The following is a list of ingredients commonly found in slime recipes:
Air dry clay (such as Model Magic or Daiso Soft Clay)
This is just what it sounds like: clay that air-dries into a hard solid. This means no baking, but it also means it's really important to store the clay in an airtight container and to put it away immediately after use so that it doesn't start to dry out. Clay can take 24 hours to dry to the touch, and up to 72 hours or more to dry completely (depending on the thickness and size), but it starts to dry out immediately. Model Magic is a popular brand of air-dry clay that can be used successfully in slime recipes using clay. The Crayola website states, "Model Magic remains lightweight and somewhat flexible even when dry". Crayola does not disclose the exact ingredients of their products, but they do include a list of what is NOT included in their products.
Daiso soft clay is a good economical alternative if you have a Daiso store nearby that stocks the clay. (Daiso is a Japanese store similar to a dollar store, but most items cost $1.50 instead of $1.) Currently you can purchase a small 4oz package of white Crayola model magic clay for $10.16 (other colors are cheaper, probably because of the popularity of white for slime-making), and 5lbs of clay in a reusable bucket (which would be great for storing slime after you've used up the clay) is on sale for $14.98.
Baby oil
The main ingredient in "baby oil" is mineral oil. It also generally contains fragrance. Mineral oil is a common ingredient in personal care items and cosmetics of all kinds, from lotions and conditioners to makeup. Some people try to avoid petroleum products (mineral oil is created as a by-product when petroleum is distilled to produce gasoline), but unless you shop carefully, it can be hard to do. While I avoid it in cosmetics and personal care products, I do allow my kids to use it in occasional craft projects, including slime. I ask them to wash their hands well afterward with a non-petroleum based soap. I found that the baby oil we purchased has a very strong fragrance. If you are sensitive to fragrances, look for a fragrance-free baby oil such as this one.
One more note on baby oil- the bottle we purchased wasn't closed well and leaked all over the floor. While I do appreciate a shiny floor, this can be avoided by making sure the lid is on tightly (or transferring to another container if it doesn't seal well), and storing upright.
Baking soda
As you may remember from chemistry class, baking soda is 100% bicarbonate of soda, consisting of sodium ions and bicarbonate ions (while baking powder is a mix of bicarbonate and other ingredients). It is safe to use and ingest baking soda.
If you haven't tried baking soda for cleaning, try it! It works as well as cleanser, but is safer and won't dry your hands nearly as much. It's also great for cleaning and polishing your teeth, as well as many other things that are beyond the scope of this website. Here are a couple of articles that talk about the many uses and benefits of baking soda.
33 Surprising Baking Soda Uses and Remedies
51 Fantastic Uses For Baking Soda
Borax
Among all the slime ingredients, borax is the one that has generated the most questions as to its safety, not least of all because many people are unfamiliar with borax. It just sounds toxic, right? I haven't found any sources that deem it acutely toxic, but repeated over-exposure over time can lead to health consequences. Borax is a naturally occurring substance that is found in dry lake beds, which is used for a water softening agent, food additive (banned as a food additive in the US), antifungal foot soak, fire retardant, and swimming pool buffering agent, among many other uses. The box of 20 Mule Borax states "Keep out of reach of children".
Known concerns with borax include that over-exposure to borax dust can cause respiratory irritation. There has also recently been a well-publicized report of a girl whose slime-making habit caused severe burns on her hands. Reading the reports, she had been making slime every day
Health Canada released a draft risk assessment (in part due to the popularity of borax in making slime) stating that over-exposure to borax may cause developmental and reproductive health effects.
Even if you decide you don't want borax in your house (or don't want kids handling it), there are plenty of recipes for making slime and flubber without it.
If you wish to read more about borax, here are a couple of links to get you started:
Borax basics (Wikipedia article)
Link to Health Canada's information update on boric acid
20 Mule Team Borax website
Corn starch
This a common kitchen ingredient derived from corn that is used to thicken foods. It is derived through a several step process. It is safe to handle and eat. It's a good idea to advise children to spoon it out carefully instead of dumping it, as inhaling the fine dust can cause coughing.
