The “Fine, We’ll Make Slime” Recipe: Just 3 Ingredients

Love it or hate it, slime has officially earned its place in childhood. It’s one of those trends that is here to stay, and most kids wouldn’t have it any other way.

Moms tend to have a love-hate relationship with slime, however, and the “hate” side usually comes down to these familiar frustrations.

• The mess factor: Slime has a way of ending up everywhere — on clothes, carpets, furniture (see the sectional in my basement), and even in hair. It’s not always easy to clean up, and making it is even messier when food coloring and glitter are involved.
• Ingredient concerns: Some slime recipes use chemicals such as borax or strong adhesives, which can raise safety concerns, especially for younger children.

That said, many parents tolerate (or even secretly enjoy) slime because of how much kids love it, and the creativity, sensory play, and screen-free fun it brings.

This homemade slime recipe checks all the boxes. With just three ingredients and minimal prep, you can create simple slime that kids of all ages love — and it’s quick, mess-free, washable, and non-toxic.

The key is to use Elmer’s Glitter Glue — I attempted making slime with a different brand, and it did not work at all — and as for the contact solution, I successfully used common brands, Opti-Free Puremoist and Bausch + Lomb Biotrue.

Ingredients:

• 6 oz. Elmer’s Glitter Glue
• ½ tablespoon baking soda
• 1-1½ tablespoons contact solution

Instructions:

1. Pour the entire 6 oz. Elmer’s Glitter Glue into a bowl or container.
2. Add ½ tablespoon of baking soda and stir.
3. Add 1 tablespoon contact solution, and mix with a spoon until slime forms.
4. Remove the slime using your hands to fully combine the ingredients. If it’s too sticky, add ¼ to ½ tablespoon contact solution.
5. Store in an airtight container.

My favorite thing about this slime is that the glue is already colorful and sparkly, which not only streamlines the process but makes it mess-free, avoiding the potential nightmares caused by food coloring and loose glitter.

Whether you love it, hate it, or tolerate it, there’s no denying that slime has a way of bringing kids together!

Will you be giving this a try, or are you firmly on team “no slime in the house”?