How To Make Laundry Detergent Slime: 11 Steps (with Pictures)

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Make Laundry Detergent Slime PDF download Download Article Explore this Article methods 1 Making Normal Slime 2 Making Silly Putty Slime Other Sections VideoWATCH NOW Questions & Answers Tips and Warnings Things You'll Need Related Articles References Article Summary Reviewed by Anne Schmidt

Last Updated: February 16, 2025 References

PDF download Download Article ARTICLE VIDEO X

This article was reviewed by Anne Schmidt. Anne Schmidt is a Chemistry Instructor in Wisconsin. Anne has been teaching high school chemistry for over 20 years and is passionate about providing accessible and educational chemistry content. She has over 9,000 subscribers to her educational chemistry YouTube channel. She has presented at the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AATC) and was an Adjunct General Chemistry Instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Anne was published in the Journal of Chemical Education as a Co-Author, has an article in ChemEdX, and has presented twice and was published with the AACT. Anne has a BS in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and an MA in Secondary Education and Teaching from Viterbo University. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 625,798 times.

Slime is a fun kind of putty to play with. It is icky, sticky, and gross. While you can always head out to the store and buy some, it is much more fun to make it at home. One of the most popular slime recipes requires borax, but not everyone has that. Luckily, there are countless other ways in which to make slime using ingredients from around your home. One of the easiest ways is using liquid glue and liquid laundry detergent. If you enjoy making laundry detergent slime, you can try other ways of making putty.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 2:

Making Normal Slime

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Laundry Detergent Slime 1 Mix together equal amounts of white school glue and water. Pour 1/2 cup (120 millilitres) of water into a bowl. Next, stir in 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) of white school glue. Make sure that you get all of the glue out of the measuring cup. Use a fork, spoon, or mini rubber spatula to get it all out.[1]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Laundry Detergent Slime 2 Add some food coloring or glitter if desired. Start with 2 drops of food coloring. Give the mixture a stir, then add more food coloring, if needed. If you want to make your slime sparkly, add 1 teaspoon of glitter. Give the mixture a stir, then add more glitter, if desired.[2] Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Laundry Detergent Slime 3 Stir in 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) of liquid laundry detergent with a fork. As you stir the laundry detergent into the glue, the mixture will begin to stick together. Keep stirring until you have a glob.[3]
    • Use a clear laundry detergent or a color that matches your food coloring.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Laundry Detergent Slime 4 Knead the slime with your hands for 1 to 2 minutes. If the bowl is too small for this, dump the slime onto a smooth counter, and knead it there. The more you knead the slime, the firmer and less watery it will become. This will take about 1 to 2 minutes.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Laundry Detergent Slime 5 Play with the slime, then store it in an airtight container. A plastic box with a tight-fitting lid or a zippered sandwich baggie will work the best for this. Keep in mind that the slime will eventually dry out after a couple of days and turn hard, especially if you play with it a lot.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 2:

Making Silly Putty Slime

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Laundry Detergent Slime 1 Pour 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) of clear school glue into a bowl. Use a spoon, fork, or mini rubber spatula to get all of the glue out of the measuring cup and into the bowl. You can use regular clear school glue or glitter school glue.[4]
    • If you are using clear school glue, add 2 drops of food coloring and 1 teaspoon of glitter to make it more interesting.[5]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Laundry Detergent Slime 2 Use a fork to stir in 2 teaspoons of liquid laundry detergent. The glue will start to come together and turn into a glob.[6] You can use any type of laundry detergent you want, but be aware that it will color your slime. For best results, match the color of the detergent to the color of the glue. You can also use clear laundry detergent if you can find it.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Laundry Detergent Slime 3 Add in 1 more teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent and stir again. The glue will get harder, so you will need to press the detergent into the glue with the flat side of the fork.[7]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Laundry Detergent Slime 4 Knead the slime by hand for about 1 to 2 minutes. Pick the slime up with your fingers. Squeeze and squish it between your fingers until it starts to turn firm and become less watery. This will take about 1 to 2 minutes.[8]
    • The more you knead the slime, the firmer and more putty-like it will become.
    • If the slime is still too sticky, add some more liquid laundry detergent. Start with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon.[9]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Laundry Detergent Slime 5 Add some shaving cream for fluffy slime if desired. If you wish to give your slime a softer texture, place the slime back into the bowl and add a dollop of shaving cream on top. Knead the shaving cream into the slime, making sure to pick up all the shaving cream from the sides of the bowl. This will take a few minutes of kneading.[10]
    • Make sure that you use the foam kind of shaving cream, not the gel.
    • The slime will be lighter in color after you add the shaving cream.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make Laundry Detergent Slime 6 Play with the slime, then store it in an airtight container. A plastic box or a Ziploc baggie is the best place to store the slime. Keep in mind that the slime will eventually dry out after a few days and turn hard. How long the slime lasts depends on how much you play with it. The more you play with it and expose it to air, the faster it will dry out.
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Join the Discussion...