Detergent
This refers to laundry detergent, either powdered or liquid. Check the label on each detergent for specific precautions. Generally, detergent is safe to handle. It may cause slight irritation or dryness of skin in those with sensitive skin. (If you have sensitive skin, try using an unscented variety of detergent.) Wash your hands after handling detergent as you want to avoid getting it into your eyes. If it does get into your eyes, rinse out your eyes with water right away and consult the detergent container for further instructions.
It's important to note that not all types of detergent will work when a recipe calls for this as an ingredient. Many of the "natural" products don't work. Save them for the clothes you wear next to your skin every day. Inexpensive detergent brands that are frequently recommended in slime recipes and videos are Tide and Cheer.
Eye drops
These are one of the options for an activator (other options are laundry detergent such as Tide, contact lens solution, or borax/water solution). This is probably the most expensive of the activators, but if you already have eye drops around it may make sense to use them.
Floral gel beads (Orbeez)
While I had seen Orbeez in floral displays, I had no idea what they were called or made out of. They are small balls made from super-absorbent polymers (plastics; large molecules made up of many repeated subunits). They were originally created to keep water supplied to crops in times of drought, as they absorb water into the space between the molecules.
They are an interesting and novel thing for kids to observe and experiment with. I feel Orbeez could lead to an interesting idea for a science project because of their unique property of being able to expand to more than 100 times their original volume. The company has also put their creativity into producing a wide variety of products for kids using the beads.
The product itself is nontoxic. The company Orbeez sells them as a product to play with. They do have a FAQ page which answers such questions as what to do if the beads are swallowed, and how to clean up messes.
Food coloring
Food coloring can come in the form of a liquid, gel, paste, or powder. We find it easiest to work with gel food coloring, as it's not as likely as the liquid kind to drip and stain clothing.
Here is an article about the different types of food coloring, including the differences between the different kinds and pros and cons of each one.
Glitter
This is just used as a decoration, but can make your slime sparkly. I love loose glitter in glitter shakers, but it tends to go everywhere. You may end up with glitter in your hair, on your clothes, and all over your house. If you want to avoid a giant glitter mess, substitute glitter glue for the glue in a slime recipe.
Liquid starch
This is another option for an activator. You can make your own liquid starch using cornstarch, or purchase a pre-made one. Liquid starch Sta-Flo lists the following as ingredients: Water, Corn Starch, Borax, Processing Aids, Preservative, Ironing Aid, and Perfume. I'm a little leery of the ingredient list because of the vague nature of the list (what are processing aids exactly? ironing aids?), but these starches have generally been considered safe to use in ironing laundry. t's a very inexpensive option for an activator.
Lotion
This is used to make slime stretchier and smoother. It makes your slime silky and soft. It's usually an optional ingredient but not necessary for a successful slime. Any lotion should work, but we recommend using a scent you enjoy (or unscented if you prefer), and use the cheapest you can find. Now is a good time to visit the dollar store or use up hotel samples or nearly empty bottles you have floating around.
PVA glue, such as Elmer's School Glue
This is one of the main ingredients in most recipes for slime. The ingredients and exact recipe for Elmer's glue are proprietary.
For all you ever wanted to know about glue and more, see the FAQ section of the Elmer's Glue website.
Elmer's also offers detailed information about each of their products, including restrictions on use, what to do if ingested, and much more on the Safety Data Sheet section of their website.
Saline solution or Contact lens solution
This is an activator. It reacts with the PVA (polyvinyl acetate) in glue in a chemical reaction that creates what is commonly known as slime. When purchasing this ingredient, the bottle needs to say buffered solution, boric acid, or sodium borate on the label in order for it to be effective as an activator.
Shaving cream or foam
This is used to make slime fluffy and puffy. It's used in some recipes for fluffy slime, soft serve slime, and iceberg slime. If you're going to get some, pick a scent you like because you'll be smelling it a lot! Shave gel won't work for this; you need to find something labeled shaving foam or cream. Barbasol is an affordable brand that is used in many videos we've seen.
