There are many ways to make slime, but a lot of slime recipes, including laundry starch slime, Borax slime, and slime made with contact solution, all contain Boron, which is a mineral that may be irritating if a person is exposed to it on a regular basis.
If your kids love making and playing with slime a lot, it is helpful to have some Borax-free slime recipes for them to try instead. Most Borax-free slime recipes are not as stretchy as the original, including this one; however, my children love this “slime” and find it stretchier than playdough or other non-borax recipes.
Just in keep in mind as you try this slime that it will be different than ‘true slime’, given that the borax is where you get the truely stretchy results. If you prefer a version WITH borax, check out my easy homemade slime in 5 minutes (aka) gak that does contain borax.
An issue that many families seem to have with fluffy slime is that the combination of the laundry starch or Borax and the shaving cream can make little hands itchy and red. This combination of ingredients can cause more irritation than regular slime. However, this version, using baking soda and dish soap, leaves hands feeling soft and is non-irritating to all but the most sensitive skin.
How to Make Fluffy Dish Soap Slime
You’ll need:
- Dish soap
– I recommend Gain
for the best results. There are many variations and different ingredients in dish soap and others may not yield desired results
- Elmer’s white glue
- Baking soda
- Gel food coloring
Mix 1/2 a cup of Elmer’s glue with about a tablespoon of dish soap. Add 2-3 tablespoons of water and stir. The mixture will start to foam, at which point you can add in your favorite color of food coloring.
Add one cup of baking soda to the mixture and stir. The baking soda and glue will start to react, creating a stretchy slime that is slightly heavier in texture than regular slime. How much baking soda you end up adding will depend on the humidity of the room you are currently in, but you will want to keep adding baking soda until you can handle the slime without it sticking to your fingers.
The slime won’t be quite as stretchy as borax-based slimes, but it will stretch and pull to some extent. If you add too much baking soda, however, you will transform the slime into a play dough, which although fun to play with, doesn’t quite have the same effect.
If you do end up putting too much baking soda in, you can add a little more dish soap to thin it out again.
Kids will love this fluffy version of slime. My kids loved puffing it up into a ball, then pressing their hands into it. They also had a blast stretching and pulling the slime like they do with traditional borax-based slime.
I really liked this version of fluffy borax free slime, because once the kids were done with it, their hands were so smooth and smelled amazing!
Fluffy Slime Tips & FAQ:
Use the recommended ingredients as listed above. We have found this recipe to be unforgiving for ingredient substitutions.
Store your fluffy borax-free slime in an airtight container or plastic bag. It should last for 3-4 days. Because it’s not preserved with borax, it is likely to get sticky and runny after a few days.
This slime won’t have the same texture as traditional slime. In most slime recipes, the borax helps the ingredients bond, giving it a stretchy texture. This version is more like a stretchy, soft play dough, which will have some of the same sensory benefits as traditional slime but won’t act like “true” slime due to the absence of borax. It is a wonderful alternative for kids with sensitive skin to provide sensory input without skin irritation.
Make sure when you mix the glue dish soap that it creates a foamy, airy texture. This is what will make the slime work. Some brands of soap work better than others. We used Gain dish soap and it worked great.
If your slime is too runny: Add more baking soda until it thickens. Depending on the humidity in your room and how liquid your dish soap is, you may need to double or even triple the amount of baking soda.
If your slime is too solid: Add a bit more dish soap until it has a pliable texture.
Joelle says
This did not work AT ALL!
SwuxIsHere says
This took almost my whole 2 kg bix of baking soda and far to long to mix, try sticking to borax next time
Larissa says
My kid is enjoying mashing this around in the bowl, but it’s definitely not slime or even particulary thick. I’ve put in well over 1 cup of baking soda. Feeling disappointed. I wonder if it’s because the only glue we have is the washable kind?
Erika says
That’s disappointing, Larissa. The washable kind of glue should be fine. What brand of soap did you use? We added some notes/tips at the end of the post to help.
Jessica says
This was fun. It I would not call it “slime”. The kids had fun making it and playing with it! I also needed way more baking soda but it turned out well. How do you store this? Thanks!
Erika says
Hi Jessica, you can store it in an airtight container. It should last 3-4 days – after that, it may get sticky or runny becaues it’s not preserved with borax. I’m glad your kids had fun!
Diane says
It did not work! Almost a whole box of baking soda is needed! There texture is very soft. Will try to store it and see what happens after it sits for awhile.
Erika says
Bummer! I’m sorry Diane. What kind of soap did you use? We added some notes at the end of the post to help answer some of these questions.
Sabrina says
How long can I expect this slime to last?
S. says
How to store it and for how long it will last? I have the same questions as others here have.
Robin says
The probable reason for Slime failure is the lack of anionic surficants in the soap. Look for “laurel or Laureth Sulfates, Sulfonates, or Esters in ingredients in soaps
Erika says
Thank you, Robin. This is very helpful!
JKMS3223 says
Can you replace baking soda with saline solution?
JKMS3223 says
Or will that not be good for your hands?
Slime MOM says
This is a great way to make slime!!!
Bree matherly says
In a container in a fridge your in a bag
Ana says
To be honest this didn’t work at all for me, and I used the same dish soap as the one in the pictures
Erika says
I’m sorry, Ana. That’s disappointing for you and your kids. Did you follow the tips about the humidity, etc.?
Annie says
Can saving foam use for making slime? and How to store it and for how long it will last?
I love to know about this answer from you. Also, I’m making slime with dish soap.
Emily says
I did this with my kids, and it worked! jus had to tweak the recipe a bit..the first time goin by recipe, and using Palmolive it was sticky slime… then I added more baking soda and it was perfect.. the kids had fun. I was also told to add shaving cream to it or even laundry detergent rather than dish soap.. IT IS SCIENCE.. nothing like a little chemistry to make or miss……
Thisisakidsreview says
This worked ok… I had limited ingredients, so I don’t think I added enough glue. I added baking soda until it wasn’t sticky but by then it was a dough. I tried adding some more dish soap and it did thin out, but it also made It to sticky again.
Laurel Reedy says
I’m having trouble with the first step. I’m using white glue and Dawn dish soap and the soap causes the glue to coagulate right away and will not mix with the water. The result is a stringy mess. Any ideas?
Erika says
We used Gain dish soap and that worked well for us. Maybe try that? I had thought Dawn would work but there are so many different soap variations and ingredients and that seems to cause issues.
Catherine says
Didn’t work at all. Followed the recipe exactly. I should have read the comments before wasting my time. Eventually turned it into some kind of dough with baking powder, as I dumped a huge amount of baking soda in and it didn’t work. Really disappointing
Emily .H. says
I tried it but it didn’t work. Do you have any suggestions without borax or shaving cream or eye drops. Thanks
Erika says
Did you see the troubleshooting tips at the bottom of the post?