What is a slime toy, why is it needed, what does it look like, what are its properties, how to care for it, what is it made from in production, what types of slime are there? Are slimes harmful to health?

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Probably everyone already knows such a toy as slime - it is the best anti-stress for adults, and a small amazing pet for kids. Slime calms, develops fine motor skills of hands and fingers, trains coordination, improves attention, and teaches you to take care of your loved ones. The list of benefits of slime can be continued endlessly.

You can read more about all types of slimes in this article. Everyone can choose a toy and recipe to suit their taste! But in order for the slime to please its owner and not spoil for a long time, it is necessary to provide it with proper care.

What is a slime toy?

Lizun, also known as slime , is a toy that is made from a viscous jelly-like material that has the properties of a non-Newtonian fluid.
For the first time, such a toy was produced back in 1976. It looked like green slime (this is what the word slime means in English) and was sold in small plastic containers.
its name “lizun” because of its similarity with the famous character from the film “Ghostbusters” Lizun.

Lizun

History of creation

The first slime was first produced by Mattel in 1976. Surprisingly, this toy was invented by an 11-year-old girl, the daughter of the factory owner, who accidentally mixed the ingredients available at the factory, including food thickeners. Initially, the slime was sold only in green and was packaged in an airtight jar, since it simply lost its properties when left in the fresh air for a long time. In our country, in the 90s of the 20th century, “slimes” were renamed “lizunov” after the past animated series about ghosts, where one of the characters was a green, friendly and very good-natured ghost named Lizun. It was at this time that the popularity of such an unusual toy peaked.

Why do you need slime, what to do with it?

Slime is a toy that you can have fun with. However, it can be used not only for games, but also to relieve stress.

Because of its consistency, the slime allows you to do almost anything with it.
It can be crushed by hand, stretched, crumpled, divided into parts, and then molded.
You can also throw it against a wall or ceiling. In this case, the toy will stick to the surface and slowly slide off it, or stick and smear.
If children can simply have fun in this way, then adults can relieve stress with the help of slime. By kneading a toy in their hands, crushing it and wrapping it around their hand, adults can calm their nervous system and relieve tension. This is especially true for the use of those slimes that are sold with additives, for example, balls, figures, etc.
You can also use slime to blow up big bubbles , which you can then burst with pleasure.
Some even take baths with slimes, using them as bath toys.
From some types of slimes you can sculpt various figures , which will retain their shape for some time after sculpting, and then spread.
This toy can also be used to develop fine motor skills in children , strengthen muscles and exercise joints, as well as develop limbs after herbs.

For the development of motor skills

Rule 3: treatment of diseases

If not properly cared for, the slime can “get sick”, that is, lose its inherent properties, harden or blur, or become moldy. In most cases, you should try to save it:

Stickiness is treated by drying the slime in the open air. You just need to open the lid of the jar in which it is stored and leave it like that for a couple of hours. Then the mass is kneaded.
If the slime breaks , citric acid, toothpaste, foam or shaving gel, shampoo or nourishing cream will help make it more elastic. You need to choose one of the components, add it little by little, knead and evaluate the consistency each time. It is necessary to add very little citric acid, as it greatly liquefies the mass.

Wateriness means that the slime has a lot of moisture due to excess salt from feeding, or it was stored in inappropriate conditions. You must first knead the mass to make it homogeneous, and then add a little thickener to it. Then the toy is kneaded with your hands again.
Hardening occurs due to a lack of moisture, so in the mildest cases it is eliminated by adding warm water to the mass and kneading. If the problem is very noticeable, you should use toothpaste, which is excellent at liquefying slimes. Shampoo and hand cream can also restore softness.
Mold on slime occurs due to excess moisture in its composition, too frequent feeding, or incorrect storage conditions. And this problem means that the toy will have to be thrown away. Otherwise, it will become a breeding ground for infection.

