Why does slime tear, how to make it stretchy

Slime is a new trend in the world of toys, which in a relatively short period of time has managed to win the hearts of not only children around the world, but also adults. Slime is an elastic mass that responds well to crumpling and stretching. But it is necessary to remember that these characteristics are inherent in the slime only under the condition of proper storage. Many slimers have encountered the problem that the toy begins to dry out and can even change its structure. First of all, it is necessary to understand why the slime breaks, and then you can take measures to save the toy.

Why does slime tear and not stretch?

Home storage conditions are not always ideal for slime. There are only a few factors that negatively affect the quality characteristics of the toy:

• Incorrect storage. High temperatures or, on the contrary, extreme cold. If the toy is in the sun for a long time or simply in the open air, it deteriorates. What needs to be added to the slime so that it stretches directly depends on the initial composition of the slime.
• The shelf life of the toy is 3-6 months. If it has expired, then there is no option to make slime viscous. The properties are lost irrevocably.
• Often, the loss of ductility occurs in self-made slimes. Much less often, this happens when there is a desire to improve a purchased example. Failure to observe the proportions when creating a toy will lead to negative consequences. The slime will start to stick to your hand or, on the contrary, crack.
• The toy should be stored in a cold place. But it is not allowed to put it in the freezer, it will simply turn into a piece of ice. After defrosting, the slime will not only lose its elasticity, but will also tear.

There are several stages of toy hardening. What to do if the slime does not stretch well? If this is the beginning, then saving the toy is quite simple. You can fix the situation if you simply put it in an airtight bag and put it in the refrigerator.

How to fix a slime if it doesn't stretch but tears

What to do if the slime tears and does not stretch? First of all, you need to understand the reason why the mass has stopped stretching. Hard slime can become soft if you add the following additional ingredients to it:

• citric acid;
• tooth powder or paste;
• any body gel (can be replaced with lotion);
• shaving foam or gel - the choice of this ingredient directly determines what kind of slime you get;
• antibacterial products, such as hand gel;
• glue (you can use PVA or transparent silicate).

What to add to the toy to fix the situation

What to add to slime to make it stretchy? It all depends on the origin of the toy. For a store-bought slime, if it is not "fake", it is undesirable to add third-party ingredients, while in homemade slime you can add almost any means.

PVA glue

Almost any glue can help restore ductility.

This component is able to restore all the original properties of the slime very quickly. The main thing to remember is that PVA can only be used for fluffy slimes, and silicate glue is more suitable for transparent slimes.

For one toy, 20 ml of adhesive is enough. After thorough mixing, the slime will quickly regain its ductility.

Boric acid

Boric acid powder works best when combined with toothpaste. This recipe is only suitable for rescuing homemade slimes.

1. Pour 2 tablespoons of hot water, but not boiling water, into the mixing container. Squeeze 1 teaspoon of toothpaste into it.
2. After mixing the resulting mixture, you can dip the slime into it. Soaking time is 5 minutes.
3. The mass will become very sticky. Despite this, it must be thoroughly mixed and gathered into a lump.
4. After adding 1 tablespoon of boric acid powder, the slime will begin to thicken.

Boric acid for slime stretchiness

Toothpaste

Toothpaste alone is not able to fully restore the properties of the slime. Experienced slime makers recommend adding Panthenol spray. These ingredients can save even the most "damaged" and already tearing slimes.

The slime is placed in a pre-prepared cup and 1 tablespoon of any toothpaste is squeezed directly onto it.

You need to knead the slime for a long time and as thoroughly as possible. When the softening process has already begun, you can gradually add "Panthenol". Kneading for 10-15 minutes will allow you to get an elastic and very pleasant to the touch mass.

Hand lotion

The main function of the lotion is moisturizing. This cosmetic product can make not only your hands softer, but also hardened slime.

1. To do this, pour 30-40 ml of lotion and 10 ml of water at room temperature into a bowl. Mix everything.
2. After this, put the slime in there and gradually knead it.

The procedure is not only simple, but also very pleasant. Literally before your eyes, the toy will begin to soften and even increase in size a little.

Citric acid

Only for transparent slimes you can use the so-called lemon. There are two ways:

• First. Granules of citric acid are gradually added to the slime. After each addition, the mass is thoroughly mixed. This method has a significant disadvantage - it is very difficult to achieve complete mixing of the grains of this ingredient.
• Second. First, the acid is dissolved in a small amount of warm water, and then gradually added to the hardened slime.

Antibacterial gel

For this recipe, you can use antibacterial gel from absolutely any manufacturer. The steps for restoration are as follows:

1. The slime is placed in a bowl.
2. 10-20 ml of antibacterial agent is poured in.
3. These two ingredients are thoroughly mixed.

Vegetable oil

Vegetable oil can also give the slime elasticity and ductility. It literally covers the slime with an oily film. Sometimes oil is replaced with baby lotion for babies.

To soften, pour 1 tablespoon of oil into a bowl and lower the hardened mass into it. It is not recommended to touch it for 5-7 minutes. After this time, the slime must be mixed well. It is important to achieve a uniform consistency. And do not forget about the rules for storing the toy in the future.

Adding body cream

To restore the slime with cream, it is recommended to use a liquid and extremely oily cream. It forms a film on the slime and makes it elastic.

The recipe is as follows: 20 ml of cream are thoroughly diluted in 5 ml of warm water. Slime is dropped into the resulting mass and gradually mixed. It is important to achieve a uniform consistency.

The film formed on the toy is capable of maintaining the excellent elasticity of the slime for a long time.

How to save with shaving foam

Shaving foam is a versatile ingredient that not only helps soften slime, but also significantly increases its size. Elasticity can be achieved by gradually introducing foam into the slime mass.

Failure to observe proportions or poor-quality foam used for "reanimation" actions can lead to stickiness. You can save the toy again with the help of boric acid. Pre-diluted powder in a small amount of water is poured onto the slime and also mixed.

Proper mixing

Often the result obtained does not meet expectations. Failure to comply with proportions and the sequence of actions performed are the main culprits. Following the following simple rules will allow you not to be disappointed and to play with your slime for a long time:

• First, you need to mix the liquid components.
• The introduction of liquid ingredients should be done gradually.
• You need to stir the slime for at least 10-15 minutes.

What care should be taken to avoid loss of elasticity?

A good stretchy slime will crunch and click for a long time if you follow a number of requirements and recommendations:

• The toy is not designed for long-term, continuous use. It begins to fall apart and may even stop stretching. This happens due to the destructive effect of air particles.
• At the same time, if you do not play with the slime for a long time, it will also begin to dry out and lose its mass. Rare play with slime leads to a loss of elasticity.
• The mass may only be stored in a sealed container. This may be a bag with clips or a jar with a lid.
• “Feeding” the slime must be done at least twice a week.
• Slime needs to have a “bath day” once a week, that is, wash it thoroughly with soap.

Once you understand the reason why your slime has stopped being elastic and no longer stretches, you can easily solve this problem.

You can extend the life of a purchased toy by simply familiarizing yourself with its composition. Due to the fact that special components are used for original slimes, it is better to carry out the restoration procedure without adding any complex components. For example, you can use plain warm water. Heating the slime in a microwave oven also has a great effect on its elasticity.

With a self-made slime, things are much easier. The main thing here is to use the ingredients that are already in its composition. Thanks to these little tricks, the slime will serve for a long time and please its owner.