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Borax-free slime

Course DIY
Keyword kids crafts, sensory play, toddler activities, two ingredient slime
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Cornstarch and dish soap mixed into a squishy slime with no borax. Good for younger kids with supervision.

What You’ll Need

  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • ⅓ cup liquid dish soap
  • Food coloring (a few drops)
  • Mixing bowl spoon, liquid measuring cup
  • Tray plate, baking sheet, or plastic placemat to contain the slime
  • Play objects: textured plastic toys, plastic cups, child-safe utensils, colander, strawberry baskets

Directions

  • Optional: let your child feel the cornstarch and the dish soap on their own first.
  • Measure ½ cup cornstarch into the bowl.
  • Pour in ⅓ cup dish soap.
  • Stir with a spoon, and when it begins to clump, knead it by hand together with your child.
  • Squeeze in a few drops of food coloring and keep kneading.
  • Knead for about five minutes, until it feels somewhere between playdough and glue slime. Too sticky: sprinkle in more cornstarch. Crumbly: add 2-3 more drops of dish soap.

Notes

Doesn't store well; use the same day. If it gets crumbly, add a drop of dish soap and mix. Wipe up with warm water; it can go down the drain. Food coloring can stain hands for a while and fabric permanently.
Safety: NOT edible: don't let children put the slime or ingredients in their mouths. No borax, glue, or contact solution, which makes it the gentler choice for little kids, but supervise preschoolers closely, keep soap away from eyes, and wash hands with warm water for at least a minute afterward. For kids who still mouth everything, use the edible slime instead.