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How to Make Slime With Contact Solution

Our favorite slime recipe is made with contact lens solution. It’s the easiest we’ve tried and without borax. So you won’t have to worry about slime fails with this one! Be sure to read the full post and tips below on how to make slime with contact solution!

RELATED: Fluffy Slime Recipe

Contact Solution Slime Recipe

There are a number of different slime activators you can use to “transform” your glue mixture into slime. Contact lens solution is our favorite activator. You can also replace this for saline solution, but just make sure that that they contain boric acid and sodium borate.

Why is boric acid important for slime? 

Boric acid is made from borax and similarly liquid starch contains sodium tetraborate which is also made from borax. Typically all activators have some derivative of borax. However, we prefer using the contact lens solution as it’s easier to use and more widely available (liquid starch is not available in Canada and Borax is not available in the UK).

This Renu Fresh Contact Lens Solution is one of the recommended brands we suggest since it contains both boric acid and sodium borate.

Slime with contact solution

Watch the Video Tutorial

Ingredients for Contact Solution Slime

This easy 3 ingredient recipe is such a popular one! If you haven’t seen our Unicorn Slime made with it, head over to watch the video on how it’s done!

Only 3 ingredients are needed: 

  • 1 Bottle of Elmer’s Glue (6 oz) – we like to buy the gallon size and then measure out for savings – you can use 3/4 cup of glue if you have a larger bottle. If you want to get a similar effect to the photos in this post, you’ll need to buy Elmer’s glitter glue and review our Unicorn slime recipe.

We recommend Elmers as it has been tested and is quality glue. Substituting with other ingredients may result in the slime not working. 

  • Baking Soda  – 1/2 teaspoon
  • 1½ TBSP of Contact Lens SolutionRenu Fresh contains Boric Acid and Sodium Borate. Do not substitute for other brands. Check the label before buying to make sure it has the right ingredients.
  • 1/4 cup of water (optional)- While water is not needed it really helps the slime become more stretchy, so we do recommend adding up to 1/4 cup of water to the slime.
  • Extra glitter (optional)

Steps for How to Make Slime With Contact Solution

1. Get a bowl to mix your slime ingredients in.

2. Pour your entire 6 oz Elmer’s Glitter glue into the bowl (or 3/4 cup of glue from a larger bottle).

Bottle of Glitter Glue

3. Add your 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and mix in thoroughly.

Also add up to 1/4 cup of water if you want a more stretchy slime.

Baking Soda add to Slime

5. Slowly add in your contact lens solution

Reminder: your contact lens solution should contain boric acid or your slime will not form.

Add it in slowly and mix if possible so that you can adjust and ensure you do not add too much.

We like to add in 1 tablespoon to start and then mix. Then slowly add in the rest.

Knead and mix thoroughly before adding more as you do not want to add too much or your slime will get too hard.

You may not need the full amount so take this step slowly.

How to Make Slime With Contact Solution

6.  Now mix until your slime forms and begins to harden.

Take it out and knead, knead, knead. You may be surprised how much you need to knead to really make the slime form. It will be very sticky at this point. Especially if you added water. Keep kneading and stretching the slime and it will become less sticky.

If it’s not the desirable consistency keep kneading. Only add a little more contact solution a teaspoon at a time to prevent the slime from becoming too hard.

If you still find it to still be too sticky, add a little bit of lotion or baby oil to your hands.

slime contact solution

You can print the full recipe off here: 

Contact Solution Slime
5 from 25 votes

How to Make Slime With Contact Solution

Ingredients

  • 1 Bottle of Elmer's Glue (6 oz or 3/4 cup of glue)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • TBSP of Contact Lens Solution
  • 1 TBSP Optional – Add 1/4 cup of water if you'd like a more stretchy slime. We do recommend doing this step.
  • Optional – Add in extra glitter if desired

