If you love making homemade slime recipes but don’t have Borax (or prefer to make Borax-free slime) we have a great list for you today of 15 borax-free slime recipes – some are even taste safe or edible slime recipes. We gathered the best safe slime recipes online — so let’s have some chemical-free slime fun!
You Will Love These No Borax Slime Recipes
There are a lot of reasons to make slime without borax and we have a collection of the best alternative to borax slime recipes around. Whether you are concerned about the borax toxic nature or just don’t have a box of Borax handy, we have you covered with how to make slime without borax!
How Do You Make Slime Without Borax?
While there are a lot of ways to make slime without Borax, our favorite uses a ratio of 1 bottle of glue (4 oz.) to 1 Tablespoon of contact solution with 1/2 Tablespoon of baking soda. These 3 simple ingredients can be combined with food coloring to make unlimited amounts of Borax free slime!
Related: 15 more ways how to make slime at home
This article contains affiliate links.
1. Unicorn Slime is Borax Free
Unicorn Slime is one of our very favorite Borax-free slime recipes here at Kids Activities Blog. It has 4 ingredients and you can make it a light pastel or brightly colored rainbow of unicorn colored slime.
2. Make Slime with Unusual Ingredients
Did you know you can make slime using this drug store ingredient?! It is 2 ingredient Metamucil slime which is so cool! via One Little Project
3. Fizzing Slime Recipe
Fizzing slime is such a fun sensory activity. via Little Bins for Little Hands This is part science experiment and all fun slime making! Great for kids of all ages and uses an unusual slime ingreient: Xanthum Gum.
4. Marshmallow Slime
Let’s make quick marshmallow slime. This marshmallow slime recipe is safe and fun to play with! via One Little Project
5. Gakish Slime Recipe
This fun borax-free slime is like a cross between play dough and slime. via Fun at Home With Kids. This non topic slime recipe has ingredients like cornstarch, shampoo and liquid watercolors.
6. Salt Slime Recipe
Woah! This safe slime is made with just water, salt, and glue. Cool! via eHow
7. Baking Soda Slime Recipe
Baking soda is the secret ingredient in this borax-free slime. via Michaels
8. Goopy Green Gak Slime Recipe
This gak slime recipe is one of the easiest requiring only 2 ingredients and whipping up in a matter of minutes.
9. 3 Ingredient Borax-Free Slime Recipe
This three-ingredient slime makes fluffy slime without borax! via STEAM Powered Family
10. Our Favorite Galaxy Slime Recipe
Y’all know we love easy slime recipes and this is one of our favorites because it is glittery, colorful and borax-free. Let’s whip up a batch of galaxy slime!
11. Rainbow Slime Recipe
This 2 ingredient no borax slime recipe turns into the prettiest most colorful rainbow slime recipe! It is super easy with Elmers liquid and glitter glue.
12. Snow Cone Slime Recipe for Sensory Fun
Your kids won’t be able to take their hands off of this fun and easy to make snow cone slime recipe. The texture is amazingly fun to play with and it is on the cover of our slime book, 101 Kids Activities that are the Ooey, Gooey-est Ever!
Edible Slime Recipe without Borax
13. Edible Slime Recipe is Taste-Safe for Toddlers
Edible slime is perfect for younger children who may put the slime in their mouths. via Growing a Jeweled Rose
14. Edible Slime Recipe for Kids
Edible Slime is a really fun thing to make and this version we made as Valentines slime. This edible slime recipe is so gooey — change the color to make it work any time of year!
15. Gummy Bear Slime Recipe
Gummy bear slime & Starburst slime are the ultimate edible slime recipes obviously made without Borax! via Sugar, Spice and Glitter
What is Borax?
Borax is also known as sodium borate and is an important boron compound, a mineral and a salt of boric acid. The powder is white and it dissolves in water. It is a component of many detergents, cosmetics and enamel glazes.
In the United States it is banned as a food additive and indicated with the “E number” E285. China and Thailand have also banned its use in food due to a risk of liver cancer with high consumption over a period of 5-10 years (see Wikipedia for more information).
Is Borax Safe to Use in Slime Recipes?
Researching the negative effects of Borax results in multiple issues that can occur. The most toxic include skin, eye, respiratory irritation, diarrhea, vomiting and cramps with occasional exposure. As noted above, when exposed over long periods of time in food, liver cancer is also a risk. And if you have a child that likes to put things in their mouth, then avoiding Borax is a no-brainer!
Since we don’t love subjecting our kids to anything toxic, especially in a slime recipe, it was important to us to find alternatives that still made amazingly awesome slime!
Why is Borax dangerous?
Borax is a milt irritant. As with any irritant, some people (and kids) will be more sensitive to it than others. Our main goal here is to inform so you are choosing the best thing for your family and noting any reactions.
In slime, the Borax is very diluted and rarely causes issues…but why take the risk?
Is Slime Toxic?
There are many ways to make slime without Borax. Although Borax is used to create a sticky texture, there are other (and safer) ways to make slime. If you do choose to make slime with Borax, watch your kids for side effects like skin, eye, respiratory irritation, diarrhea, vomiting and cramps. Make sure that younger kids are not consuming slime. We have a lot of edible play dough recipes if that is an issue in your house!
Because the other ingredients in slime are usually food-based like food coloring and other kitchen ingredients, they are generally considered safe for slime recipes as well. White glue has long been used with kids crafts and projects and in the classroom and isn’t known to have toxic ingredients.
Is there Borax in contact solution?
Yes and no. Contact solution has a trace amount of boric acid. But it is used in contact solution which is used in contact with the eye. It is regulated by the FDA here in the United States and since it is used in small quantities and very diluted in slime, it is considered a Borax-free solution to making slime.
How can Borax-free slime actually contain Borax?
Contact solution is a common choice for making Borax-free slime. It has trace amounts of boric acid which is an ingredient in Borax. So, kinda! Yes, Borax-free slime actually has trace amounts of ingredients found in Borax. But…think about the concentration of boric acid and how contact solution is used. The main objection to using Borax in slime is the irritation it can cause with repeated touch.
Because contact solution is used in the eye and regulated by the FDA, it is considered a safer alternative to Borax. If you truly want to make slime without any boric acid, check out the recipes that use a combination of glue and baking soda instead.
More Slime Recipes from Kids Activities Blog
- This Frog Vomit slime is perfect for little pranksters.
- Ditch the flashlight and instead opt for this DIY glow in the dark slime recipe. Fun, right?
- Another fun way of making slime — this one is black slime that is also magnetic slime.
- Inspired by the movie, check out this cool (get it?) Frozen slime.
- Make alien slime inspired by Toy Story.
- Crazy fun fake snot slime recipe.
More to See:
- 80 of the best games for two year olds
- 40 more games for 2 year olds
What borax-free slime recipe will you try first?
I never knew how to make slime without borax powder, I thought they all needed it. It’s super cool to know my kids can play with slime and me not have to worry about whether or not they may have a reaction to the borax.