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How to Make Slime with Borax

BySarah McClelland Updated on
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Learn how to make slime with borax using just a few simple ingredients! This easy borax slime recipe creates stretchy, satisfying slime that’s perfect for sensory play, STEM activities, classroom science, and hands-on chemistry fun.

Whether you are brand new to slime-making or troubleshooting slime problems, this guide will show you exactly how to make borax slime successfully every time.

💡 Explore all of our homemade slime recipes here and find the most popular slime recipes for kids.

homemade borax slime being stretchedPin

Why Use Borax to Make Slime?

Borax slime is one of the original homemade slime recipes and still one of the best ways to make stretchy slime. Borax powder creates a strong slime activator that helps turn glue into a smooth, stretchy polymer.

You can easily adjust the slime texture depending on:

  • the type of glue you use
  • the amount of activator
  • how long you knead the slime

💡 Borax slime is also an excellent way to explore chemistry concepts with kids.

Supplies to Make Borax Slime

  • 1/4 tsp borax powder
  • 1/2 cup white or clear school glue
  • 1 cup warm water, divided
  • Food coloring, glitter, or confetti (optional)
  • 2 bowls
  • Spoon
  • Airtight container

💡 Borax powder is usually found in the laundry aisle.

How to Make Slime with Borax

STEP 1: Make the Borax Solution

Mix 1/4 tsp borax powder into 1/2 cup warm water.

Stir until dissolved.

mixing borax solution for easy slime recipePin

STEP 2: Prepare the Glue Mixture

In a separate bowl, combine:

  • 1/2 cup glue
  • 1/2 cup warm water

Add food coloring or glitter if desired.

STEP 3: Combine the Mixtures

Slowly pour the borax solution into the glue mixture while stirring.

The slime will begin forming immediately.

combining borax and clear glue for homemade slimePin

STEP 4: Knead the Slime

Remove the slime from the bowl and knead with your hands until smooth and stretchy.

The slime may feel stringy at first, but kneading improves the texture.

💡 Slime stretches best when pulled slowly instead of quickly.

mixing borax slime in bowlPin

Helpful Slime Tips

  • Store slime in an airtight container.
  • Add activator slowly.
  • Knead before adding extra borax solution.
  • Clear glue creates stretchier slime.
  • White glue creates thicker slime.
stretchy borax slime recipe for kidsPin

Borax vs Saline Solution vs Liquid Starch

There are several popular ways to activate slime.

Borax Powder

Creates stretchy, durable slime and works especially well for slime science activities.

Saline Solution

Easy to use and commonly used for fluffy slime recipes.

Liquid Starch

Creates soft slime with a slightly different texture.

👉 Learn more about slime activators here.

Explore Slime Science

Want to take slime-making further?

Grab our free Slime Science Starter Lab to explore polymers, slime activators, non-Newtonian fluids, and hands-on slime investigations.

Includes:

  • STEM challenges
  • Observation pages
  • Slime science
  • A 5-day slime chemistry lab

👉 Download the Free Starter Lab

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    Troubleshooting Borax Slime

    Why is my slime too stiff?
    Try using less borax solution. Start small and add activator gradually.

    Why is my slime sticky?
    Sticky slime usually needs more kneading or a tiny bit more activator.

    What is the best borax-to-water ratio?
    1/4 tsp borax to 1/2 cup warm water is a great starting point.

    How long does borax slime last?
    When stored in a sealed container, borax slime can last for several weeks.

    Can you make slime with clear glue?
    Yes! Clear glue creates stretchier and more transparent slime.

    💡 Read more about how to make slime less sticky here.

    Pin

    The Science Behind Borax Slime

    Slime is a polymer created when glue reacts with borate ions from borax powder.

    When the borax solution mixes with the glue, the long polymer chains in the glue begin connecting together through a process called cross-linking. This changes the glue from a liquid into a stretchy slime.

    Slime is also considered a non-Newtonian fluid because it behaves like both a liquid and a solid depending on how much force is applied.

    Borax slime is a great hands-on way to explore:

    • polymers
    • viscosity
    • elasticity
    • states of matter
    • non-Newtonian fluids

    💡 Read more about slime science and polymer chemistry here.

    More Borax Slime Ideas

    Pin
    Fidget Putty
    Pin
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    Looking for More Homemade Slime Recipes?

    Explore all our homemade slime recipes, including fluffy slime, butter slime, cloud slime, clear slime, glitter slime, and more.

    👉 Browse the Homemade Slime Hub

    Pin

    Extend the Learning with Slime

    Our printable Slime Activity Pack includes step-by-step recipes, observations pages, challenges, and science extensions — perfect for home or classroom use.

    96 Comments

    1. Hi littlebins! You’re slime is a great recipe! But I have one question. How many days do I wait for the air
      Bubbles to go away? Please answer ASAP!

    3. I have a question. .. has anyone ever had to replace their borax with a new box? My daughter was the slime queen, and then one day all of sudden the slime was not turning into slime anymore. After a lot of trial and error we discovered it was the borax. We only used about a third of the box and then it “went bad”. We bought a new box, and it worked again. Has this happen to anyone else?

