To learn how to make slime you have to start with the right slime ingredients. Even the best recipe won’t work if you don’t use the right stuff for slime. Materials for making slime are easy to find if you know what you are looking for! Stock your pantry for afternoons filled with slime making fun with our list of recommended supplies to make slime.
RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES FOR SLIME
SLIME FOR KIDS
- Has your kid asked you to make slime yet?
- Would slime making be an awesome science demonstration for your class?
- Looking to do something totally cool like make slime for camp with the kids?
- Are you confused by which slime ingredients you need to buy?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you just have to try making slime. If you are already a slime master, maybe you will find some new fun mix-ins ideas below!
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE SLIME?
It’s not enough to have the best slime recipes, you also need to have the right stuff for slime! That’s precisely why I have put together an easy list of our recommended slime making supplies. Stock your pantry and never have a dull moment with the kiddos!
Click on the pictures below to check out these items on Amazon. These are affiliate links for your convenience. I receive a small percentage of any items purchased through Amazon which helps support this site! I am not compensated by the brands themselves (like Elmer’s), we just like using them!
NOTE: We cannot guarantee results from products we don’t use.
BEST GLUE FOR MAKING SLIME
If you do not have access to this type of glue, look for a PVA washable school glue or a glue specifically made for slime. Something to note about the glue is the difference in viscosity between white and clear glue and even the glitter or color glues.
Clear glue will make a thicker slime, therefore you may want to go easier on the amount of slime activator you use until you are comfortable with it. Although it may feel stickier, to begin with, if you add too much it will become more rubbery.
White glue will make a looser slime! The new colored glues and glitter glues are also thick, and we actually developed a recipe just for them, see our glitter glue slime recipe.
SLIME ACTIVATORS
The three main slime activators are borax powder, liquid starch, and saline solution/baking soda. You can learn more about each individual slime activator here.
Can you make your own saline solution or liquid starch? The simple answer is no, but you can read more about that here.
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- Saline Solution Slime
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- Borax Slime
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- Liquid Starch Slime
NOTE: Recently we have used Elmer’s Magical Solution for making slime. While it does the job, it was not a favorite among my kid testers. We still prefer to use a good saline solution instead. You may need to add more of the solution than recommended.
Want to make slime without borax? Try one of our edible slime recipes!
FUN SLIME ADD-INS
The items below are some of the things we like to keep on hand for making slime. Food coloring, glitter, and confetti are staples in our DIY slime kit. All the popular slime recipes kids will want to make need a few of these mix-ins to achieve cool textures such as fishbowl, crunchy, or cloud slime!
UNIQUE SLIME IDEAS
Our unique slime recipes use an extra special ingredient for a really cool texture or slime activity. Check out a few links to the exact recipes below, so you can see how we use these ingredients.
Get our basic slime recipes in an easy to print format so you can knock out the activities!
—>>> FREE SLIME RECIPE CARDS
MUST TRY SLIME RECIPES
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- Magnetic Slime
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- Butter Slime
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- Glow In The Dark Slime
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- Color Changing Slime
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- Crunchy Slime
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- Crunchy Slime
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- Scented Slime
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- Glitter Slime
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- Unicorn Slime
SLIME PARTY FAVOR IDEAS
Not only does slime last quite a while if stored properly, but it’s also a great party activity or party favor.
MAKE YOUR OWN SLIME KIT
Why not grab a handy container and fill it with all the essential slime ingredients! Now you will be able to make cool slime recipes any day you want!
RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES FOR SLIME!
Interested in making more slime? Check our all these amazing slime ideas!
No more having to print out a WHOLE blog post for just one recipe!
Get our basic slime recipes in an easy to print format so you can knock out the activities!
—>>> FREE SLIME RECIPE CARDS
Emily arson william
This is not OK! IT DIDNT WORK! I am so NOT HAPPY. I buyed all the ingredients and it didn’t work!it made my kitchen A mess! This all your or whoever’s FAULT!
littlebins
You are welcome to email me and we can go over any of the recipes! I am happy to help as these recipes have worked for so many people. getmovingfitness@gmail.com
Lyn
Hi there – can I please check is baking soda a substitute for borax? Many thanks! Lyn
littlebins
NO it is not a substitute.
Alex Hansen
Would you mind adding the recommended salt-to-water ratio for the saline solution? I don’t see that here. Obviously I could just make that up, but if you’ve had success with a particular ratio, I’d love to hear it.
Thanks for all you do! This site was exactly what I had in mind when I was thinking of experimenting with different slime recipes.
littlebins
You can not use a salt water saline solution for making slime! You need a saline solution that contains sodium borate and boric acid which are the main slime activators! Thanks for thinking of us and feel free to email sarah@littlebinsforlittlehands with any specific questions as I can answer them faster!
Lynne Myer
In South Africa we dont get liquid startch. Does that mean I have to stick to one of the other recipes?
littlebins
Probably if it’s not available to you unless you can order it and have it shipped to you.
Angela Osorio
I spent %990 on supplies and followed all direction to the T and no slime was made very upsetting for me and my kids!
littlebins
I welcome emails to sarah@littlebinsforlittlehands.com plus you can also check out my live videos on Facebook and watch me make the slime using these ingredients. You might just need some trouble shooting with someone!
Thomas Russell
This is an awesome resource. Thanks so much, we have used many other “recipes” but all of yours are top notch and foolproof. If someone is not getting good results it is because they are not using the correct ingredients or proportions of ingredients that you suggest. If they are using a PVA school glue (stick with Elmer’s), and a proper activator in the correct ratios these recipes are rock solid, definitely take the time to know what activators do. A few tips…make sure you are patient and let the chemical reaction take place, if your slime is really wet after 7 minutes of stirring or needing then you may need a little more activator but don’t make any decisions before 10 minutes. Activator is easy to add but near impossible to take away…If you are using saline and baking soda for an activator; be sure to use saline that is usually marked “for sensitive eyes”, it must contain sodium borate and boric acid. If you use starch as your activator Use liquid laundry starch not instant spray starch. If you use borax dilute in to a thick slurry first. With the activators it is easy to add more after you work it throughly and it is still too sticky…It is much harder to “soften”…if it is too hard or brittle no amount of water or lotion can save you. Have fun and enjoy this science experiment opportunity. Get your base recipes down and then start adding your colors, glitters, and “extras”. Once again, a great site! Thank you so much