Air dry clay (such as Model Magic or Daiso Soft Clay)
This is just what it sounds like: clay that air-dries into a hard solid. This means no baking, but it also means it's really important to store the clay in an airtight container and to put it away immediately after use so that it doesn't start to dry out. Clay can take 24 hours to dry to the touch, and up to 72 hours or more to dry completely (depending on the thickness and size), but it starts to dry out immediately. Model Magic is a popular brand of air-dry clay that can be used successfully in slime recipes using clay. The Crayola website states, "Model Magic remains lightweight and somewhat flexible even when dry". Crayola does not disclose the exact ingredients of their products, but they do include a list of what is NOT included in their products.
Daiso soft clay is a good economical alternative if you have a Daiso store nearby that stocks the clay. (Daiso is a Japanese store similar to a dollar store, but most items cost $1.50 instead of $1.) Currently you can purchase a small 4oz package of white Crayola model magic clay for $10.16 (other colors are cheaper, probably because of the popularity of white for slime-making), and 5lbs of clay in a reusable bucket (which would be great for storing slime after you've used up the clay) is on sale for $14.98.
Baby oil
The main ingredient in "baby oil" is mineral oil. It also generally contains fragrance. Mineral oil is a common ingredient in personal care items and cosmetics of all kinds, from lotions and conditioners to makeup. Some people try to avoid petroleum products (mineral oil is created as a by-product when petroleum is distilled to produce gasoline), but unless you shop carefully, it can be hard to do. While I avoid it in cosmetics and personal care products, I do allow my kids to use it in occasional craft projects, including slime. I ask them to wash their hands well afterward with a non-petroleum based soap. I found that the baby oil we purchased has a very strong fragrance. If you are sensitive to fragrances, look for a fragrance-free baby oil such as this one.
One more note on baby oil- the bottle we purchased wasn't closed well and leaked all over the floor. While I do appreciate a shiny floor, this can be avoided by making sure the lid is on tightly (or transferring to another container if it doesn't seal well), and storing upright.
Baking soda
As you may remember from chemistry class, baking soda is 100% bicarbonate of soda, consisting of sodium ions and bicarbonate ions (while baking powder is a mix of bicarbonate and other ingredients). It is safe to use and ingest baking soda.
If you haven't tried baking soda for cleaning, try it! It works as well as cleanser, but is safer and won't dry your hands nearly as much. It's also great for cleaning and polishing your teeth, as well as many other things that are beyond the scope of this website. Here are a couple of articles that talk about the many uses and benefits of baking soda.
33 Surprising Baking Soda Uses and Remedies
51 Fantastic Uses For Baking Soda
Borax
Among all the slime ingredients, borax is the one that has generated the most questions as to its safety, not least of all because many people are unfamiliar with borax. It just sounds toxic, right? I haven't found any sources that deem it acutely toxic, but repeated over-exposure over time can lead to health consequences. Borax is a naturally occurring substance that is found in dry lake beds, which is used for a water softening agent, food additive (banned as a food additive in the US), antifungal foot soak, fire retardant, and swimming pool buffering agent, among many other uses. The box of 20 Mule Borax states "Keep out of reach of children".
Known concerns with borax include that over-exposure to borax dust can cause respiratory irritation. There has also recently been a well-publicized report of a girl whose slime-making habit caused severe burns on her hands. Reading the reports, she had been making slime every day
Health Canada released a draft risk assessment (in part due to the popularity of borax in making slime) stating that over-exposure to borax may cause developmental and reproductive health effects.
Even if you decide you don't want borax in your house (or don't want kids handling it), there are plenty of recipes for making slime and flubber without it.
If you wish to read more about borax, here are a couple of links to get you started:
Borax basics (Wikipedia article)
Link to Health Canada's information update on boric acid
20 Mule Team Borax website
Corn starch
This a common kitchen ingredient derived from corn that is used to thicken foods. It is derived through a several step process. It is safe to handle and eat. It's a good idea to advise children to spoon it out carefully instead of dumping it, as inhaling the fine dust can cause coughing.