What's the best way to make slime? WikiToadDiver848 WikiToadDiver848 I want to learn to make slime at home! I've heard a lot of recipes use glue and I think I have some at home, so that should be okay. Just in case, are there any slime recipes that don't use glue either? Read More Amy Sheree Amy Sheree Slime Expert For an easy slime recipe:
  • Use 1 cup (or a whole container) of Elmer’s school glue.
  • Add 1 or 2 pumps of lotion.
  • Dissolve 1 teaspoon of borax in 1 cup of hot water and let it cool.
  • Gradually add 1 teaspoon of the solution to the glue while mixing. It will become stringy first and then turn into a cohesive slime as you mix and stretch it.
From there, you can customize your slime how you like it. For butter slime, add air-dry clay. For fluffy slime, add shaving cream and a little soap. You could also add foam beads, charms, and other fun add-ins to make playing with your slime more exciting! Read More WikiEagleDiver276 WikiEagleDiver276 - 2 tbsp cornstarch- 1.5 tbsp dish soap- stir! add more cornstarch if too wet and more soap if too dry- let mixture sit for 2 minutes- you should have slime now! Read More See all 9 Replies and Read Discussion

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Community Q&A

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  • Question What laundry detergent can I use? Community Answer Community Answer You can use Dynamo or Tide -- or test out other brands. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 219 Helpful 513
  • Question Can I make this slime with liquid detergent, or do you have to use powder like in the picture? Community Answer Community Answer You can use liquid or powder. If you use powder, you have to mix it with liquid. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 180 Helpful 364
  • Question Can I use liquid laundry detergent? Community Answer Community Answer Yes, but keep in mind you can't make clear slime using laundry detergent. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 195 Helpful 408
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Tips

  • If you do get it on your clothes or the carpet, wipe it off immediately with a damp towel.[11] Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
  • Your slime can be any color you want. Keep in mind that the color of the liquid laundry detergent will also change the color of the slime. Thanks Helpful 31 Not Helpful 3
  • If your slime is not stretchy add lotion or moisturizer. Thanks Helpful 31 Not Helpful 4
Show More Tips

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
  • As an alternative to shaving foam, put some shampoo and water in a plastic bottle and shake it up until the bottle doesn’t make a sound. This makes a foam that can be used for fluffy slime.
  • When you start to knead your slime with your hands, put some cornstarch on your hands so it won’t be as sticky.
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • Don't place the slime in a cold area when it's finished. It may become less stretchy. Thanks Helpful 67 Not Helpful 14
  • Do not eat the slime. Small children must be supervised while playing with it. Thanks Helpful 53 Not Helpful 26
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Things You'll Need

Making Normal Slime

  • 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) water
  • 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) white school glue
  • 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) liquid laundry detergent
  • Mixing bowl
  • Fork
  • Airtight container
  • Glitter and food coloring (optional)

Making Silly Putty Slime

  • 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) clear school glue
  • 3 teaspoons liquid laundry detergent
  • Mixing bowl
  • Fork
  • Airtight container
  • Glitter and food coloring (optional)
  • Foam shaving cream (optional, for fluffy slime)

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References

  1. http://www.projectsforpreschoolers.com/easy-slime-recipe/
  2. http://www.projectsforpreschoolers.com/easy-slime-recipe/
  3. http://www.projectsforpreschoolers.com/easy-slime-recipe/
  4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRWGANeIOOA&feature=youtu.be&t=20s
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdN-ojhur9M&feature=youtu.be&t=2m55s
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRWGANeIOOA&feature=youtu.be&t=43s
  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRWGANeIOOA&feature=youtu.be&t=1m15s
  8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRWGANeIOOA&feature=youtu.be&t=1m40s
  9. http://www.momsminivan.com/how-to-make-slime-without-borax/
More References (2)
  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdN-ojhur9M&feature=youtu.be&t=7m40s
  2. http://www.momsminivan.com/how-to-make-slime-without-borax/

About This Article

Anne Schmidt Reviewed by: Anne Schmidt Chemistry Instructor This article was reviewed by Anne Schmidt. Anne Schmidt is a Chemistry Instructor in Wisconsin. Anne has been teaching high school chemistry for over 20 years and is passionate about providing accessible and educational chemistry content. She has over 9,000 subscribers to her educational chemistry YouTube channel. She has presented at the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AATC) and was an Adjunct General Chemistry Instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Anne was published in the Journal of Chemical Education as a Co-Author, has an article in ChemEdX, and has presented twice and was published with the AACT. Anne has a BS in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and an MA in Secondary Education and Teaching from Viterbo University. This article has been viewed 625,798 times. 178 votes - 60% Co-authors: 43 Updated: February 16, 2025 Views: 625,798 Categories: Putty Dough and Slime Article SummaryX

To make laundry detergent slime, mix together equal amounts of white school glue and water in a bowl. If you like, you can also add in food coloring or glitter to the slime. Then, add a small amount of liquid laundry detergent to the bowl. Knead the mixture with your hands for 1 to 2 minutes until it firms up. Your slime is ready to play with! Store it in an air-tight container to keep it for later. Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Abigail Redstone

    Abigail Redstone

    Jun 9, 2020

    "Every time I tried to make homemade slime, I always failed, but this slime recipe is the best one that I have..." more Rated this article:
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Anne Schmidt Reviewed by: Anne Schmidt Chemistry Instructor 178 votes - 60% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 43 Updated: February 16, 2025 Views: 625,798 Abigail Redstone

Abigail Redstone

Jun 9, 2020

"Every time I tried to make homemade slime, I always failed, but this slime recipe is the best one that I have..." more Rated this article: Jaylynn Nickens

Jaylynn Nickens

May 21, 2017

"I want to start making my own money by making and selling slime, so with these instructions, now I can do so. Thank..." more Hailee Curtis

Hailee Curtis

May 31, 2019

"This was the perfect recipe! I used clear instead of white and added Styrofoam beads, and it turned out perfect!..." more Anonymous

Anonymous

May 5, 2018

"I'm so happy because it's our first-ever homemade slime. Shout out to the people who created this!" McKenna Dean

McKenna Dean

Jun 24, 2017

"I wanted to know about liquid detergent and the answers to the questions people asked helped me!" Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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Tag » How To Make Slime With Detergent