Instructions 

  • Get a bowl to mix your slime ingredients in.
  • Pour your entire 6 oz Elmer’s Glitter glue into the bowl.
  • Add your baking soda and mix in thoroughly. Also add up to 1/4 cup of water here if you want a more stretchy slime.
  • Slowly add in your contact lens solution (reminder: your contact lens solution should contain boric acid or your slime will not form). Add it in slowly and mix if possible so that you can adjust and ensure you do not add too much. You may not need the full amount so take this step slowly. 
  • Now mix until your slime forms and begins to harden. Take it out and knead, knead, knead. You may be surprised how much you need to knead to really make the slime form. If it’s not the desirable consistency keep kneading. If you find it to still be too sticky, add a little bit of lotion or baby oil to your hands. 

Slime Safety & Precautions

Note: Making slime is a science experiment and safety precautions should still be made when creating slime. By making this slime, you agree to our site terms which you can read here.

  • Adults should handle any chemicals and products
  • Adults should make the slime
  • Always read and follow the labels of products used. If contact lens solution is accidentally ingested, seek medical attention immediately.
  • This project is not suitable for children under 4.
  • Slime should not be placed in the mouth. Always wash hands before and after playing with the slime.
  • If you notice any skin irritation, discontinue use immediately. If you have sensitive skin, wear gloves while making and playing with the slime.
  • Slime is a science experiment and should be made and played with in moderation. Do not allow children to make their own slime and do not play with slime for an extended period of time.

We hope this easy to follow recipe on how to make slime with contact solution has been helpful!

See more of our favorite slime recipes:

More Slime Recipes

Head over to our Unicorn Slime page to see how you can turn this into Unicorn Slime!

Unicorn Slime Recipe

Make Fluffy Slime which has a different texture and is fun to play with! See our Fluffy Slime Recipe.

Fluffy Slime

See how we turned these 4 slimes into Galaxy Slime! This one is really fun to mix!

Slime Galaxy Colors
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100 comments on “How to Make Slime With Contact Solution”

  1. Hello,

    We tried making your butter slime recipe – followed it to the tee and it never turned into slime. We used Equate brand that you had linked.

    What did we do wrong?

    1. The Best Ideas for Kids

      Make sure that version of Equate has sodium borate and boric acid on the label. We typically use Renu Fresh but have many followers that use Equate. Also make sure you’re using regular Elmer’s white school glue, not Glue-All or their natural brand. And finally check your baking soda isn’t expired. It is one of the ingredients that is the problem so hopefully that helps!

  2. Love this, excited to try with our daughter. I really like the larger, silver/teal glitter you show here – any links to where it came from? Thank you!

    1. The Best Ideas for Kids

      Hi Erika – we buy a lot of our glitter from Michaels and this one actually came from there. They have two sections of where they sell glitter in the craft section and in the kids craft section. Check both areas and you should find something similar. Thanks!

  3. 5 stars
    So… my daughter had slime that she received at a Birthday party a while ago. Well… today she really wanted to play with the slime and had a melt down when she searched high and low and couldnt find it anywhere. To be honest… I think I threw it out when it got really dirty. THANK GOODNESS for your recipe! You are a lifesaver! We had all the ingredients already at home and we were able to whip up new slime in no time. Bonus: It was a great activity that we did together. She was soooo happy! THANK YOU!

  4. What do you use for color (besides glitter glue)? Paint, food coloring? I didn’t see it in the recipe.

  5. Tressy N Collier

    If using the gallon sized bottle of glue, how did you measure out 6 ounces? If I’m using measuring cups, approximately what does that translate to?

  6. 5 stars
    Excellent recipe and very easy to make! My 8yo daughter is going to use this simple recipe at school for Teach the Teacher Day. She’s super stoked!!! I used Up and Up sensitive saline solution from Target, only needed about 1 tablespoon and used about 1/4 cup of water because the Kid loves stretchy slime! Works perfectly, thanks so much for sharing!!!

