Thick slime is rubbery, dense, and oh-so-satisfying to squish. With its popping, squeaky sounds and moldable texture, what’s not to love? In this article, we’ll show you the best ways to make thick slime. We’ve got you covered whether you want thick and glossy or clear slime! Keep reading to learn how you can make super thick slime that’ll bring hours of fun.

Things You Should Know

  • Make thick slime using glue, lotion, Borax, and/or liquid starch.
  • Use a more concentrated Borax activator when making slimes for a thicker consistency.
  • Add oils like baby oil or glycerin to slime mixtures for a glossier and smoother texture.
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using Borax and School Glue

  1. 1
    Combine 1 tbsp (15 mL) of Borax with 1 cup (237 mL) of water. Borax acts as a slime activator, causing the glue and other ingredients to stick together and form a spongy goo. A stronger activator, like this one, will help the slime thicken.
    • If you don’t have Borax, try using contact lens solution (one that contains boric acid) as a substitute. Simply use 1 to 2 tbsp (15 to 30 mL) of contact solution in the slime instead of the Borax and water mixture.[1]
  2. 2
    Pour ½ cup (119 mL) of school glue into a new mixing bowl. Glue acts as the slime’s base, and although school glue isn’t thick, your strong activator will cause it to thicken later. Opt for a classic white glue for a milky color or a clear glue for clear, transparent slime.[2]
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  3. 3
    Add ½ cup (119 mL) of water to the mixing bowl. When making this type of thick slime, always use a 1:1 ratio of glue and water. This will create the perfect moldable and stretchable texture.[3]
    • Not adding enough water could cause the slime to crumble and become cakey, while adding too much could cause it to thin out.
  4. 4
    Squeeze food coloring into the mixture to change its color. If you used a clear or white school glue, consider adding food coloring to turn it a different color. Start with one drop and add more until you get your desired color.[4]
  5. 5
    Mix the ingredients together until everything is combined. Use a spatula, spoon, or craft stick to ensure that everything is mixed together thoroughly before moving on to the next step.[5]
  6. 6
    Add the Borax solution a teaspoon (5 mL) at a time. Put a splash of your premade activator into your slime mixture. Use your mixing utensil to stir it in completely. The consistency of your slime will start to change as the activator reacts with the other ingredients—clumping together and moving away from the bowl. The more activator you use, the thicker your slime will be.[6]
    • Try not to add too much activator to your slime, as this can cause your slime to become stiff and break. If this happens to you, simply mix in some extra glue.[7]
  7. 7
    Knead the slime until it takes on your desired thickness. Now comes the fun part! Dump out your slime mixture and squish, squeeze, pull, and fold it until it begins to take shape. The longer you work your slime, the stronger it’ll become.[8]
    • Store your slime in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.[9]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Adding Lotion to Glue-All

  1. 1
    Pour 1 cup (237 mL) of Glue-All into a mixing bowl. Glue-All is the perfect base for your thick and glossy slime because it clumps together when combined and activated with other ingredients.[10] School glue could be used as a substitute, but the texture may not be as thick or moldable.
    • If you’d like extra glossy slime, use ½ cup (119 mL) of Glue-All and ½ cup (119 mL) of clear glue.[11]
  2. 2
    Add about 2 tbsp (15 mL) of lotion to the glue. The lotion acts as a softener and helps the slime stretch. Roughly 2 pumps or squeezes of the lotion will be enough.[12]
    • Try using a scented lotion to make your slime even more soothing.
    • Consider the color of your lotion before adding it, as the color may affect the color of your slime.
  3. 3
    Squirt a small amount of baby oil into the bowl. Adding too much baby oil could cause your slime to be too slick, so just add a dash. Aim for around ½ tsp (2.5 mL).[13]
  4. 4
    Add around 2 tbsp (15 mL) of hair conditioner into the mixture. Like lotion, conditioner adds a soft, smooth texture to your slime while keeping it nice and thick. Only 2 to 4 pumps or squirts are needed.[14]
    • Consider using a scented conditioner that matches your lotion's scent.
  5. 5
    Mix all the ingredients until everything’s well combined. Use a spatula, craft stick, or plastic spoon to bring everything together. It’s better to over-mix your slime at this stage than to under-mix it! Make sure all the ingredients are mixed evenly, as this will help the activator adhere to the mixture.[15]
    • Try adding a few drops of food coloring to your mixture for even more fun.
  6. 6
    Stir a Borax activator solution into the mixture in small increments. Mix together 1 tsp (5 mL) of Borax in 1 cup (237 mL) of warm water in a separate container or bowl until all the Borax is dissolved. Then, pour the Borax activator into your slime mixture in 1 tsp (5 mL) increments until your slime reaches the desired consistency. The mixture will clump up and become stringy, but the more you stir, the more solid it’ll become. Be patient, and don’t be afraid to use your hands![16]
    • The more activator you add, the denser your slime will be.
    • You may use all of the activator or you may not use much at all, and that’s okay!
  7. 7
    Let the slime sit for at least 24 hours in an airtight container. Believe it or not, slime isn’t fully activated for at least a day. Give the slime a day to sit, as this will help it be its glossiest.[17]
    • Store the slime in an airtight container for 2 to 3 weeks or until it becomes hard.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Mixing Liquid Starch with Glue

