What To Do When Your Slime Is Too Thick, Because The #SlimeFail Struggle Is Real (2024)

Life

What To Do When Your Slime Is Too Thick, Because The #SlimeFail Struggle Is Real

by Shana Aborn

Now hear this: I'm considering boycotting Michaels and Dollar Tree. Not because of any scandals involving their CEOs, and not because of any controversies over their political leanings or policies. No, I'm steering clear of them because every time we pass one of their stores, my daughter fixes me with her most pleading expression and begs, "Can we please get some slime ingredients?" And I know that if I give in, I'll be dealing with a slime-related crisis in a couple of days, such as how to fix slime that goes hard.

Slime, in case you haven't heard (and if you haven't, your kids must be too young to be hooked on the stuff), is either a sensory dream or a messy nightmare, depending on your point of view. The blobby, squeezable, stretchy substance can be made from a few household ingredients, and provides hours of squishy satisfaction; think of it as a stress ball for the grade-school generation. Advanced slime-makers like to include glitter, tiny foam balls, and other substances to add a touch of glamour or crunch to their creations.

But slime is also, in essence, a science experiment involving chemicals that, when combined, develop the desired texture. So, like any experiment, it has the potential for disaster: Too much or too little of any ingredient, and your slime will be too sticky, drippy, or greasy to flatten and roll around in your hands. When the mixture is too thick or stands around a while, the result is a hardened or stiff mass that breaks apart too easily. But instead of tossing the chunk of gunk, try one of these quick hacks, and the only thing that will solidify is your rep as Super Mom.

Boiling Water

There are lots of YouTube slime experts out there, and they have some nifty fixes for any slime disaster you can think of. One such expert, Talisa Tossell, has a tutorial that recommended adding hot water to the original slime mixture, then mixing until the clumps are gone. Next, add more of your slime ingredients to make a larger supply of slime (oh, joy!).

Baby Oil

Most slime mixtures work by adding an "activator" like liquid starch to softer ingredients. When the slime gets too hard, adding more of the soft ingredient can do the trick. The YouTube channel Elsie's Life recommended adding two or three drops of baby oil to a small amount of boiling water, then adding them to the stiff stuff and mixing.

Shaving Cream

The stuff that helps get the fuzz off our legs and underarms is also a slime-maker's best friend. YouTuber Izabella Stress has a tutorial showing how to squirt some foam into your petrified blob and mix in until it softens. Still a bit stiff? Add a little hot water.

Glue

Slime expert andreaXandrea swore by this method to repair slime that's gone hard from too much borax (fast forward to 4:13). Add either clear or white liquid glue (depending on whether your slime is clear or opaque) and mix until the slime regains its proper consistency, she recommended.

Hair Gel

The same bottle that helps keep your hair in place will also loosen up a hard batch of slime, according to YouTube slime guru Just Ameerah. She added that this is a great fix for clear slime, since lotion or shaving cream can turn the slime opaque. Add about a teaspoon of hair gel, mixing as you go, until the yucky clump transforms into the squeezable, moldable stuff your kids love.

Mouthwash

Who knew that you could fix slime with the same liquid that keeps your breath minty-fresh? Elsie's Life has shown how to fix hard slime with just a tablespoon of mouthwash (she admitted she doesn't know why it works, but seeing is believing).

Body Lotion

If you have a slime connoisseur, having a bottle of body lotion is a must for those hard-slime moments. Just Ameerah has tried a number of brands and found that most types work pretty well, though a cocoa-butter-based lotion is her favorite. She poured about a quarter cup of lotion into the stiff slime and kneaded it until it turns stretchy.

Gloppy Slime

YouTube slime master Laila Bassem had a clever hack: When your slime goes hard, mix it with some too-soft slime (a mixture that has very little of an activator like liquid starch or borax). The two extreme textures will meld together to create that ideal stretch-and-squish consistency.

What To Do When Your Slime Is Too Thick, Because The #SlimeFail Struggle Is Real (2024)

FAQs

How to fix slime that's too thick? ›

Add a bit of water.

Put the slime in a bowl, and add a small amount of water to it. You likely won't need more than spoonful. Then just knead away until the slime softens. Remember, water can make or break your slime.

How do I make my slime less liquidy? ›

Cornstarch or flour can help absorb any excess liquid in your slime and thicken it. Start by adding a small amount and kneading it into the slime until you achieve the desired consistency. Depending on how runny your slime is, you could add as little as a pinch or as much as a couple of tablespoons.

How to make slime less sticky? ›

Add ½ teaspoon (2 g) of baking soda to slime to make it less sticky. Alternatively, mix in 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of contact solution. Adding 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of baby oil can also reduce stickiness. Try kneading the slime more with your hands.

What makes slime slimier? ›

To make your slime softer, stickier, and stretchier, simply knead in water or lotion until the slime reaches your desired consistency. Within 5 minutes your slime will be restored to its former glory.

Is hand sanitizer a slime activator? ›

Hand sanitizers are utilized to make slime because, just like body lotions, hand sanitizers can also have the same effect on slime. People use hand sanitizers to make slime because they give moisture to it and have the perfect stretchy consistency that slime should have.

What does lotion do to slime? ›

If your slime feels tough or rippy, add lotion to soften it (as a clear slime, we recommend glycerin).

How do you make slime firmer? ›

Adding baking soda to your slime recipe helps it have more form and firmness. If your slime is too oozy-gooey, add another pinch of baking soda to help it firm up. Continue adding baking soda a pinch at a time until the slime is your preferred consistency. If it's too firm, add warm water, a teaspoon at a time.

Why is my slime ripping? ›

One of the most common slime fails is overactivated slime. The term “over activated” means that you've added too much of a slime activator (liquid starch, contact solution, borax, etc.). This results in a slime that is hard, rubbery, stringy, and breaks easily.

Does water make slime better? ›

Water is an important ingredient in slime. Water helps the polymer molecules slide past each other so that your slime can flow.

How to make jiggly slime? ›

Pour about 2 bottles of glue into a bowl, then mix in 1/3 of a cup of warm water. Add a quarter of a cup of foamy hand soap or shaving cream and blend it well with the water and glue. Finally, mix in a little contact lens solution, one spoonful at a time, until you get the texture you want.

Does soap make slime less sticky? ›

I experienced the same issue, sticky slime. I added a half cap of liquid laundry soap, and keep kneeding as like a bread dough. Not only was my slime not sticky, it was had a shine that was unexpected even by my slime making expert grandkids. Add the liquid laundry soap a little at a time, you'll feel the difference.

How to soften thick and glossy slime? ›

If your slime feels tough or rippy, add lotion to soften it (as a clear slime, we recommend glycerin).

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Greg O'Connell

Last Updated:

Views: 6103

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (62 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Greg O'Connell

Birthday: 1992-01-10

Address: Suite 517 2436 Jefferey Pass, Shanitaside, UT 27519

Phone: +2614651609714

Job: Education Developer

Hobby: Cooking, Gambling, Pottery, Shooting, Baseball, Singing, Snowboarding

Introduction: My name is Greg O'Connell, I am a delightful, colorful, talented, kind, lively, modern, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.