Homemade slime is a great way for kids to get their hands messy and practice chemistry in the kitchen. This kid-friendly glitter slime recipe uses 3 simple ingredients, which once combined, create fascinating stretchy slime! My kids can experiment with this easy DIY sensory slime recipe on their own! We made a bunch of colors and added some fun mix-ins to our slime variations.
Glitter Slime (No Borax)
Ingredients
- 1 cup clear glue
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 2-3 drops food coloring
- 1 tsp. glitter
- 1 tbsp. contact solution – with ingredients boric acid & sodium borate
Directions
- Step 1
- Measure out the clear glue into a small mixing bowl.
- Step 2
- Add the baking soda and stir the mixture.
- Step 3
- Add a few drops of food coloring and the glitter, and mix until combined.
- Step 4
- Stir in the contact solution, which will begin the chemical reaction to create slime!
This awesome DIY sensory slime recipe for kids is a gentle alternative to slime recipes that contain borax or liquid starch. All you need for this fun kids activity is clear glue, baking soda, and generic contact solution.
Our homemade slime recipe skips the borax powder that many slime recipes call for, using contact solution as the activator instead. It’s still a good idea to have kids wash their hands after playing, and to keep slime away from little ones who might taste it.
Glitter Slime with Baking Soda & Contact Solution
DIY Slime Ingredients
- 1 cup clear glue
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- food coloring / glitter (optional)
- contact solution (with ingredients boric acid and sodium borate)
Mix up any combination of liquid slime using clear glue, baking soda and generic saline contact solution. Just make sure the contact solution contains boric acid and sodium borate. You can add a variety of mix-ins and food coloring to these basic slime ingredients. Whatever you add to your homemade sensory slime, it is important to add the contact solution last, after any other mix-ins. The contact solution is the activator that will give your slime its stretchy sensory texture.
How to Make Glitter Slime (No Borax)
Step 1: Pour 1 cup clear craft glue into a medium mixing bowl. You can also use white glue to make opaque slime.
Step 2: Stir in 1/2 tsp. baking soda. The baking soda helps to give slime its firmness and substance, when it combines with the contact solution.
Step 3: Add a few drops of food coloring (if desired) and glitter, or other mix-ins. Stir until combined. It’s easiest to add extra mix-ins into the slime at this step. Once you add the contact solution, it will “activate” the slime.
Step 4: Add 1 tbsp. contact solution (a squirt). Stir the contact solution into the slime ingredients with a spatula or spoon. The slime will be goopy at first and then get stringy. Finally, it will turn into smooth slime that stretches and flows. The more you play with slime, the better it gets!
How Slime Works
You can make glitter slime without borax by creating cross-links with the glue and contact solution. Glue is made of tiny strands that slide past each other, which is why it pours. The contact solution links those strands together, so the mixture stretches and holds its shape instead of running, and the baking soda helps firm it up. Add more contact solution for thicker slime, or a spoonful of water if it gets too stiff.
Glitter Slime with Water Beads
Once you’ve made basic slime, you can add extra textures as a mix-in. We made a batch of purple slime using craft glue, baking soda, food coloring and contact solution. Then we mixed in a handful of aqua water beads.
The water beads didn’t stick to the slime but they did give the slime a slippery, bumpy feel. The water beads also kept bouncing around. Because of this, water bead slime is best played with inside a tub or container of some sort. It’s fun to try to squish up the water beads while also squeezing the slime. Also, if you stretch the slime, the water beads will fall out of it. Adding water beads to slime is an interesting experience that allows kids to experiment with viscosity and adhesion (or lack thereof). Ultimately, slippery water beads don’t mix well into slippery slime, but the sensory combination is fun to play with.
This purplish blue slime with glitter looks even more galaxy-inspired with aqua water beads mixed in. Kids can stretch this slime, mold it into shapes and fold it over onto itself. The water beads feel like jelly and remain separate from the slime when mixed together. The spheres bounce around and kids can split them apart or mash the water beads into smaller jelly particles.