Detergent
This refers to laundry detergent, either powdered or liquid. Check the label on each detergent for specific precautions. Generally, detergent is safe to handle. It may cause slight irritation or dryness of skin in those with sensitive skin. (If you have sensitive skin, try using an unscented variety of detergent.) Wash your hands after handling detergent as you want to avoid getting it into your eyes. If it does get into your eyes, rinse out your eyes with water right away and consult the detergent container for further instructions.
It's important to note that not all types of detergent will work when a recipe calls for this as an ingredient. Many of the "natural" products don't work. Save them for the clothes you wear next to your skin every day. Inexpensive detergent brands that are frequently recommended in slime recipes and videos are Tide and Cheer.
Eye drops
These are one of the options for an activator (other options are laundry detergent such as Tide, contact lens solution, or borax/water solution). This is probably the most expensive of the activators, but if you already have eye drops around it may make sense to use them.
Floral gel beads (Orbeez)
While I had seen Orbeez in floral displays, I had no idea what they were called or made out of. They are small balls made from super-absorbent polymers (plastics; large molecules made up of many repeated subunits). They were originally created to keep water supplied to crops in times of drought, as they absorb water into the space between the molecules.
They are an interesting and novel thing for kids to observe and experiment with. I feel Orbeez could lead to an interesting idea for a science project because of their unique property of being able to expand to more than 100 times their original volume. The company has also put their creativity into producing a wide variety of products for kids using the beads.
The product itself is nontoxic. The company Orbeez sells them as a product to play with. They do have a FAQ page which answers such questions as what to do if the beads are swallowed, and how to clean up messes.
Food coloring
Food coloring can come in the form of a liquid, gel, paste, or powder. We find it easiest to work with gel food coloring, as it's not as likely as the liquid kind to drip and stain clothing.
Here is an article about the different types of food coloring, including the differences between the different kinds and pros and cons of each one.
Glitter
This is just used as a decoration, but can make your slime sparkly. I love loose glitter in glitter shakers, but it tends to go everywhere. You may end up with glitter in your hair, on your clothes, and all over your house. If you want to avoid a giant glitter mess, substitute glitter glue for the glue in a slime recipe.
Liquid starch
This is another option for an activator. You can make your own liquid starch using cornstarch, or purchase a pre-made one. Liquid starch Sta-Flo lists the following as ingredients: Water, Corn Starch, Borax, Processing Aids, Preservative, Ironing Aid, and Perfume. I'm a little leery of the ingredient list because of the vague nature of the list (what are processing aids exactly? ironing aids?), but these starches have generally been considered safe to use in ironing laundry. t's a very inexpensive option for an activator.
Lotion
This is used to make slime stretchier and smoother. It makes your slime silky and soft. It's usually an optional ingredient but not necessary for a successful slime. Any lotion should work, but we recommend using a scent you enjoy (or unscented if you prefer), and use the cheapest you can find. Now is a good time to visit the dollar store or use up hotel samples or nearly empty bottles you have floating around.
PVA glue, such as Elmer's School Glue
This is one of the main ingredients in most recipes for slime. The ingredients and exact recipe for Elmer's glue are proprietary.
For all you ever wanted to know about glue and more, see the FAQ section of the Elmer's Glue website.
Elmer's also offers detailed information about each of their products, including restrictions on use, what to do if ingested, and much more on the Safety Data Sheet section of their website.
Saline solution or Contact lens solution
This is an activator. It reacts with the PVA (polyvinyl acetate) in glue in a chemical reaction that creates what is commonly known as slime. When purchasing this ingredient, the bottle needs to say buffered solution, boric acid, or sodium borate on the label in order for it to be effective as an activator.
Shaving cream or foam
This is used to make slime fluffy and puffy. It's used in some recipes for fluffy slime, soft serve slime, and iceberg slime. If you're going to get some, pick a scent you like because you'll be smelling it a lot! Shave gel won't work for this; you need to find something labeled shaving foam or cream. Barbasol is an affordable brand that is used in many videos we've seen.