How to Make Slime Without Any Glue or Borax

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: January 26, 2024 Tested

Everyone is fascinated by slime. Its gooey texture seems to be liquid and solid at the same time, allowing you to stretch it, mold it, and play with it. Slime is also great for getting kids engaged in a science activity. The traditional recipe for slime calls for glue and borax, but there are other ways to make it. Try making your own slime with household products that you have in your kitchen or bathroom.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Making Shaving Cream Slime

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1
Start with a kid’s 3-in-1 body wash. There are several brands that make a 3-in-1 body wash and they are, for the most part, no more than a few dollars. These washes contain body wash, shampoo, and conditioner in one mix. Pour 1 cup (0.24 L) of 3-in-1 body wash into a large plastic bowl.^{[1]
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- The more body wash you use, the more slime you will make.
2
Squirt in some shaving cream. Shaving cream will help to give the slime a good texture. You want to use a 1:1 ratio of shaving cream to body wash. So, for 1 cup (0.24 L) of 3-in-1 body wash, add 1 cup (0.24 L) of shaving cream to the bowl.^{[2]
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- If you choose to use more or less body wash, use the more or less shaving cream to keep the 1:1 ratio for consistent texture.
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Use a spoon or whisk to blend the ingredients together. Continue mixing until there is a smooth, consistent texture throughout the whole mixture. Once the ingredients are evenly mixed, you can finish making the slime.^{[3]
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Add a tablespoon of salt to the mixture. The salt will help give the mixture a slimy consistency. You can change the consistency by adding more or less salt as needed.^{[4]
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Use your spoon or whisk to stir in the salt. As you stir, you can add more salt if desired. Stir the mixture for 20-30 seconds or until it is evenly mixed.^{[5]
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Place the slime in your freezer for 15 minutes. This thickens your slime. When you remove the slime from the freezer, it is ready to play with!^{[6]
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Alicea Camden

Apr 4, 2016

"Everything helped. I don't have any Elmer's glue, borax, or starch, so this was great. It's what you..." more

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making Body Wash Slime

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1
Pour body wash into a mixing bowl. This recipe calls for regular body wash as opposed to the 3-in-1 variety. You can use any brand or fragrance that you prefer. Pour 1 cup (0.24 L) of body wash into a large bowl.^{[7]
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- You can color the slime by adding food coloring to the body wash.^{[8]
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Cornstarch will help your slime to achieve a thick, viscous state. Start by adding cornstarch in a 1:1 ratio. You can add more if needed.^{[9]
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The best way to mix the ingredients is to knead them with your hands. If you do not want to get your hands dirty, you can use a spoon to mix them. Mix until the slime has a steady consistency throughout.^{[10]
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If your slime is too thick, you can use water to thin it. If you accidentally make the slime too thin, adding more cornstarch will thicken it. You can experiment with different ratios of cornstarch to water for different kinds of slime.^{[11]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making Oobleck

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1
Combine cornstarch and water. Mix one box of cornstarch with 1 to 2 cups (0.24 to 0.47 L) of water. Use your hands to mix the ingredients until you achieve the consistency of honey. Using different amounts of water will change the consistency as needed.
- If you want to color the oobleck, add food coloring to the water before mixing it with the cornstarch.
- It's also possible to make oobleck without cornstarch.
Once you have a good consistency, pour the oobleck from the bowl onto a flat surface. Observe how the oobleck behaves compared to other liquids. As you pour, it becomes a slimy and sticks to itself.
Oobleck slime (also called magic mud) changes depending on the forces present. Try picking up the slime and hitting it. You’ll notice that applying force to the slime makes it harden.

Comments

Anonymous

Nov 19, 2019

"This was great, thanks! I could read it so well, and it was so simple! Highly recommended."
Iga K.

May 1, 2016

"We don't have borax cornstarch in the United Kingdom, so thank you very much."
Olivia Funnell

Oct 1, 2016

"So helpful for my kids! Thank you so much for taking their boredom away! "

Community Q&A

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Question

For the first one, instead of using a 3 in 1 shampoo, can I just put in some shampoo, body wash, and conditioner from different bottles?

lily ling

Community Answer

Yes, but make sure they are equal parts. It helps to have all the same color, so your slime does not turn out brown.

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Can I use plain body wash?

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You can use any body wash, but it is best if it is a slightly thicker one.

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Question

For the first one, do you have to use 3-in-1 shampoo/conditioner/body wash? Will a 2-in-1 shampoo/body wash work as well?

Community Answer

No. It will not, because it only has 2 of the ingredients. You could proably just add in the body wash though.

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Tips

You can store your slime for later use in an airtight bag or container.^{[12]
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Use food coloring to color any slime recipe.^{[13]
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Remember to take your slime out of the freezer after 15 minutes. Don't leave it too long.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

"For a different slime recipe, mix white glue, borax powder, and water. This classic version forms easily without odd ingredients. Adjust the borax levels to reach the desired stickiness." - Vivian U.
"When coloring slime, use just a few drops of food dye to prevent staining your hands later. Though stains fade over time, limiting the amount of dye keeps things tidier." - Natalie E.
"Thoroughly mixing all ingredients is key, no matter the slime recipe. Half-stirred batters stay too thin. Keep stirring until completely blended for best texture." - Ryo Z.
"Shaking up the slime recipe can yield fun results, too. Try swapping in shampoo or paint in place of food dye. Get creative with your on-hand supplies!" - Ayumi P.
"If the oobleck dries out, revive it by stirring in water to regain a moldable consistency. Letting magic mud air out is fine; just rehydrate as needed." - Khadija J.
"Store slime in sealed plastic bags or airtight containers, refrigerating between uses. This prevents drying out so you can play again and again." - Diana K.

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Things You’ll Need

Making Shaving Cream Slime
- Shaving Cream
- 3-in-1 Body Wash
- Salt
- Container
- Stir Stick
Making Body Wash Slime
- Body Wash
- Cornstarch
- Water
- Container
- Stir Stick
Making Oobleck
- Water
- Cornstarch
- Bowl
- Cookie Sheet.