How to Make Slime: Easy 2-3 Ingredient Recipes Without Borax

If you’ve ever had the experience of a sticky, failed slime batch — or watched a kid’s face fall when a recipe didn’t work — you know how much the right ingredients and ratios matter. Most of the popular slime recipes online use borax, which parents increasingly want to avoid. The good news is that you don’t need it. Simple household ingredients like glue, baking soda, and contact solution can produce stretchy, satisfying slime in under 10 minutes. Sources like Crunchy Creamy Sweet (a food and lifestyle blog with detailed DIY recipes) and Arm & Hammer (the baking soda brand’s official how-to guide) both confirm that these borax-free combos work reliably. This guide pulls together tested recipes from sources that have actually made these with kids.

Typical Ingredients: Glue, baking soda, contact solution ·
Common Variations: 2-3 ingredients ·
Borax-Free Options: Baking soda + saline ·
Prep Time: 5-10 minutes ·
Kid-Safe Recipes: Multiple from trusted sites

This table summarizes key ingredient ratios and preparation tips from verified sources.

How do I make homemade slime?

The simplest approach uses three household staples: washable school glue, baking soda, and contact solution. According to Crunchy Creamy Sweet (a food and DIY blog that has tested this recipe with families), you combine 1 cup of washable school glue, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 2 to 3 tablespoons of contact or all-purpose solution. The process takes about 5 to 10 minutes, and the result is stretchy slime that kids can handle safely.

Basic ingredients needed

You need washable school glue (like Elmer’s), baking soda, and a saline-based contact solution. Arm & Hammer’s official guide recommends 4 to 6 ounces of glue, ½ teaspoon of baking soda, and 1.5 tablespoons of contact solution as a starting point. These items are available at Target, Walmart, and most grocery stores.

• Washable school glue (PVA-based)
• Baking soda
• Contact solution (saline-based)
• Food coloring (optional)

Step-by-step instructions

Mix the glue and baking soda first, then add the contact solution one tablespoon at a time, stirring between each addition. Snapology (an education-focused blog that publishes STEM activity guides) recommends kneading the mixture in your hands for several minutes until it stops feeling sticky. If it still sticks to your fingers, add a few more drops of contact solution.

1. Pour 1 cup washable school glue into a bowl
2. Add 1 teaspoon baking soda and mix thoroughly
3. Add contact solution 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring
4. Knead in hands until smooth and non-sticky
5. Add food coloring if desired

The implication: this recipe works consistently because the baking soda adjusts the glue’s pH while the contact solution provides the ionic activation needed for the polymer chains to form. The result is predictable slime without borax.

How do you make 3 ingredient slime?

The “3-ingredient slime” phrase refers specifically to recipes that use exactly three items: glue, baking soda, and an activator like contact solution or liquid starch. Snapology (an education blog that has published multiple tested slime recipes for kids) provides several variations that all use these three core ingredients in different proportions.

Glue-based 3-ingredient mix

For Elmer’s colored glue slime, you use 6 ounces of Elmer’s glitter glue, ½ tablespoon of baking soda, and 1 tablespoon of contact solution. Snapology notes that this recipe works for both regular and glitter versions, with the activator amount adjusted slightly depending on the brand of glue. The consistency is stretchy and holds its shape well.

Activator options

The activator is the ingredient that causes the glue to polymerize into slime. In borax-free recipes, you have several options:

• Contact solution (saline-based) — most common, easy to find
• Liquid starch — cheaper for large batches, available near laundry detergent
• Baking soda + shampoo or dish soap — works as a substitute

The pattern: contact solution is the most accessible option for most households because it doubles as an eye care product, but liquid starch is more cost-effective if you’re making slime in larger quantities. Arm & Hammer confirms that baking soda combined with shampoo or dish soap can replace contact solution in a pinch.

How to make 2 ingredient slime?

For an even simpler approach, you can make slime with just two ingredients. Glazer Children’s Museum (an educational institution that publishes hands-on activity guides) recommends a 2-tablespoon cornstarch and 1.5-tablespoon dish soap combination. This creates a non-stick, oobleck-like texture that doesn’t require any glue at all.

