After plenty of flunked slime recipes and lots of experimenting, I have created an easy slime recipe with Australian ingredients. If you are an Australian you might have come across an Awesome blog with a really good looking slime recipe that you were excited to try with your child, only to discover it was an Epic fail and turned out nothing like what you saw online. I have heard parents complain that their slime doesn’t turn out. I’ve talked to childcare educators who just don’t understand why they can’t make slime successfully. Most slime recipes use ingredients we don’t have and trying to guess what to use as a substitute can be tedious and expensive.
Check out our new scented love slime here.
Why does my slime fail?
The problem is, many slime recipes use Elmer’s Glue which isn’t a typical PVA or a cheap School glue. Its a enhanced school glue with the right Polyvinyl alcohol proteins that reacts well with the right combination of boron component of borax. So if you go get a craft glue or a cheaper school glue it mightn’t have the right pva protein levels to cause the slime sheer thickening reaction, or the components aren’t a good ratio in comparison to the strength of your borox mix. If you try to “wing it” your slime ends up looking like smurf vomit. Like one of our failed recipes did. Gross!!
Related Post: U. V. Activated Slime.
Caution: Borax is labelled as toxic and many parents are concerned. It should not be handled directly on skin and should not be consumed. Thus, I recommend that parents dilute the borox themselves. Only a small amount is used and then diluted… and then mixed with another diluted part of the recipe. Thus, it is only a tiny component of this recipe. Also noteworthy, the agent “Boran” that creates the slime reaction has a low toxicity rate for mammals (similar to table salt) and can be found naturally in some foods (like pears, kiwi, avocado) but also in pesticides, laundry liquids and contact lens solutions. Some research suggests it is an essential mineral in treating arthritis, osteoporosis, and promotes bone health, so although it is on the periodic table and can be harmful if consumed or exposed to in large amounts, it is not all bad and the amount used in slime is less than 2%
Further, the other reason I wanted to create a Slime recipe with Australian ingredients is because most slimes aren’t practical for us. Although you can get Elmer’s glue at Woolworths supermarkets, it isn’t readily available and stocks are low. Last week I went hunting for Elmer’s glue, I visited 3 different Woolworths, I looked online on Woolworths shopping site, I looked at Coles and craft shops and bargain shops. No luck! Sold out or not available.
You can get Elmer’s in Australia now. Here it is online.
With the help of Miss T we embarked on a science exploration. Determined to work out exactly why many slime recipes fail without Elmers and to hunt down a recipe with ingredients in Australia, that can substitute Elmers. We spent the morning sacrificing many many glue bottles, and lots of glitter, in order to create a slime recipe with Australian ingredients. It was my preschoolers delight!
Finally we came up with the secret tip to getting it right every time and another glue that works just as well.
NEW! Elmer’s now has a slime making kit so all your ratio’s are already pre-determined. Check it out online here.
Play-Based-Parenting’s Slime recipe with Australian ingredients.
Here is the bouncy slime recipe that we have been using, after many failed glues, one actually worked. You can print out the pdf Recipe & detailed instructions below.
- warm water.
- one small teaspoon of Borax
- A 147 ml bottle of Mont Marte Clear School glue.
- Your choice of food colour or liquid water colour.
- Your choice of glitter and sequins.
If you’re in Australia, you can find borax in the laundry isle of the Supermarket, you might have to ask an Assistant but it should be there. In Australia, where we cant find Elmers glue often, the best clear school glue I have found is this one seen in the picture below – Mont Marte School Glue Gel. This Recipe used an entire 147ml bottle.
Apparently you can find it in a lot of bargain and discount shops like silly willy’s, jolly ollies, home base, Discount Daves, dollar kind, crazy sams and some newsagencies. The great thing about it is that it is clear. Clear slime looks so much cooler and you can mix what ever colour or glitter you want, and actually still see it. This Mont Marte Glue gives it a real shiny look and the slime itself is thick and bouncy. The best part…? It is NOT sticky at all, so your child’s hands wont get covered in gak.
Alternatively, you could use Clear Elmers glue
Elmer’s Clear Glue x 4 – UK link
Elmer’s Liquid School Glue, Clear – US link
How to make Slime using Clear school glue.
Get two separate bowls make mixture A and mixtures B below.
Mixture A– Make a Boron solution. 1 cup of warm water to one teaspoon of borax. An adult should mix the Borax detergent booster. Mix gradually until completely dissolved and be sure not to handle the borax directly… It is important to dissolve it.