Watch this video on how to restore old slime:

What types of slimes are there, what do they look like: photo

If initially slimes were made only of one type of green color, today the number of their types is even difficult to count. Slimes differ depending on the material of manufacture, size, color, and other properties.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the most popular types of slimes and their properties:

Original. The slime has a semi-liquid form, stretches well and spreads strongly. Feels damp and slightly slippery. Available in green. This slime does not hold its shape, so it will not be possible to sculpt any figures from it.

Green

Jiggly or glossy. The characteristics are similar to the original one, it spreads very much and does not hold its shape. But at the same time, the slime is presented in silver color and has a glossy shine.
Fluffy. This slime is also called fluffy because it has a very airy and porous structure. It is very pleasant and gentle to the touch. It crunches a little when you touch it.

Air

Handgam. This slime is also known as hand chewing gum. Its consistency is quite dense, different from the consistency of the previously described toys. Slime holds its shape well and can hold liquid similar to a balloon when water is poured into it. Handgam does not sink in water.

Lizun

Crunch. Crunch or crispy slime is one of the most popular among all types. It is very pleasant and soft, crunches when touched. The basis for this slime is a simple original slime or a transparent jelly-like material, to which small foam balls are then added. This slime holds its shape well; if its quality is good, the balls do not fall out of the base.

Crunchy

Bubble This slime differs from all others in its structure - it is airy, inside it there are many small bubbles, which, when exposed to the toy, burst and create a specific sound. This slime is very elastic, but does not spread. Can be made in different colors.
Iceberg. The main difference between this slime and all the others is the crust that covers the base of the toy. This crust is very similar to ice cover, which is where the name slime comes from.
Transparent. “Clear” or “clean” transparent slime has the same basic characteristics as the original one. The only difference is the color - it is completely transparent. It is often used as a base for making other types of slime.
Batter. This slime has a consistency very similar to softened butter. It is very gentle and pleasant to the touch, it can be smeared on the table, any surface, or hands.

Batter

Monster slime. The only difference with this slime is that it has eyes. It is his eyes that give him the appearance of a monster. Otherwise, such slime can be of any consistency and color.
Magnetic. This type of slime is most popular and interesting among children. This slime contains iron powder, which determines the main properties of the toy. When approaching such a magnet slime, the first one takes on bizarre and funny shapes. The slime is harder to the touch than others and can be made in different colors.

Magnetic

Insect. This is the name of a slime, which consists of a jelly-like material and a plastic insect inside it. The jelly-like material can be of any color, as long as it has a transparent base so that the insect is clearly visible. The most commonly chosen insects are spiders, beetles and lizards.
Slime from the Lost World series. This slime is presented in the form of a jelly-like mass with a dinosaur inside. Most often, such slime is very liquid and is stored exclusively in an egg.

Transparent

Luminous. This slime always delights both adults and children. During the day, this slime looks white, but in the dark it begins to glow or changes color. The toy is charged from sunlight or a lamp. Most often, the toy is presented in mint, blue, lilac and violet.
Flavored. Any slime, any consistency and color can be flavored. In this case, the toy will smell of the selected flavor. There are a huge number of flavors: chocolate, cherry, vanilla, mint, pineapple, strawberry, mango, etc.
Spitting. This toy is presented in the form of a smiley face. The emoticon contains the slime itself, which “spits out” from the emoticon when you click on it.

Spitting

Thermoslime. Such slimes are also very popular because they can change their color. This reaction occurs when the toy is exposed to temperature. For example, green slime can turn dark green, orange - yellow, purple - blue.
Space. This slime is most often presented in black. Its base can be liquid or thicker. In this case, stars and dyes are added to the base, which color part of the slime, creating the “Milky Way” effect. These toys glow in the dark.
Ombre. This slime comes in several colors at once, which smoothly transition from one to another. The toy is soft, elastic and pliable to the touch.

Thermo

Mountain. This slime got its name because of its resemblance to a mountain. It is represented by two or three colors that lie on top of each other (from bottom to top). The bottom of the toy is made in a dark color, and the top is light - this creates the appearance of mountains.