    1. The Best Ideas for Kids

      We’re so glad you like it and found the perfect combination for how you like your slime! 🙂

  7. Thankful i came across ur post. I bought the elmers galaxy slime starter pack. I thought it was a complete slime kit.. but we had to purchase separately baking soda and contact solution. Kids was stoked to make slime.. but all 3 glue bottles (soo expensive in my country) went to waste as it was too watery and sticky. I tried n tried. Didnt happen. Then i read you said the contact solution has to contain boric acid. Bingo. The one we used didnt contain that. But we didnt know! Honestly felt so cheated cos elmers didnt specify this in their instruction/ingredients.. wish i came across ur post sooner.

    1. The Best Ideas for Kids

      That’s great to hear Annie, I’m glad you found the right contact solution to make it work. Glad we were able to help!

  8. Made fantastic slime using this recipe, the texture is perfect, not to sticky so isn’t sticking to clothes, etc. really stretchy so the kids are loving it. The only problem i’m having is that the slime is leaving a greasy residue on hands, even though I don’t mind this, I know my niece’s mother isn’t going to be happy. Is there any way of making it less greasy? Have I gone wrong somewhere along the way causing the slime to be greasy? Is this just the way it is? Any help will be greatly appreciated 🙂

    1. The Best Ideas for Kids

      Rachael we haven’t experienced a greasy residue but perhaps if you use a little baby oil or lotion on the hands when playing with it that may help prevent any of the slime coming off? Of course we always recommend washing hands right after use too. Glad you are happy with the recipe, thanks for commenting!

    1. The Best Ideas for Kids

      Lynn if it’s too watery don’t add as much water (or less contact solution). We like to add usually only 1 or 2 tablespoons of water and then slowly add in the contact lens solution.

  9. 5 stars
    Super excited to try this recipe. Thank you for such great detailed recipies and tips. Making a special ‘All About Slime’ Easter basket for my 8 yr old with everything under the sun to make, play and experiment for hours. 🙂

  10. How come your video for fluffy slime shows shaving cream being added? your recipe doesn’t include shaving cream.

    1. The Best Ideas for Kids

      Hi Joy – you’re on our regular slime tutorial page. Click the link above for our fluffy slime recipe and you’ll see the recipe for fluffy slime that includes shaving cream.

    1. The Best Ideas for Kids

      One batch you could split between 2 students if you’d like. If you want to make a lot, we suggest you get the gallon sized clear glue as that would be a lot cheaper! 🙂

    1. The Best Ideas for Kids

      You can get small jars on Amazon or at Michaels or a dollar store usually! 🙂

    1. The Best Ideas for Kids

      Hi Natalie – we link to our recommend brand and kind by Renu above in the post.

        1. The Best Ideas for Kids

          It’s going to be sticky when you’re initially kneading it. Keep working it for awhile and if you still find it sticky, add a little bit more contact lens solution (one teaspoon at a time) until you like the consistency. You can also put some baby oil or lotion on your hands instead which helps it to not stick as much. If you add too much contact solution it may become not as stretchy.

  11. thenlay choden bhutia

    I got a solution which says borax in sodium chloride form will it work?

    1. The Best Ideas for Kids

      We haven’t tried one with that specific ingredient. The one we get has sodium borate and boric acid it in. But maybe test patch a small amount of glue and see if it works?

    1. Hi Meredith – we haven’t tried that kind but if it has sodium borate and boric acid in the ingredients list it should work fine!

  12. About how much does this make? I have 8 children in my classroom and would like each of them to have some for sensory time. Should I make two different slimes using two bottles of glue? Thanks!

    1. One batch could be split easily in 2 or could make 3 but would be a very small amount. So with 8 I would suggest doing 4 batches. Hope that helps!

  13. How long does this stay good for for? If I made it for a class party and just had the children incorporate their add ins, would it be too dry to do that if I made in advance?

        1. The Best Ideas for Kids

          It will start to get hard. Keep in an air tight (air removed) container or bag and it should last at least a week. Usually longer!

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