Mixture B– Even parts of warm water and a bottle of Clear school glue gel. Stir well.
- Pour the mixtures together. Very slowly, testing it as you mix.
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Join Mixtures– Gradually pour Mixture A into Mixture B’s bowl, (I actually make the boron solution in a plastic bottle so I can put the lid on and shake it- ensuring that it is all dissolved and easy to pour in steadily and slowly). As you fold and stir the slime continues to thicken. Stirring is KEY!
This is a process and depending on your boron strength, you might not need as much as you think. So don’t just dump it all in. The boron mix might be too strong for your polyvinyl alcohol component and cause it to thicken too quickly and clump up.
Remember how the slime thickens because of the reaction? So as you are working it together, the components are continuing to mix and join. that is why it is a process! You’re best to mix for a minute as it will continue to react and turn to slime as you play. Use your hands and test the consistency and behaviour of the slime and add a dash if it is too runny or sticky until it feels right.
Print out your Slime Recipe Here.
There are so many ways to play with Slime. If you get your child to help you make the mixture it is a great science lesson and while children watch the two liquid mixtures join and turn into a thickened slime it is all very interesting. The sensory experience of slime will keep them occupied for a long time. Children love testing theories and experimenting with sensory materials. By manipulating the slime; stretching, pulling, poking, rolling, pushing, squeezing, breaking it and squishing their fingers in it, they are working on their finger and hand strength (an essential skills for developing writers) and lots of sensory fun.
Click the picture to try these Play ideas.
Thanks for checking out this Slime Recipe with Australian Ingredients.
If you give it a go I would love to hear from you and see your result. You can contact me Here & you can share a pic of your slime Here on Facebook or tag me on Instagram.
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That is soooo awesome. I love that it has the Australian ingredients too. Super helpful.
Awesome! My slime attempts have turned out looking more like boiled purple brains, I’m totally trying this recipe
This was a huge hit with the kids we had over for a bday party on the weekend. We found there was excess liquid after mixing which we just tipped out – all good. Thanks for the recipe!
Great! I am so glad it turned out well… Yeah don’t worry about the excess liquid, I should have mentioned that and it is still different every time I make it 🙂 Thanks for letting me know how it went.
Can you clarify how much borax? Why does the ingredients list 2 teaspoons?
Hi Claire, that was a typo sorry – it is 1. As in the recipe below that and in the printable pdf recipe it should be approximately 1 teaspoon of borax and when it is time to add this in, add it gradually.
The recipe is similar to this one: http://play-based-parenting.com/sensory-christmas-slime
basically the more borax the less stretchy, less borax means more stretch. But to make sure you get the right texture for you, add the borax mix in slowly. If it is still too runny after a few minutes of mixing and working, you can always add a bit more borax/water to thicken it up until its how you like it.
Thanks a lot for the prompt response! I love the secret tip method you’re referring too- will let you know how it goes!
No worries Claire, thanks for your comment 😉
I hope it works out well for you. Definitely let me know how you go…
Hi, Just wondering if you mentioned when to add the food colouring? Is it after the slime has reached the desired consistency or could it be added to the borax or glue mixture at the beginning? Thanks.
Hi Donna. With the colouring you can add it to either mixture A or B, just make sure you add it in initially (before combining & reacting the two mixtures into slime). Good luck 🙂
Thank you! Hope to try this soon 🙂
Hi just a warning from a mum whose kid is obsessed with slime. She got a really bad rash from making slime turns out it was the borax and using way too much.
It was like she had really old people’s hands
Seeing a dermatologist Monday
Thanks Jodie. Yes, borax can be a worry and therefore in my recipes I recommend parents handle the borax and ensure it is diluted first. In this recipe only a small amount is used and then diluted, then mixed again into another mixture. In doing my research I found it has a low toxicity rate and caution is needed so it does not get consumed or handled directly in large doses. In saying that though, I guess everyone can be sensitive to all types of ingredients, especially if too much is used on young sensitive skin.
Thanks for letting others know that they shouldn’t use way too much Borax. Stick to the 3/4-1 small teaspoon diluted properly.
Love the non-Elmer’s recipe! Just wondering whether I could use something other than borax? This is for a party, and one mum won’t allow her daughter to touch borax!