In addition to the types of slimes described above, there are many others, since each of us can come up with something of our own, using just a little imagination and applying our creativity.

Is the composition of the fillers dangerous for children?

In general, slimes do not pose any danger, but it is not recommended to give them to children under 3 years of age. At this age, they learn about the world by tasting everything. Avoid contact of the mixture with mucous membranes.
Slimes sold in stores have a certificate of quality and do not pose any danger, while homemade slimes may be unsafe.

When making slime at home, all the necessary rules are not always followed. This can lead to rashes and redness of the skin during play.

Danger may include toy fillers such as borax, PVA glue, starch and gelatin. These substances themselves are not harmful, but if the exact dosage is not followed, their combination can become toxic.
No less dangerous are the food components that are added when making some types of slime. They contain mold and pathogenic bacteria, which leads to the development of fungus or diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Parents have been warned that a large number of slime-based children's toys could be four times the EU safety limit for a chemical called boron.

Following an investigation by a consumer group, 5 out of 11 commonly purchased slime products were found to be in breach of EU regulations due to the amount of boron they contained.

Consequently, the consumer company advises parents to "approach slimes with caution" and urges them to also be wary of homemade alternatives, as some often require the use of borax, which is made of boron, which is often used as a cleaning agent.

Excessive levels of boron can also cause vomiting, seizures and irritation, and the European Commission warns that high levels can also negatively affect fertility.

Nikki Stopford, Research and Publishing Director of Which? said: “If you have school-age children, you're probably very aware of the latest slime craze sweeping playgrounds. The kids love it.

“Parents buying slime for their children should be reassured that these toys are safe, so they will be shocked to discover that these substances can put their children's health at risk. There must be fundamental changes in product safety."

Of the products tested, the worst slime toy in terms of boron levels was identified as Toysmith Jupiter Juice, which contains 1,400 mg/kg boron - more than four times the legal limit of 300 mg/kg.

This was followed by CCINEE Pink Fluffy Slime, which contains 1000 mg/kg, and Cosoro Dodolu Magic Slime, which contains 980 mg/kg.

Each of the eight toys that were identified as not meeting EU safety measures were available on Amazon, but the retailer has since removed them from its UK site, although some are still available to purchase on its US site.

“All sellers on the Marketplace must follow our selling guidelines or they will be subject to action, including potential deletion of their account. The products listed are no longer available,” Amazon said in a statement.

Are there safe alternatives?

While traditional borax-based recipes are best avoided, there are natural slimes that parents can make with their children, although the texture will be noticeably different.

For example, the slime blog Slime Factory provides a number of different recipes for safe homemade slime using cornstarch, chia seeds and gelatin.

Each one is different in color and texture, but contains no toxic chemicals, and some are even edible.

What are slimes made from in production?

Slimes were originally made from guar gum and borax. However, over time, the technology for their manufacture has changed somewhat.

It is worth noting that the composition of the toy may differ depending on its type.
If previously a polysaccharide (guar gum) was always used as a polymer, today other ingredients are also used. For example, glue.
Borax is also often replaced with other thickeners. Here it is worth noting boric acid, starch, gelatin, etc.
Also, the slimes contain various dyes that make the appearance of the toy more attractive.
In addition to dyes, glitter, foam balls, rubber and plastic animals, beads, etc. improve the appearance of slime.

More detailed slime recipes can be found here.

Slime production

How much does slime cost and where is it sold?

Today, such a toy as slime is not in short supply; anyone can afford it.
Since slime is a popular toy today, you can buy it at any toy store.
Well, based on the fact that online shopping is becoming increasingly popular , you can buy slime on almost any trading platform or order it in any online store.
The cost of slime can be completely different. This will depend on its quality, composition, size, number of pieces, if we are talking about a set of toys, etc. If we take the average price, then it varies from 50 rubles. up to 300 rub.

Rule 6: slime storage container

Slime of any kind should be stored in a closed container with a tight-fitting lid. If it is a purchased slime, it is better to leave it in its “original” container. For homemade dishes, choose according to the volume of the mass. The slime does not need to come into contact with the lid of the container, but the distance between it and its inner surface should not be too large.

