Have you ever wondered how to make slime without borax? This gak recipe is only two ingredients and is Borax free! Yep, only two ingredients and you will be able to really impress your kids and keep them entertained for hours!
There are so many fun sensory play recipes to try. You can make your own moon sand for hours of fun! And if you love crazy concoctions try making this amazing oobleck!
All you need to know to make Homemade gak without borax
How to Make Slime Without Borax
Update! I saw on the Today Show how Borax can burn kids while making slime. I was shocked at the severity of the skin burns and checked to make sure my recipe was completely safe. Which it is! To be extra cautious always have kids fully wash their hands after playing.
Ingredients
Whether you call it gak or slime it is still the same thing and easy to make. You might already have these simple ingredients at home!ย This recipe is easy and really works! (Affiliate links included in this section.)
- liquid starch
- school grade white glue (like Elmer’s glue)
- liquid food coloring (optional)
- ziplock bag
In this recipe, the liquid starch is the slime activator. In my other slime recipe baking soda and contact solution make the magic happen (we also add shaving cream to make it extra fluffy). Try adding more of the activator ingredients to get the desired consistency. Be careful though…. too much will make it stiff. First, be sure to spend plenty of time kneading the slime before adding more ingredients. Be sure to slowly add extra ingredients so the reaction will work. The slime forms slowly sometimes.
The best part it is a safe recipe. This recipe uses liquid starch instead of borax. This is more diluted. Why? Sometimes Borax can cause skin burns, so just to be safe we opted for a different recipe!
We can’t stop making this slimy stretchy concoction at our house. Make this super easy two-ingredient recipe with your kids knowing it is safe. Read below for the gak recipe with step by step instructions.
Two Ingredient Slime Recipe
Mix equal parts of liquid starch and glue together. We placed 1/4 cup of liquid starch and 1/4 cup white school glue into a sandwich bag and added about 3 drops of green food coloring. We do have the best luck with Elmer’s white school glue. Using a ziplock bags makes this mess free.
Next, add in 1/4 cup glue into the bag.
Mix well for the reaction to occur. When it starts to form a solid blob, you will know it is changing into slime. This will take time, be patient and allow it to form.
There might be a bit of liquid that does not mix in, it is alright if this happens. When at this stage, it should be ready. You just need to remove the blob and discard the bag with the extra liquid.
Take it out of the bag and have fun! Slime is so mesmerizing! It is hard to keep from touching it which makes it a wonderful sensory activity.
I really hope you enjoy this homemade gak no borax recipe as much as we do.
Here is a printable slime recipe without borax also known as gak recipe!
Slime Recipe Without Borax
Ingredients
- liquid starch
- white school glue
- liquid food coloring
- zip loc bag
Instructions
- Mix equal parts of liquid starch and glue together. We placed 1/4 cup of liquid starch and 1/4 cup white school glue into a sandwich bag and added about 3 drops of green food coloring.
Notes
What does liquid starch do to slime?
Glue is a liquid polymer made up of long, repeating, and identical strands. This means that the tiny molecules in the glue are in strands like a chain. When you add the liquid starch, the strands of the polymer glue hold together, giving it a slimy feel. The liquid starch contains sodium borate and acts as a cross-linker that connects all the long strands.ย To make slime with glue and liquid starch, mix until the combined substance becomes thicker and rubber-like slime!
Where do you buy liquid starch?
We find our liquid starch in the laundry section at the grocery store. We use Sta-flo starch like this. (affiliate link). Looking for more ways to impress your kids? Now that you have liquid starch to create slime you can also use the liquid starch to make the coolest marbleized paper.
More Easy Ways to Make Slime!
Check out all these recipes!ย I have found ย 14 of the best slime recipes. You will find magnetic, mood-changing, bubbling, spaghetti, and more! It is easy to create homemade slime and it can be pretty forgiving.ย Let your kids get creative and make it their way.
They can also try using glitter glue for a glittery concoction! Kids love the sparkle of glitter slime. I have even seen a slime recipe that calls for foam beads to make floam.
Here are the easy slime recipes we make again and again at our home. You will find that most of these recipes are made without borax powder. Instead, they use ingredients like liquid starch and contact lens solution for the slime activator. Keep in mind that liquid starch does contain a little bit of borax and contact solution contains boric acid. Another, safe activator combination to use for slime is baking soda and saline solution.