Hi Petra. Thank you 🙂
the borax is extremely diluted and then diluted again when both components are put together. I have written about the science of slime here: http://play-based-parenting.com/glow-in-the-dark-slime/
Basically, it is the agent “Boran” that creates the slime reaction. Borates have a low toxicity (similar to table salt) and can be found naturally in some foods (like pears, kiwi, avocado) and in pesticides, laundry liquids and contact lens solutions. Some research suggests it is an essential mineral in treating arthritis, osteoporosis, and promotes bone health, so although it is on the periodic table and can be harmful if consumed or exposed to in large amounts, it is not all bad 😉 I am yet to find a laundry liquid in Australia that has boron and although contact lense solution has borax in it, I havent been successful at find one that works well each time. Sorry i cant be much more help, I would suggest googling and trying a contact lens recipe.
Hi, thanks for the recipe, it worked really well. Our daughters love slime and we have experimented with recipes, all using borax in small amounts with no ill-effects on either them or friends. Last week I spent way too many $s on an Elmer’s slime kit(on promotion at Woolworths) as a reward which they loved but we suspected the “magical liquid” was probably just some form of diluted Borax, As we have plenty of our own glitter, food colouring and borax we will be choosing your recipe from now on! My daughters are 9 & 12 but slime is still trendy. It’s good to adapt recipes making the most of the items you can purchase easily in Australia as many online recipes are USA/UK originated. We buy Mont Marte products from our local dollar store and they are good value for quality products.
Thanks for your lovely comment Lyn, it put a smile on my face 🙂
I haven’t got the Elmer’s slime kit before but majority of Elmer’s slimes do use borax based activators so you’re probably right. My kids and many of their friends have never had any issues either (Dimples is 9 now and still a slime fan).
I am so glad you have found this recipe useful, Mont Marte products are so fun. Early this year we experimented with a scented slime using their scented glitter glue. It smelt soooo good 😉
Your girls might like this one too http://play-based-parenting.com/scented-valentines-slime/
To who it may concern
My daughter is 10 years old and where trying to find all the ingredients to make slime but we can’t find it we live in Melbourne can you please help me find all the ingredients we need all the ingredients can you help us find or do I have to order it please if you can get back to me
Hello.
You should be able to find Borax, or Boron in the laundry isle of your local supermarket. Sometimes they have different brand names so you might have to ask someone who works there.
For this recipe we used the Mont Marte Clear School glue. You can order it via Amazon Australia here, and I would recommend getting a few so the postage is worth it. Or, even better, if you are going to order some the Elmers glue that we used in our Valentine slime here works much better. Alternatively you can find it at your local discount shop, dollar store or reject shop. Search the stockists here: http://www.montmarte.net/stockists/search?Postcode=melbourne&Distance= and you might find one close to you. Best of luck with it.
Hi Renee,
I want to hold a art/craft party for my daughters 8th birthday in October. I saw cute unicorn themes mason jars that kids can fill with slime and wanted to do that. Potentially lots of kids. How many mason jars would your recipe fill? If I have to make it in bulk can I duplicate your recipe in one batch or would that mess with the outcome? Thanks heaps Michelle
Hi Michelle, I hope I am not replying too late. I couldn’t really tell you without knowing the size of mason jars you have, but it sounds like a brilliant idea. I would say the recipe would fill about 8 small putty size jars, so if you’re jars are larger and there are a lot of children, I would say you will need to match a few batches. If it were me I would make the recipe as is, to get a feel for it and get to know how the ingredients react. Then try doubling the quantities, exactly to what worked best in your first recipe. It would be a bit of an experiment because if your boron solutions is slightly different, then so will the texture and stretch of the slime… As per the recipe, the best way to do it would be to make a bottle of the boron/water solution first (so that you know the strength is the same) and then just note down exactly how many ml’s worked best for you in your first batch. I would try any more than doubling the recipe. You could risk spoiling all your ingredients. Id love to see how it goes, it sounds like an awesome 8th birthday party.
How much slime is made using the 147ml of glue? eg half a kilo. We are thinking about enough for a birthday party for 6 kids so each has enough to play with.
Hi Bill, that sounds like a great idea. I didn’t actually weigh it, so I can’t give you a certain answer to that sorry. however, one lot wouldn’t be enough for 6 kids. I would recommend making two batches if you have small little party jars, possibly even three batches depending on the size of the containers you have 🙂 Best of luck.
Love the Australian ingredients! Using the american equivalents make it such an expensive activity!