Today, a new toy is gaining popularity – a lizun or slime. However, you should not rush to buy it for your child. With the help of this article, you can learn how to mix slimes at home.
What is a slime?
Slime is a toy first released by Mattel in 1976. Interestingly, many companies have since started producing them. Chemically, slime consists of molecules of a polymer substance (such as glue) that form threads like spaghetti. Sodium tetraborate, or borax, is also added to slime, which provides elasticity when hit and softness when pressed with a finger.
How to mix slimes
Slime is a viscous substance made by combining sodium tetraborate with water. It has a thick, glue-like texture.
Slime may also contain PVA glue. It is considered non-toxic, but it is better to mix slimes with rubber gloves and protective glasses. If ingested, the glue becomes very dangerous to the health of a child or teenager.
The basic ingredients for mixing slimes and slugs are glue, borax, shaving cream, body lotion or oil, cornstarch. You can adjust the amount of borax with cornstarch, as well as many other ingredients. This is done to control the thickness, stickiness, tackiness, stretchability, and consistency of the slime.
Please note! To choose a nice color for your slime, you can use any color food coloring or even cosmetics, such as lipstick.
Cooking principle
The main components in making a slime are any type of glue and an activator. The remaining ingredients are added according to preference. There are many recipes for making it. According to the simplest of them, the slimes are mixed in the following order:
- Starch (75 grams) must be diluted in cold water (150 ml).
- Add some PBA glue (about 60 ml).
- If desired, add dye and essential oil to give intense color and aroma.
- Stir, let harden and place in a bag.
This slime may have to be thrown out after a couple of weeks, but it's a very easy and quick recipe.
Important! When making slime yourself, it is better to use bags that close at the top, so-called zip-lock bags.
Working instructions with proportions
What tools may be needed for production:
- shampoo – 100 ml;
- water – 100 ml;
- dye (optional);
- starch – 200 g.
The starch should be placed in a plastic or glass container. Then add water and mix thoroughly to avoid lumps. Cover the container with a lid and place in the refrigerator for 10-12 hours.
Making Slime Without Glue
Mixing slimes is possible using another recipe. This time, no glue is required. First, you need to stock up on:
- flour – 2.5 tbsp;
- liquid soap – 2 tbsp;
- toothpaste – 1.5 tbsp. (about 20 ml).
Take a metal bowl and place the toothpaste in it. After that, add the soap and stir the mixture well. The toothpaste should dissolve. Add flour to this mixture. Then stir it thoroughly to avoid lumps. Knead the mixture with your hands and finally sprinkle it with water.
Slime without sodium tetraborate
Sodium tetraborate or borax is the second most popular ingredient in classic slime after glue. It can be purchased at a pharmacy without a prescription or at a hardware store. Borax improves the properties of slime, but you can do without it.
To prepare the toy you will need:
- PVA glue – 50 g;
- baking soda – 1 tbsp;
- one cup of water – 100 ml;
- dyes – optional.
The glue should be dissolved in 50 ml of water and paint should be added to this solution. Dissolve soda in the remaining water and mix thoroughly with the water-glue composition.
Making Slime with Play-Doh
First, you need to prepare gelatin (1 packet), plasticine (100 g), and water (no more than 50 ml). Gelatin should be poured with cool water, then mix this mass well. After that, the finished mixture will have to be left to infuse for one hour. The soaked gelatin should be brought to a boil. Plasticine should be placed in another container and placed in a water bath. The container should be heated until the plasticine softens. Then you will have to pour in slightly cooled jelly. After this, the mass should be kneaded well.
From shaving foam
Making slime with this ingredient is a really good solution. This slime turns out to be the fluffiest and most pleasant to the touch. To make it, you need to prepare:
- foam – 20 ml;
- PVA glue – 80 ml;
- tetraborate – 1 tsp;
- liquid soap – 20 ml;
- coloring and flavoring - optional.
First, you need to mix foam, soap, glue, then carefully add tetraborate, as well as dye and flavoring (for example, spices). Slime created on the basis of high-quality glue becomes thick, and during the game it makes pleasant anti-stress sounds.
General tips for making
Before mixing the slimes, you need to make sure that you have all the necessary materials on hand. You can increase the amount of ingredients, but you need to keep the proportions:
- 1 bottle of glue;
- borax solution. Take a teaspoon of detergent, borax and mix with a cup of warm water. Mix everything until the water becomes clear again;
- shaving foam (specifically foam, not gel).
You can do without the following ingredients:
- Food coloring is an optional ingredient, but it definitely makes the slime a lot more fun. You can color it your favorite color or create a palette of bright colors for your child.
- Liquid starch is an ingredient that makes mucus less sticky.
- Polystyrene balloons should add some aesthetically pleasing properties to the slime. Ordinary beads can be used instead.
Once you have the necessary ingredients on hand, you can start creating your own slime.
Compliance with safety measures
What safety precautions should be taken when making a toy:
- Slime making should be done under adult supervision, who should measure and handle all chemicals used in the preparation. In addition, the aftermath of the work should be properly cleaned up.
- Surfaces, mixing tools, and containers should be disinfected regularly after completing slime experiments.
- After playing with slime, hands should be thoroughly washed with an appropriate liquid.
- You should not use ingredients unless they are listed. Many slimes contain borax or a form of borax, even liquid starch, which contains sodium borate. Be sure to check the ingredient labels first.
How to care for and store a toy at home
The lifespan of the slime varies from 2 weeks to 2 months and depends on the quality of the toy and its storage location. Manufacturers advise placing the slimy substance in an airtight package and putting it on a shelf in the refrigerator. It is better to store this thing at a constant temperature, it does not like fluctuations. The optimal temperature is from +3 to +10 degrees.
It is better to choose a dark, moderately cool place with a low percentage of humidity. It should not be exposed to sunlight, especially in hot weather.
Important! The freezer is not a good place to store slime. The toy will freeze and turn into a block of ice. After defrosting, it will become liquid and unsuitable for play.
The following are suitable as packaging for storing slime:
- a zip-lock bag that also contains cosmetics;
- the plastic container in which the toy was sold;
- coffee can;
- plastic container from under cream;
- kitchen plastic container;
- medicine bottle.
To begin, you need to do the following:
- Place the slime in an airtight container.
- Seal and refrigerate.
- Once every 3-4 days, “feed” the slime by adding a pinch of salt to 2 teaspoons of water.
If the child has not played with the slime for a week, then it needs to be taken out and checked for condition. Slimes do not last long. If the toy is damaged, it will have to be thrown out and a new one purchased.
Please note! The quality, color, and consistency of the slime depend on how you store it. Don't put it in the refrigerator without packaging. The slime will dry out, lose its vibrant colors, and absorb unpleasant odors.
Slime can be made at home, although most recipes based on sodium tetraborate are best avoided as they can cause damage to a child's skin. However, there are natural handgum recipes that can be made with children, but it will have a different texture than regular hand gum.