I think you will find that the following recipes are safe and won’t irritate the skin. However, always make sure to wash hands after playing with slime, and adult supervision is best.
This clear glue slime recipe needs to set a few days but is super stretchy and CLEAR!
Have you tried butter slime? It is more like a stretchy clay.
This fantastic fluffy slime is a huge hit at our house!
Check out my glow in the dark slime recipe. Now you know how to make slime without borax you can even make it glow!
Yes, you can make slime WITHOUT glue!
Here are the best tips for making slime less sticky
Slime Tips and Tricks
- Borax is good for squishy slime, but not ideal for a long-lasting or super stretchy slime.
- Use liquid starch when you want it to last longer.
- Keep it in a sealed baggie or airtight container and itย should lastย for a couple of weeks or evenย months. Toss it out if it grows mold or dries out.
- Too liquidy add more glueย 1 tablespoons at a time. Be sure to mix well after each Tablespoon. Remember it comes together slowly.
- Too sticky try adding more starchย 1 tablespoon at a time, again mixing well.
- If you get slime on the carpet, clothing, or in the hair remove it with white vinegar. For clothing soak the affected area in vinegar for a minute then rub to dissolve. Wash and dry as usual.
More Kids Activities
I have loads of more kids activities to keep children engaged and learning. No reason to be bored!
Keep kids laughing with these kids jokes and these funny knock knock jokes. Kids loved these jokes.
Boredom Buster Activities These activities utilize your computer, paper, and printer! Make fun paper toys for hours of fun perfect for a rainy day.
50 Kids Crafts and Activities This large list of kids activities keep kids engaged in crafting and playing! These are perfect ideas for summer fun!
Don’t forget to fill out a summer bucket list!
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This is awesome for summer time! my kids would love it. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for much for sharing. My granddaughter is in the backyard playing away with the slime we just made. So much fun.
Hi Amy, I do, however it was my understanding that it is in such a diluted form and when in used in this recipe is okay. Here is another recipe that you might like better that has no borax.
SAFE SLIME RECIPE
ยท 1/2 TBSP of Baking Soda
ยท 1 TBSP of Contact Solution
ยท 4 fl oz Elmerโs White school glue
ยท Your choice of food coloring
1. Find a bowl, cup, or plate to mix your slime in
2. Pour out the entire contents of a 4oz of Elmerโs school glue into the bowl.
3. Add ยฝ TBSP of baking soda and mix
4. After mixing, add your choice of food coloring.
5. Mix and/or add more food coloring until you get the color you want
6. Add 1 TBSP of Contact solution
7. Mix until slime forms and it begins to get harder to mix
8. Take the slime out and begin kneading with both of your hands
9. If needed, add ยผ TBSP Contact solution to make the slime less sticky.
You do realize that one of the ingredients in the Sta-flo starch is BORAX? Specifically “Sodium Tetraborate”. You shouldn’t be promoting this as safer than slime made with Borax.
Thanks Heather, that is a great reminder to have kids wash their hands after play… it is so easy to forget but even washing after playdough, magnetic sand etc is important.
My 11 year old LOVES slime! At first, I made it for her with Elmer’s and Borax. Then she decided she wanted some super soft version with shaving cream? I don’t know, I outsourced it to my husband because I’m not like you, Cindy, all crafty and stuff!
But I’d never heard of liquid starch. It sounds like I should get some!
xo Nicole
I am a school nurse and had a student with severe dermatitis on hands from the slime she made. However, it didn’t have Borax. She had issues with the liquid starch. It is important to have them wash hands after use and not play with it for long periods of time. Our Science teacher feels really bad about introducing the borax solution to the kids.
CatieLee extra liquid is okay, just remove the blob from the liquid and play!
Sarah if it was lumpy I am thinking you didn’t quite mix it long enough.
So sorry Cass! This recipe works great for us, but you might try using 2 parts glue to 1 part starch and see if that helps.
Kerry you could try less starch.
Thanks Kayla, I was avoiding the borax because it can sometimes burn the skin. I know though loads of people make it with borax and have great results.
Not sure Erica, If you try it please let us know if it works.
So sorry Letty we have made loads of slime with this recipe. Did you see Jessica’s comment about using less starch? Maybe that would work for you.
Thanks so much Jessica for sharing your slime recipe. I will give this a try. It also helps to let the original recipe sit a minute and then keep mixing.