Plastic containers designed for food products are suitable for storing slimes. If you can’t buy these, you can adapt:

glass or plastic cream jar;
container in which there was medicine;
a tin or plastic jar of instant coffee;
container containing soft cheese or caviar.

Storing slime in a plastic bag with a zipper.
Before placing the slime there, any of them should be washed with soap and dried or blotted with a lint-free napkin.

You can also make a container for the toy yourself by using a hard milk or juice bag. Its inside should be covered with foil. Plain paper or cardboard becomes limp when exposed to moisture, which creates conditions for mold to form. How to make a container for slime using juice or milk containers:

First, the top is cut off and washed well from the inside;
on three sides of the container, use a felt-tip pen to mark the height of the future slime container, it should be the same;
on the fourth side the markings are made 10 cm higher than on the others;
along the marked lines you need to cut off the excess so that on 3 walls of the box the height is the same, and on the 4th it rises 10 cm above the others;
the latter is bent at a right angle to serve as a lid;
along the edges it should be covered with tape, if necessary, first cutting it off;
to securely fix the lid and box, use a magnet and a metal plate or Velcro;
The finished container can be decorated and labeled.

Watch this video on how to make a slime organizer:

How to buy slime on Aliexpress: links to the catalog

Aliexpress today is one of the largest and most popular virtual trading platforms.
This platform allows its customers to purchase various goods from China.
At the same time, prices for goods on Aliexpress are much lower than those we see in regular stores and shopping centers.
On this site you can buy almost everything, and slime is no exception.

Slime can be bought on Aliexpress.
To purchase such a toy on Aliexpress you need:

Go to the Aliexpress trading platform website .
Register on this site if you have not done so before, or simply log into your account if you have already registered before.
Next, you need to select the “Everything for Children” category, then the “Toys and Hobbies” .
After this, you can select one of the following categories and evaluate the assortment of products “Plasticine” , “Expander toys”.
You can also find slime in the following way by typing the words “slime”, “slime”, “slime” into the “search” line.

Useful tips and cooking tips

Store slimes only in sealed containers, otherwise the components will erode and the slime will quickly dry out, making it unsuitable for play.

Many slimes contain chemicals that are harmful to children, so if the slime is made for a child, be careful how he plays. If slime ends up in your baby's mouth, there is a high chance of getting food poisoning!

Do not use cold water when preparing slimes, as this water will not allow you to thoroughly mix the ingredients. It will make the components hard and they simply will not be able to connect to each other.

If you are using liquid dye, add drop by drop. You can very easily overdo it and eventually the slime will spoil, as it can stain your hands and all the objects it touches.

How to wash slime at home?

Since slimes are made of a jelly-like material, they tend to get dirty and dirty quickly. Another reason why slimes need to be washed is the options for playing with them, because slimes are often thrown on the walls and fall on the floor.

Washing slime at home is very simple:

Fill a container with some warm water.
Put slime in it.
Rinse it in water.
Shake the water off the toy and return it to the box.

Do this procedure regularly, this will help you not only preserve the appearance of the toy, but also its properties - stickiness, elasticity.

Timely feeding

Over time, the mass loses volume, becomes stiffer, drier, and begins to tear. This is due to the evaporation of water. To maintain volume, you need to feed the slime regularly. Fertilize every 2-4 days. Clean water can be added every day, salt much less often.

Fertilizers are made with various ingredients.

Warm water. Water can be added using a syringe with a needle. To do this, several punctures are made. No more than 1 ml of water is poured into each. The total feeding volume is 5 milliliters. After injections, the slime is thoroughly kneaded. Feeding in several stages allows you to better regulate the introduced volume of liquid.