      1. Hi! I have not had that happen before. I have made it through a whole box using it for various experiments and had the same box for quite awhile. Glad that you were able to get back to it with a new box! I have had the opposite experience with a pack of elemers glue I had purchased. Each one refused to cooperate. I went and bought a new batch and it worked fine again. Though surprising that you were able to use some of the box.

        1. Hi! Thanks for the great recipe. I’ve used it several times with my kids (4 & 5 yrs old), mixing in different objects or glitter for different seasons/holidays. So fun!

          I think when people have trouble getting their Slime to be slimy, they’re making a mistake I made at first. They’re not fully mixing the glue & water in step 2. What I do now is put the glue & water into a container with a lid, & shake it vigorously. When I do that, no water comes out of solution in the final mix. If you end up with extra water separating out, and kind of hard Slime, you need to mix the glue & water more thoroughly.

          Hope this helps someone. Thanks again for your great crafty science resource!

      1. You can mix the borax and water again and dunk your slime into it to see if that takes away the stickiness!

      1. What do you mean by hard? Dbl check the measurements. I have never had too hard a slime. Did it get crumbly. You can also check out our liquid starch slime recipe. That’s one of our easiest.

      1. Read the recipe, double check the ingredients and try again. This should not fail unless you have the incorrect glue or are not following the steps.

      1. Any school supply or big box store will have this glue. I also included links to Amazon to purchase glue there if you use Amazon.

    9. Do i really need to use up all of the glue? Or can i just use a smaller bottle of glue? Will the effect be the same?

      1. You can use a smaller amount as long as you adjust the amounts of the other ingredients accordingly. For my Easter slime I made smaller portions to give them different colors.

    10. Do you have an ideas why did my slime just last for 2-3days. It turns out runny..seems like glue has been separated from water.

      1. What brand glue did you use? It may be due to climate conditions as well. How was it stored? I have not had my slime separate before!

    11. i tried with clear glue and white glue. the clear one came out too chunky (it falls apart and doesn’t stretch. the white glue one came out like intestines… (i added blue coloring from a highlighter to the white one)

      1. The clear glue can be a little thicker than the white glue for slime. Have you tried the liquid starch recipe?

    12. It turned out great, but I did find that it breaks apart and can be crumbly if you try to bounce or pull it apart… is that normal?

      1. That happened to me too!! I want to play with it and pull it apart but it breaks I” leaving it overnight in the fridge to see if it does anything.

    13. Hi I live in South Africa so I can’t get elmers glue… I used pritt project glue it didn’t work 🙁 what kind of glue shold I use. Is it a kids craft glue

      1. Hmm wellElmers glue is definitely the best as I have had trouble with others too. This glue is called washable school glue so maybe you can find a bottle with that listed on it. I did try a gold slime with a generic bottle of gold sparkle glue and it worked ok. You really had to knead it and work at it though.

      4. I used Pritt white glue and it does work (it does,however, need to be PVA glue) oh and I’m also from SA! I have used Pritt, Devil glue and numerous more different types so as long as it is PVA it should work. I did also want to ask if the Borax solution needs to be warm when mixing it in to make the slime? I have never tried with it cold because I am scared I will mess it up and waste glue. And why does my slime sometimes have a liquid layer on top of my slime? It doesn’t happen all the time but it does happen ! Thanks a million!

        1. I would use warm water! I will make sure to go in and fix that. New photos will be coming soon. I am not accustomed to using any other type of glue, so the layer may be due to that or to humidity/temperature.

        1. Mine last for like 6 months with this recipe but it’s fun making others too Y’all crafts

      1. I am sorry you were unable to read the article properly and missed the measurements. I would refrain from calling people morons as you are the only person who has not been able to use the recipe.

      2. Terribly sorry you weren’t able to read the post correctly. Have a closer look and please don’t call people morons. You have been the only person unable to read it correctly.

      3. HEY GOOD SAYS, why don’t you open your eyes and SHUT your mouth before you make an idiotic comment. If you can’t appreciate the time and effort that goes into keeping up a website and giving people good ideas, then get lost and figure out how to make your own crafts!!!!!!!!!!!!! SMH RUDE IDIOT!!!

      1. Yes as long as it is Elmers washable. My 4th of July slime is with Elmers white glue and clear glue.

        2. It’s a personal choice but we have resources showing the actual information behind borax that will help you make an informed decision.

        3. How is borax bad for you? Even in the slime recipes that use saline solution for contact lenses, that stuff has borax in it too.

        4. You are absolutely true! Did you listen to Steve Spangler talk about borax powder? I think I put a link in there. Liquid starch and saline solutions all contain borate ions from the boron family just like borax powder. I am not a chemist, but I trust what I have heard so far. We don’t use much and dilute it thoroughly. I would say however if you are sensitive to laundry detergents and cleaners that borax slime might be harsher on your skin then say saline solution. Everyone can make their own choice since we have some great slime recipes to choose from!.

      2. Yes we use regular glue and mix the borax in hot tap water. This works best!!

        1. Oh yeah do u have to use 1 cup of hot, warm or cold water for the borax method? Because I can’t manage to make slime and I’m deverstated!!!

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