How to Make Slime That Actually Works Every Time

Learn the foolproof recipe and techniques to make perfect slime with your kids using simple household ingredients.

1. Gather Your Ingredients. You'll need white school glue (4 oz bottle works perfectly), contact lens saline solution that contains boric acid (check the label), baking soda, and shaving cream (optional, for fluffy slime). Food coloring is optional but fun. Make sure your saline solution specifically lists boric acid as an ingredient – this is what makes the slime work. Store brands work just as well as name brands.
2. Mix the Base. Pour the entire 4 oz bottle of glue into a mixing bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of shaving cream if you want fluffy slime, or skip this for regular slime. Add 2-3 drops of food coloring if desired. Mix everything together thoroughly with a spoon or your hands until the color is even throughout.
3. Add the Magic Ingredients. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda over your glue mixture and stir well. Now comes the crucial part: add 1 tablespoon of saline solution and mix immediately. The slime will start forming right away. Keep stirring vigorously for about 30 seconds. If it's still too sticky, add another 1/2 tablespoon of saline solution and mix again.
4. Knead and Perfect. Once the slime pulls away from the bowl, take it out and knead it with your hands for 2-3 minutes. It will feel sticky at first, but keep kneading – this is normal. The slime will become less sticky and more stretchy as you work it. If it remains too sticky after kneading, add tiny amounts of saline solution (just a few drops at a time) until you reach the perfect consistency.
5. Store and Enjoy. Store your slime in an airtight container when not playing with it. Good slime should stretch without immediately breaking and bounce when dropped. It can last several weeks if stored properly. If it gets too stiff, knead in a few drops of warm water. If it gets too sticky, add a tiny bit more saline solution.