Salt porridge. Porridge is made from a pinch of salt and a few drops of water. The mixture is thoroughly mixed, poured into the center of the sticky mass and kneaded.
Brine. For feeding, you can prepare a solution of 10 milliliters of water and a pinch of salt. Injections are given through a syringe in small portions. Constantly stirring, bring the slime to the desired consistency.
Eraser. An eraser may be added in rare cases. It is first grated on a fine grater. Add the shavings a pinch at a time, mixing thoroughly each time. The eraser does not dissolve. If there is excess, it can crumble.
Glue, water, salt and shampoo. The mixture is made from salt, 10 milliliters of water, 2-4 drops of glue and 3 drops of shampoo. The mass is mixed and added to the slime.

It is not recommended to use flour, granulated sugar or crushed chalk to feed slime. These ingredients can ruin the texture.

How to keep slime in shape, how to extend the life of slime?

In order for the slime to remain in shape for a long time, retain its properties and make you happy, it must be properly cared for.

You can extend the life of slime by following these recommendations:

Try not to contaminate the slime. First, only handle it with clean hands. Secondly, place it exclusively on clean surfaces, which we recommend first wiping from dust and dirt. Thirdly, try not to drop the slime on the floor, especially on a fleecy surface, carpet, etc.
Do not let the toy dry out. Sometimes, due to insufficient air humidity, the slime can dry out, stop stretching, and stick. In this case, it may even simply crumble into small pieces. What to do? Place a few drops of ordinary water into the jar in which you store it, close it and wait until the slime absorbs it. Accordingly, you cannot store slime in an open box, without a box, or in a place where it is very dry.
We also draw your attention to the fact that slime does not like extreme heat or extreme cold. In the summer, when the house is very hot and the toy may be exposed to bright sunlight, place it in the refrigerator; in winter, do not take it out into the cold.
Bathe your slime periodically as described earlier. In this case, all the dust, lint and hairs that are stuck to it will fall away, and it will become nice and sticky again.

Keeping in shape

If your pet is sick

Slimes are susceptible to various diseases that involve changes in their elastic properties:

1. Increased hardness . The cause of the disease is fatigue and overeating. If the toy is often fed salt, it becomes very elastic. Treatment comes down to a salt-free diet. It is enough to pour more water into the house than usual and place it in a dark place. After a couple of days, the slime will take on its previous shape.

2. Excessive softness . This problem is caused by excessive addition of water to the toy storage container. To get rid of the disease, you should add more salt than usual and place it in a shady place.

3. Lack of appetite . The cause of the disease can be overfeeding the slime and overwork. Treatment consists of following a diet for two days.

Lizun does not tolerate heat and direct sunlight. And if mold grows on the surface of the toy, you will have to throw it away.

Are slimes harmful to health?

Like any other toy, slime can harm a person's health, however, most often this happens when it is not stored correctly and when it is not played correctly.

Children under 3 years old cannot play with slime in principle, since at that age the child does not understand many things and can taste the toy, etc. The exception is when a small child plays with slime under parental supervision.
Also, slimes can deteriorate, get very dirty, and become moldy. All this, as mentioned earlier, occurs due to improper storage of the toy. The entry of this mold and dirt into the child’s body is also fraught with serious consequences.
Another disadvantage of slimes is the harm they can cause to a person if they get on the mucous membranes of his body. Such contact can cause allergies and redness.

Slime is not harmful, but has disadvantages

Otherwise, slime is a safe and even useful toy that contributes to the development of the child.
As you can see, slime is a very interesting and, to some extent, even useful toy that is available to everyone. Moreover, you can make such a toy yourself, using available materials that are found in every home. With the help of slime you can develop fine motor skills, calm the nervous system and simply relax.

Reproduction of handgam

Of course, jelly stickies are not divided into boys and girls. However, they can reproduce. You will see that one or more bubbles have formed on the toy - congratulations, the slime is waiting for replenishment. What do we have to do:

do not pierce the bubbles with a needle;

do not disturb for 4-5 days;

then take out the slime and examine it; specks of a different color should appear on it;

If there is a stain, carefully separate it from the gum - it's a baby!

Prepare a separate house for your baby and place him there.