How to Make Slime with Borax

Co-authored by Lois Wade

Last Updated: April 21, 2024 Approved

VIDEO

Borax is commonly used in quite a few slime recipes, since a solution made of borax powder and water helps the slime to gain its form. Just about any slime can be made with a borax solution, but there are some simple slimes that can be fun for whoever chooses to make them!

If you're looking for slime recipes that don't require borax, check out How to Make Slime Without Borax instead.

Ingredients

Normal Slime

1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) borax powder
1 cup (240 ml) hot water
4 ounces (110 g) glue
Food coloring (optional)

Fluffy Slime

1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) borax powder
1 cup (240 ml) hot water
4 ounces (110 g) glue
¹⁄₂ cup (120 ml) shaving cream
Food coloring (optional)

Clear Slime

1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) borax powder
1 cup (240 ml) hot water
4 ounces (110 g) clear glue

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Making Normal Slime

Download Article

Add 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of borax powder into 1 cup (240 ml) of hot water, and stir until the water is fully clear. Set aside for later use.
Advertisement
If you want your slime to be colorful, take a food coloring of your choice and add it into the glue, then mix well so it blends thoroughly. Start off by just adding a drop or two of food coloring - adding too much food coloring can result in your slime staining things.
4
Begin adding the borax solution into the glue. Don't add it all at once - your slime will harden if you do that! Just add a few teaspoons of the borax solution into the glue at a time, and then mix your slime. It should begin to clump and stick together.
- You probably won't use all your borax solution, so don't be surprised if you have a fair amount left over.
5
Pour off the excess water. After the borax combines with the glue, you may notice some extra water in the bowl. If that happens, simply tip the glue to pour off any excess. If you don't, your slime may be the wrong consistency.^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Lois Wade
wikiHow Crafts Expert

Expert Interview. 30 July 2020.}
- Don't try to incorporate the water into the slime—the slime itself is the glue after it's been modified by the borax.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Lois Wade
  wikiHow Crafts Expert
  
  Expert Interview. 30 July 2020.}
6
Knead the slime with your hands. Once your slime has clumped up and has begin to pull away from the bowl, take it out and knead it with your hands. This will help make it less sticky.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- If your slime is still too sticky, add about a teaspoon of the borax solution and stir or knead it in. Try not to get too much on your hands.
Once your slime has reached the consistency you want, you're free to play with it and stretch it. When you're finished, store it in an airtight container.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making Fluffy Slime

Download Article

Add 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of borax powder into 1 cup (240 ml) of hot water, and stir until the water is fully clear. Set aside for later use.
Mix the glue and the shaving cream together. The resulting texture should be fluffy, thick, and soft.^{[4]
X
Research source}
4
Put in a few drops of food coloring, if you want. If you want colorful fluffy slime, pick out a food coloring of your choice and add a few drops to the glue and shaving cream mixture, then mix it until there are no more white streaks. Start off with just a drop or two of food coloring - adding too much can result in your slime staining things.
- If you use vegetable dye to color your slime, be sure to wear gloves while you're mixing it—otherwise, your hands could become stained!^{[5]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Lois Wade
  wikiHow Crafts Expert
  
  Expert Interview. 30 July 2020.}
5
Begin adding the borax solution. Be careful not to add it all at once, since that will make your slime harden. Instead, add it a few teaspoons at a time, and stir. The slime should begin to clump up and pull away from the bowl.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- It's unlikely that you'll use all of your borax solution, so don't be surprised if you have a fair amount left over.
6
Knead the slime with your hands. Once your slime has clumped into a solid form, take it out of the bowl and begin to knead it with your hands, to make it less sticky.
- If your slime is too sticky to knead, add in a bit more of the borax solution and knead it in. Be careful not to get too much on your hands.
Once your slime has reached the right consistency, you'll have a fluffy, soft slime that you can twist, stretch, and squeeze as much as you want. Keep it in an airtight container when finished.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making Clear Slime

Download Article

Add 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of borax powder into 1 cup (240 ml) of hot water, and stir until the water is fully clear. Set aside for later use.
3
Begin adding the borax solution. Avoid adding it all at once - your slime will harden that way! Instead, carefully add 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) at a time of the borax solution, and stir it in slowly so that it doesn't form bubbles. You should see the glue begin to clump and pull away from the bowl.
- You're probably not going to use all of your borax solution, so don't be surprised if you have a fair amount left over.
4
Knead the slime with your hands. Once your slime has fully clumped together, pull it out of the bowl with your hands and begin to knead it. This will get rid of any residual stickiness.
- If your slime is still too sticky, add in a little bit more borax solution and then knead it in, being careful not to get it on your hands.
Chances are, while kneading your clear slime, it became white and hard to see through. Letting it sit in an airtight container for a few days will allow it to become clear again.
Once your slime has cleared up, stretch it, poke it, and play with it as you see fit. Store it in an airtight container when finished.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

Why is my slime runny?

Lois Wade
wikiHow Crafts Expert
Lois Wade has 45 years of experience in crafts including sewing, crochet, needlepoint, cross-stitch, drawing, and paper crafts. She has been contributing to craft articles on wikiHow since 2007.

Lois Wade

wikiHow Crafts Expert

Expert Answer

Remember to pour off the excess water after your borax combines with the glue. If you try to incorporate the water into the slime mixture, it will be too runny.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 11
Question

Can I use any type of glue?

Community Answer

As long as the glue contains PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol), it will work.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 21
Question

Will shaving gel work?

Community Answer

Yes, shaving gel will work just as well as shaving cream.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 11 Helpful 29

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Read Video Transcript

Tips

You can make various types of slime with a borax solution - try looking up some slime recipes for ideas.

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 2
Try mixing things into your slime before adding the borax solution. For example, if you add glitter or beads, you can end up with glittery slime or fishbowl slime!

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Watercolor paints can be used in place of food coloring, but they can stain more.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Show More Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Don't add excess borax to the water. You'll make your slime too hard and may damage your skin.^{[7]
X
Research source}

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0