This guide shows an easy and reliable method for making slime with white glue, water and borax, with an optional touch of glitter. Using just a few common ingredients produces a soft, stretchy slime that serves as a great base for many other goo recipes. It’s simple to customize with color, glitter, or small treasures for added fun.
If your kids are asking how to make slime with glue, these straightforward instructions will get you started. There are many different glue-based slime recipes, but this one is quick and uses items you likely already have at home. It produces a sparkly, pliable putty that’s fun to make and play with. For more variations and ideas, explore other slime methods on our site.
Slime with Glue and Activator
You can skip the glitter if you prefer, but many kids love the sparkle. Expect a little mess and take basic safety precautions when working with children—especially when handling borax or boric acid, which should be measured and handled by an adult. Treat the process like a simple science activity: experimenting with color, glitter quantity, and texture is part of the fun.
Below are two common approaches: a borax-activated glue slime and a fluffy slime made with shaving cream and contact lens solution.
How to Make Slime with Glue Video
Ingredient Notes
There are two popular methods described here. The first uses just a few household items. For that version you will need:
- Borax or boric acid: handle carefully and only allow adults to measure and mix
- White school glue: easiest to find; clear glue works well if you want the glitter to stand out
- Glitter (optional): pick colors you like, and start with a small amount
- Food coloring (optional): add a few drops at a time, as it’s easy to overdo
- Water
You can also add small beads or craft treasures for extra texture and surprise elements. For a fluffier slime (second method), you’ll need shaving cream and contact lens solution in addition to white glue; details follow below.
This second method is the base for fluffy slime and typically uses:
- Shaving cream
- Contact lens solution
- White glue
- Optional: glitter or food coloring
Below you’ll also find a short video showing the steps for the first recipe. The demonstration features the project being made with adult supervision.
Slime with Glue Recipe
Equipment
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1 Bowl
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1 Spoon
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup white glue 4 oz.
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1/2 tsp borax liquid
- 1/4 cup hot water
Instructions
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Pour 4 ounces (1/2 cup) of white glue into a bowl and add 1/2 cup of warm water. Stir thoroughly until blended. Using disposable bowls and spoons can make cleanup easier.
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If desired, add 3–4 drops of food coloring and a tablespoon of glitter. Mix well; you can add more glitter later if you want a stronger effect.
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In a separate container, dissolve 1/2 teaspoon borax into 1/4 cup hot water. Once dissolved, slowly pour this borax solution into the glue mixture while stirring.
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Knead the mixture with clean hands for about a minute until the liquid is absorbed and the slime becomes pliable. If it’s too sticky, add more borax solution one tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency. Store the finished slime in a sealed bag to keep it from drying out.
If you’d like another easy option, try a simple laundry-detergent slime. That recipe uses only a couple of ingredients and yields a very stretchy result, though adult supervision is still required when using detergents or chemicals.
How to Make Slime without Contact Solution
There are many recipes that avoid contact solution or borax entirely, including edible versions made from marshmallows or playdough-style recipes you can taste safely. Slime without borax is a great weekend or party activity. Regardless of the recipe, ensure kids wash hands after playing and before eating.
We also offer instructions for making slime without glue for those who want alternative textures and ingredients.
- If you’re enjoying glue-based slime projects, try an edible playdough recipe next. It requires no contact solution or baking soda and is a safe, tasty activity kids love.
Slime is a popular rainy-day or party activity because it demonstrates how simple ingredients can transform into a squishy material. With supervision, many recipes are suitable for kids to make on their own after a little guidance. Experimenting with different recipes helps you discover which textures and methods your child prefers—whether classic glue-and-borax slime, fluffy variants, or edible options.
Have fun trying different colors, add-ins, and methods to find your favorite slime.