How to make activator without borax or contact solution

What kid doesn’t like slime? It’s ooey-gooiness is a draw for most; plus, the act of making slime is a fun experiment! But one of its typical ingredients, borax, can cause skin sensitivities, and another, glue, can just be plain messy.  Read below for some recipes to make slime without either of those activators. 

Slime with Shampoo

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp Suave Kids 3-in-1 Shampoo (thicker shampoos work best, and you can choose a fragrance that you like)
• 2 Tbsp Shaving cream
• 1 tsp Salt

Steps:

1.  Pour 2 Tbsp of shampoo of choice into a bowl (you can always add more shampoo later).

Put shampoo in a bowl.

2. Add in 2 Tbsp of shaving cream (foam) to the shampoo and mix.

Add  shaving cream into the bowl.

3. Add 1 tsp of salt, and mix everything together thoroughly.

Add salt into the bowl.

4. Put mixture into the freezer for approximately 15 minutes.

Mix shampoo, shaving cream, and salt and put in the freezer for 15 minutes.

5. Remove from the freezer and play! If your slime becomes runny, just pop it back into the freezer for a few minutes to keep the fun going.

Slime with Body Wash and Cornstarch

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp body wash (thicker works better)
• 2 Tbsp cornstarch
• Food coloring (optional)
• Splash of water

Steps:

1. Pour 2 TBSP of body wash into a bowl.

2.  Add in cornstarch and mix well.

3. If desired, add in food coloring at this point.

4. Mix ingredients together thoroughly. You may have to add a little more body wash to obtain the right consistency. Knead, and enjoy your slime!

Slime with Toothpaste

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp toothpaste
• 2 – 4 Tbsp lotion
• 1 tsp baby oil
• Food coloring (optional)

Steps:

1. Squeeze approximately 2 Tbsp of toothpaste into a bowl and stir.

2. Heat up toothpaste in the microwave for 10 seconds at a time (make sure to give it a stir between each check) until you reach a sticky slime-like consistency.

3. Add in 2-4 Tbsp of lotion and baby oil to create a more malleable and stretchy slime.

4. Knead, and play with your slime!

*Check out our other slime recipes: Fluffy Slime, Stretchy Slime, Clear Slime, Edible Slime, Cloud Slime, Crunchy Slime, Jiggly Slime, Iceberg Slime, Butter Slime, Magnetic Slime

 Slime is a popular toy that kids (and adults!) love to make and play with. It's just so satisfying to squish and stretch. 

The problem is, many slime recipes call for borax, a laundry additive. While we've never encountered any issues with borax, some people have reported burns from this type of slime. Others are concerned about how safe this ingredient is for a children's toy. It may also irritate sensitive skin. 

So, the answer is borax-free recipes.

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The problem is, most "borax-free" recipes on the internet actually still use borax. After extensive research, I found that most borax-free recipes include liquid starch or liquid laundry detergent. After a quick scan of some labels and some manufacturers' websites, I realized that many starches and detergents contain borax, often listed as its scientific name sodium tetraborate decahydrate.

So, after testing alternative methods, I've found three truly borax-free recipes. The first two recipes create what is called "fluffy" slime, or slime that has an airiness to it and is almost dough-like. The last is a more traditional slime that has a lot of stretch to it. 

Basic fluffy slime recipe

This is a simple recipe that can be customized to make various forms of fluffy slime. Add more water for a wetter, stretchier slime, bits of polystyrene beads to make popping slime or glitter for unicorn slime, for example.

To make the slime, you'll need shampoo of any type -- though the thicker, the better -- and cornstarch. Here's how to make it:

1. Put 1/2 cup shampoo and 1/4 cup of cornstarch in a bowl.
2. Mix well.
3. Add 3 drops of food coloring (optional).
4. Add 1 tablespoon of water and stir. Slowly add 5 more tablespoons of water, stirring well after each one.
5. Knead the slime for around 5 minutes.

If you find that your slime is still sticky after kneading it for a while, keep adding cornstarch to the slime and knead it in until you get a good consistency. 

The recipe worked great when I tried it a couple times with just 1/4 cup cornstarch, but a co-worker found that he needed 2 1/4 cups to get the dough-like consistency of a good fluffy slime. I think the brand of cornstarch and humidity may have a lot to do with the variance in cornstarch amounts from what I've observed in my experiments. As long as you end up with a semi-hard, semi-stretchy, moist, light, almost dough-like slime, you did the recipe right. The next recipe has a similar consistency.

Fluffy volcano slime recipe

This slime is called volcano slime because it reacts to heat. After you make it, you can put it in the microwave for 20 seconds to make it melt into a lava-like substance. As it cools, it will turn back into fluffy slime.

You'll just need white school glue and cornstarch for fluffy volcano slime. Here's how to make it:

1. Pour 1/4 cup white school glue and a 1/2 cup of cornstarch in a bowl.
2. Add 3 drops of food coloring (optional).
3. Mix it well.
4. Knead it with your hands for 10 minutes.
5. Heat it in the microwave for 20 seconds.
6. Let it cool, then knead it for another 10 minutes.

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Stretchy sand slime

This recipe gets you just about as close to borax-quality slime as possible. It is stretchy and gooey. It will have a grainy texture, though, like sand.

You'll need white school glue, baking soda and contact lens solution. Then, just follow these directions:

1. Pour 1 cup glue into a bowl.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda.
3. Add three drops of food coloring (optional).
4. Mix well.
5. Add 1 tablespoon of contact lens solution.
6. Mix well.
7. Continue to add a tablespoon of contact lens solution and mixing until you get a nice consistency.  

Playing with the dough will firm it up more, so if it seems a little soggy, just knead it for a few minutes. 

Editors' Note: This article was published on May 24, 2017 and has been updated.

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