade.
Ossiana Tepfenhart is a Jack-of-all-trades writer based out of Red Bank, New Jersey. When she's not writing, she's drinking red wine and chilling with some cool cats. You can follow her @bluntandwitty on Twitter.