Clear Slime with Coffee Grounds
We also experimented with adding coffee grounds to slime. We made a batch of clear slime and mixed in a spoonful of ground coffee beans. Coffee ground slime acts very similarly to regular slime, although it’s a bit more grainy. The slime can be more or less dense, depending on how much of the coffee grounds you add. Coffee ground slime also smells very earthy.
This java-infused slime flows and stretches as you play with it. Just like glitter slime, if you pull it apart quickly the slime will break. My kids thought the coffee slime was a bit gross, but they were also somewhat fascinated by it. If you are experimenting with making a variety of homemade slime, coffee ground slime is worth trying out!
Add a scoop of coffee grounds to your slime to make earthy coffee slime!
Other Slime Mix-ins
It would also be fun to try making slime using confetti, tiny foam spheres, or even sprinkles. Some mix-ins will add some color to your homemade slime, such as crushed candy pieces. Making slime is a great hands-on science experiment and fun afternoon kids activity. What would you add to your DIY sensory slime?
Troubleshooting Your Slime
Slime doesn’t always turn out perfectly on the first try, and that’s part of the fun of experimenting. Here’s how to fix the most common problems.
My slime won’t form – This almost always means it needs more activator. Add contact solution a small squirt at a time, stirring well after each addition, until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
My slime is too sticky – Sticky slime also needs a bit more contact solution. Add a little, then knead the slime with your hands for a minute or two. Slime always feels stickier at first and improves the more you work it.
My slime is too stiff or it keeps breaking – If you have already added too much activator, stir in a spoonful of water and mix until the slime stretches smoothly again.
My slime is rubbery instead of stretchy – Try a slightly smaller amount of baking soda in your next batch. Baking soda gives slime its firmness, so a little goes a long way.
My glitter sank to the bottom – Add glitter before the contact solution so it distributes evenly through the glue. Once slime activates, mix-ins are much harder to work in.
How to Store Homemade Slime
Store your slime in an airtight container or a zip-lock bag with the air pressed out. Kept sealed, homemade slime usually stays stretchy for about a week. It will slowly dry out and stiffen over time, and a spoonful of water kneaded in can revive it once or twice. Toss the slime if it develops an unusual smell or any spots of mold, which can happen faster with mix-ins. Slime also does best at room temperature, so keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heat.
Find more creative activities for kids on our Kids Activities page!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is no borax slime safe for kids?
This recipe skips borax powder and uses contact solution as the activator instead, which is gentler for hands-on play. The contact solution does contain boric acid and sodium borate, which is what makes the slime form. Kids should wash their hands after playing and never eat slime. Also keep it away from toddlers who put things in their mouths.
Why won’t my slime form?
Your mixture needs more activator. Add contact solution a little at a time and stir well, then knead with your hands. Slime firms up considerably as you play with it.
How do you fix slime that’s too sticky?
Add a small amount of contact solution and knead the slime for a minute or two. Add gradually, because too much activator makes slime stiff and breakable.
Can you make slime without contact solution?
Contact solution is the activator in this recipe, so it can’t simply be left out. When buying contact solution, check that the label lists boric acid and sodium borate. Saline solutions without those ingredients will not activate slime.
Can you use white glue instead of clear glue?
Yes. Clear glue makes translucent, glassy slime that shows off glitter beautifully, while white glue makes opaque, pastel-looking slime. Both work with the same measurements.
How long does homemade slime last?
Homemade slime lasts about a week in an airtight container. Slime with mix-ins may not last as long, because of additional ingredients.
Hi, I’m Katie! I’m a homeschool mom who’s traveling the world with my husband and 4 kids. We raised our family in North Idaho and currently live in Mérida, Mexico. I love Jesus, coffee, creative projects, photography, and traveling. I hope you enjoy our creative ideas and family adventures!
