Why buy slime when you can make it yourself? We have the best slime recipe for you that makes AMAZING stretchy, oozing homemade slime! Read on to find out what slime ingredients you need, how to make slime with glue, and how to turn it into the fluffiest slime ever! Plus, ideas for slime without glue or without activator. Yes, it is possible! Check out tons of additional cool slime ideas you will want to try. Slime really can be an amazing science experiment too!

What Slime Ingredients You Need

Slime making is chemistry and involves a chemical reaction between your slime ingredients, PVA glue, and a slime activator. Check out the complete list of slime activators you can use!

Slime ingredients:

  • White or Clear PVA School Glue
  • Water
  • A Slime Activator (must contain some form of borax, sodium borate, or boric acid)
  • Shaving Foam
  • Food coloring, glitter, confetti, and other fun mix-ins

Note: All these favorite homemade slime recipes include some form of boron and are not truly borax-free, including saline solution and liquid starch.

If you are sensitive to these ingredients, please check out our borax free slime recipes.

How To Make Slime

We have several basic slime recipes for making slime that are easy to master and fun to do with kids. We use these recipes all of the time! Each of them uses a different slime activator.

Once you have mastered these easy slime recipes, there are tons more cool slime ideas you will want to try! See our list of ideas further below.

Free Printable Slime Recipe Cards!

Our Favorite Slime Recipe

Make our favorite slime recipe! This is our most versatile homemade slime recipe and one of the easiest to make without the need for borax powder.

Important! The saline solution in this recipe must contain sodium borate and boric acid to properly activate the slime. Make sure to read the bottle’s ingredients! We use Target Brand Up and Up for Sensitive Eyes for the best results.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 Cup of Clear or White PVA School Glue
  • 1/2 Cup of Water
  • 1-2 TBS of Saline Solution
  • 1/4- 1/2 TSP of Baking Soda (more for white glue and less for clear glue)
  • Glitter and Food Coloring
  • Fun Mix-ins (see plenty of suggestions below)

Instructions:

STEP 1: In a bowl, mix water and glue together.

STEP 2: Add baking soda and stir well. We have found that white glue generally makes a looser slime while clear glue makes a thicker slime.

STEP 3: Add food coloring and glitter or confetti as desired and stir.

STEP 4: Add saline solution, starting with just one tablespoon. Mix well until the slime forms and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

TIP: At this point, squirt a bit of saline solution onto your hands and pick up the slime. Continue to knead and play with the slime until desired consistency is achieved.

The slime will be the most stretchy and potentially the stickiest when it is first mixed because the chemical reaction is still taking place. Be careful to not add too much extra saline solution.

Check out the ideas below for fun variations of the basic slime recipe!

Cool Slime Ideas To Try

Once you have made the basic slime, you will want to try so many other fun and unique slime recipes!

Fluffy Slime

If you are only going to try one slime recipe, then this would be it! Slime with shaving cream has to be the best fluffy slime recipe around for the lightest and fluffiest slime to play with.

Fluffy Slime

Clear Slime

Make slime that is crystal clear or looks like liquid glass. Yes, it is possible! We have two different ways to achieve clear slime! Check out the video!

Clay Slime

You will love the texture of this clay slime or butter slime, it is super soft and moldable! Plus, it lasts for ages!

Homemade Slime Recipe : Clay Slime or Butter Slime

Cloud Slime

Instant snow is fantastic, but when you add it to slime, you get an AMAZING cloud slime experience!

Cornstarch Slime

This a super easy slime recipe with just 2 ingredients!

Glitter Glue Slime

2 simple ingredients and Elmer’s specialty glues make for some neat glitter glue slime!

Grinch Slime

Our most popular Christmas slime! You will love this green glitter slime to accompany your favorite movie. Check out more Christmas slime recipes!

Pumpkin Slime

Pumpkin slime in a real pumpkin made from pumpkin guts! You’ve got to try this fun slime recipe!

Fluffy Halloween Slime

Purple fluffy slime makes the perfect witch brew for Halloween. Check out more fun, spooky Halloween slime recipes!

Chocolate Slime

This homemade chocolate slime smells and looks like chocolate! Only you don’t want to go eating this fun stretchy slime.

Fizzing Slime

Find out how to make fizzing volcano slime with a fun chemical reaction. The video is a must-watch.

Floam Slime

Make homemade floam easily with just one additional item. We turned our floam-making slime project into a bit of a science experiment, too. Check out the video!

homemade slime

Galaxy Slime

Make several batches of different colored slime to swirl together to make this amazing glitter galaxy slime!

Glow In The Dark Slime

No blacklight is needed for this awesome glowing slime recipe! Try it in two ways.

Glow In The Dark Slime

Magnetic Slime

This has to be one of the coolest slime you will ever make! Make a slime that is magnetic with the add in, iron oxide powder.

Sand Slime

Want to know what slime feels like with play sand added to the recipe? You will want to make this sand slime to find out.

homemade slime

Putty Slime

This putty slime recipe is super easy to make. It’s all about the consistency of this slime that makes it AMAZING! 

Rainbow Slime

Rainbow slime is amazing – beautiful colored, shimmery rainbow slime you can make anytime!

Snow Slime

Can you make a slime snowball? Learn how to make snow slime with kids this season with one of these recipes.

How to make snow slime recipes with kids for easy winter slime themes.
Snow Slime Recipes

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How Do You Store Slime?

Keep your slime in a sealed container when not playing with it! Many of our slime recipes have lasted months or until we decided to make a new one. 8-ounce deli food-style containers are our favorite!

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2. Is Slime Safe?

Slime is a chemistry experiment and should be treated with respect. Do not substitute slime ingredients or change the recipes. Read more… Is slime safe?

3. How Do You Get Slime out of Clothes and Hair?

Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after playing with slime. If your slime gets a little messy, it does happen; check out my easy tips for how to get slime out of clothes and hair!

4. How Do You Make Slime Without Glue or Activator?

You can make slime with marshmallows, chia seeds and even gummy bears! If you are sensitive to slime ingredients or want a taste-safe slime recipe without glue or activator, check out our edible slime recipes.

Make Slime For The Holidays

Click below for more fun slime recipes for any holiday or season!

Printable Slime Project Bundle for Kids

This is the ULTIMATE collection of slime recipes every kid wants to make! Explore the best recipes and find the right supplies to make slime time a breeze!

Perfect for kids of all ages, including tweens and teens! Taste-safe recipes are perfect for the youngest slime fans.

What’s Included:

  • The Ultimate Slime Guide contains all the specialty recipes you or your kids want to make! You’ll find all the best tips, tricks, hints, and slime-y info in almost 100 pages!
  • The Ultimate Slime Holiday Guide covers all the best holidays and seasons with special themes and slime-y projects!
  • The Ultimate Borax-FREE and Taste-Safe Slime Guide shows you how to make all the best borax-free, taste-safe, and non-toxic slimes kids love, such as marshmallow slime. These recipes do not use chemical activators such as saline solution, liquid starch, or borax powder, making them truly borax-free.
  • The Ultimate Slime Coloring Book is an easy-to-print coloring book kids will love! Color and design your favorite slimes!
  • The Slime Starter Guide is a fact-filled information guide with everything you need to know to make the best slime ever!
  • Slime Science Project Pack helps you turn slime-making into a science lesson!