Dish soap and sugar version

A variation using dish soap and sugar produces a stretchier result. Mix 2 tablespoons of dish soap with 1 tablespoon of sugar, stir until dissolved, and let sit for a few minutes. The sugar helps create a more elastic texture compared to dish soap alone. This version is particularly good for kids who want to avoid sticky hands entirely.

No-glue options

The cornstarch slime method uses a 2:1 ratio of cornstarch to warm water, mixed by hand. The Big To Do List (a parenting and activity blog) recommends using warm water for a more slimy consistency and notes that this recipe is particularly suitable for preschool sensory play because it’s completely edible. However, this type of slime is less stretchy than glue-based versions — it’s more of an oobleck that behaves like both a solid and a liquid.

• 2 ingredient non-stick: 2 Tbsp cornstarch + 1.5 Tbsp dish soap
• Cornstarch oobleck: 2 parts cornstarch + 1 part warm water
• Dish soap + sugar: 2 Tbsp soap + 1 Tbsp sugar

The trade-off: 2-ingredient slimes are faster to make and avoid the mess of glue, but they typically don’t stretch as far as 3-ingredient versions. If stretchiness is the goal, the glue-based recipes are worth the extra step.

How to make slime without glue or borax?

Parents who want to avoid both glue and borax have several viable alternatives. The key is understanding that borax acts as an activator in traditional recipes, so you need a substitute. Contact solution contains a small amount of sodium borate, but in much lower concentrations than borax powder, making it safer for skin contact. Arm & Hammer’s official guide states that baking soda combined with shampoo or dish soap can effectively replace contact solution as an activator.

No-glue substitutes

If you want to skip glue entirely, the cornstarch-based recipes are your best option. Snapology describes a simple variant: equal parts cornstarch and dish soap or water, mixed to desired consistency. This creates a sensory-material texture that’s satisfying to squish but won’t form the same stretchy strands as PVA glue slime.

Borax-free safe mixes

For the safest borax-free experience, stick with these combinations:

• Glue + baking soda + contact solution (most reliable)
• Glue + baking soda + liquid starch (cheaper activator)
• Cornstarch + warm water (edible, no activator needed)
• Cornstarch + dish soap (2-ingredient non-stick)

What this means: most “borax-free” recipes in circulation actually use contact solution, which contains a borate compound but at food-grade dilution. For true borax avoidance, cornstarch-based recipes are the only option — but the texture is different.

What is the best homemade slime?

The answer depends on your priorities. Crunchy Creamy Sweet calls their 3-ingredient glue recipe “the easiest for kids, always works” and notes that all ingredients come from Target, Walmart, or grocery stores. For stretchiness, this is the winner. For sensory play with very young children, the cornstarch recipes are safer and edible.

Fluffy slime recipe

Fluffy slime adds shaving cream to create a cloud-like texture. Living Well Mom (a family lifestyle blog) recommends ½ cup Elmer’s glue, 1 tablespoon dish soap (Gain is suggested for best results), 2 to 3 tablespoons water, and 1 cup baking soda — then fold in shaving cream. This creates a light, airy texture that’s fun to squish.

• Add ½ cup Elmer’s glue to bowl
• Mix in 1 tablespoon dish soap and 2-3 tablespoons water
• Stir in 1 cup baking soda thoroughly
• Fold in 1 cup shaving cream
• Add food coloring after foaming
• Knead until non-sticky

Non-stick options

For kids who hate sticky hands, the 2-ingredient cornstarch and dish soap recipe from Glazer Children’s Museum is the best choice. It won’t stick to skin or surfaces, and cleanup is minimal. The texture is firmer and less stretchy, but it’s satisfying on its own terms.

“This is our go-to slime because it’s easy, always works and does not use Borax or any hard to find ingredients.”

— Crunchy Creamy Sweet (Blogger, food and DIY recipes)

“Elmer’s Glue is a great, non-toxic substitute for Borax in slime recipes.”

— Snapology (Education Blog, STEM activities)

“This version, using baking soda and dish soap, leaves hands feeling soft and is non-irritating to all but the most sensitive skin.”

— Living Well Mom (Family lifestyle blog)

Related reading: 3-Ingredient Slime DIY No Borax · Fluffy Dish Soap Slime

Beyond borax-free basics, 2-ingredient recipes without activator provide ultra-simple alternatives perfect for impromptu kid crafts at home.

Frequently asked questions