  1. 1
    Pour ½ cup (119 mL) of school glue into a bowl. To achieve that Oobleck or Gak look, opt for a white school glue as it will help the slime’s color pop later on.[18]
  2. 2
    Add ¼ cup (59 mL) of water to the bowl. Stir the glue and water together. This will be the base of your slime.[19]
  3. 3
    Drop in food coloring or glitter to make the slime your own. Once you’ve combined the glue and water, it’s time to get creative! Add green food coloring to replicate Dr. Seuss’ Oobleck or blue or orange to make your own 90’s Nickelodeon Gak. Try tossing in a pinch of glitter for a little sparkle.[20]
  4. 4
    Add ¼ cup (59 mL) of liquid starch to the mixture gradually. As you stir, pour in the liquid starch little by little. This is the activator for your slime. Start with 6 tsp (30 mL), stir, and then add the rest. Keep mixing until the slime doesn’t stick to the sides of the bowl.[21]
    • If you don’t have liquid starch, make a substitute by combining 1 tbsp (15 mL) of cornstarch with ¼ cup (59 mL) of water.
  5. 5
    Knead the slime with your hands. Scoop the slime up in your hands and begin squeezing and stretching it. Notice how the slime thickens up the more you play with it and becomes more of a liquid when you stop.[22]
    • Store this thick slime in an airtight container for 3 to 4 weeks or until it dries out.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Combining Glue and Glycerin

  1. 1
    Pour ½ cup (119 mL) of school glue and ½ cup (119 mL) of Glue-All in a mixing bowl. This is the base of your slime, and the combination of glue types makes for an extra thick slime. If you’d like to make more slime, stick to a 1:1 ratio of school glue and Glue-All.[23]
  2. 2
    Add ½ tsp (2.5 mL) of glycerin to the glue and mix. Glycerin makes the slime smooth, stretchy, and glossy, but don’t add too much! The oil can separate and leave a film on your finished slime. Mix all the ingredients together with a craft stick or spoon until everything is well combined.[24]
    • Don’t get discouraged if it takes a while to mix everything together—that’s perfectly normal! Thick slime requires a bit more mixing than ordinary slime.
  3. 3
    Mix food coloring into your mixture for a bright color. Leave your slime a milky white, or add a drop or two of food coloring to the mix. Start with one drop and add more as you stir, if needed.[25]
  4. 4
    Stir in a 7:1 Borax water solution until the slime clumps together. A stronger activator with a 7:1 ratio helps the slime thicken without extra ingredients. Mix together a solution of 7 tsp (35 mL) of Borax and 1 cup (237 mL) of hot water, and add it to the glue and glycerin mixture in 1 tsp (5 mL) increments. Keep mixing until no strings are in the slime—feel free to use your hands.[26]
  5. 5
    Let the slime sit in an airtight container for 24 hours. Leaving the slime to rest for a few days will reveal its true consistency and shine as the activator fully develops. After a day goes by, pop your slime out of the container and get squeezing![27]
    • Keep your slime in its container for up to 3 weeks or until it starts drying out.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Does the slime stick to your hands?
    Disnerd
    Disnerd
    Community Answer
    The slime may stick to your hands if it is underactiviated. You can solve this by adding more activator until it isn’t sticky anymore.
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Things You’ll Need

Creating Thick and Glossy Slime with Lotion

Using Borax and School Glue to Make Thick Slime

Mixing Liquid Starch and Glue for Thick Slime

Combining Glue and Glycerin for Thick Slime

About This Article

Aly Rusciano
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Aly Rusciano is a Creative Writer based outside of Nashville, Tennessee. She has over ten years of experience in creative, academic, and professional writing. Aly’s writing has been nationally recognized in the Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle and featured in Blue Marble Review, The Sunshine Review, PopMatters, and Cathartic Literary Magazine. She graduated from The University of Tennessee at Martin with a BA in English, focusing in Creative Writing and minoring in Theatre. This article has been viewed 46,403 times.
4 votes - 50%
Co-authors: 19
Updated: October 25, 2022
Views: 46,403
Article SummaryX

To make thick slime, start by mixing 1 tablespoon of Borax with 1 cup of water until the powder fully dissolves. Pour 4 to 8 fluid ounces of white glue into a separate container. Then, add an equal amount of water to the glue. If you want the slime to have a fun color, add 4 to 6 drops of food coloring to 2 to 3 fluid ounces of the Borax solution, adding it 1/2 ounce at a time until it's all mixed in. Keep mixing until the slime starts to pull away from the bowl, then knead your slime by hand until it's the thickness you want. To learn how to make thick slime with liquid starch, keep reading!

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