The cause of stickiness can be a deficiency of thickener in the composition, an abundance of water in it, poor glue, or unsuitable storage conditions. The same thing happens with old slimes, bought accidentally and cheaply, made according to fake recipes.
In most cases, stickiness can be eliminated by adding one of the thickeners used in making slime. Sometimes it is enough to leave the toy in an open jar for a couple of hours, rinse with water or knead. If it has expired, no magical components will help.
Why does slime stick to your hands?
There are several reasons leading to slime stickiness:
- Low quality. If the toy was originally cheap, it may have been made incorrectly or may have expired. In the first case, it is worth trying to correct the situation, but there is no guarantee that it will work. It is better to throw out expired slime.
- Violation of the proportions of components when making homemade slime. If it sticks, this may mean there is too much water in the composition or not enough activator. Using a large amount of toothpaste leads to the problem. Slime can also become sticky due to non-working or expired glue.
- Wrong recipe. There are many of them online; unscrupulous slimers advise using thickeners or other components that are known to not work. If you make a toy yourself, you need not only to make sure that the method is correct, but also to adhere to the recommendations for the amount of ingredients.
- The slime lay unused for a long time. This leads to the release of a mass of liquid onto the surface, even when kept under ideal conditions. Therefore, from time to time you need to play with slime and knead it.
- Violation of slime storage conditions. It is harmed by air temperatures below 5 and above 20 degrees, as well as humidity above 65%. Slime that has spread due to heat or frozen will have to be restored later. And you also cannot be completely sure that this will work.
- Incorrect feeding. More often this is excessive use of salt - more than 1 time per day. But adding excess water and glue can lead to a change in the texture of the toy. And if you feed the slime with sugar, juice and other unnecessary ingredients, it will definitely start to stick.
- Expiration date. Homemade toys remain elastic, pleasant to the touch and smooth for up to 3 months. Store bought – no longer than 6-12 months. If the time is up, there is no point in resuscitating them; it is better to purchase or make a new slime.
We recommend reading about how to remove slime from clothes. From the article you will learn how to remove stains from slime from clothes, methods using improvised means, and how to clean fur. And here is more information about how to soften slime at home.
Rules for caring for purchased slime at home, depending on the type
To ensure that purchased slime does not lose its volume and elasticity, it must be properly cared for. Care instructions vary depending on the type of slime.
Ninja
This type of slime has a transparent plastic packaging through which its contents are visible. The packaging also has a black tube attached to it for inflating the slime.
- The problem with ninja slimes is that they quickly lose their elasticity: to fix this, every few days add 2-3 drops of toothpaste to the slime and stir with a spoon until smooth. After this procedure, the toy will stretch much better than before.
- You need to regularly clean the slime from dirt.
- The toy must be stored in an airtight, tightly closed container.
Before purchasing a Hinja slime, make sure you are buying the original toy and not a cheap copy that will tear and crumble.
Batter
The name of the toy is translated from English as butter. The slime received this name due to its delicate texture, the consistency of which is reminiscent of melted butter. A distinctive feature of this type of slime is that it spreads on any smooth surface.
- To prevent butter slime from drying out, store it in any tightly closed container.
- If the slime begins to tear and stretch poorly, add a couple of drops of skin oil to it.
- Do not use tetraborate or glue to increase volume or remove stickiness - these ingredients will give the butter slime strong elasticity and it will not smudge.
Transparent slime
Transparent slimes look like colorless chewing gum or liquid glass. Compared to classic slimes, they are softer and more viscous, but do not hold their shape well.
- If you play with clear slime for too long, bubbles will start to appear inside. To avoid this, play with the slime for no more than 40 minutes, and then immediately put it in a special container.
- If you want the slime to become more transparent, put it in a closed container and do not touch it for 2-3 days.
- If your slime is too slippery and does not stick to the surface, add a little glue or flour and then mix thoroughly.
How to Fix Sticky Slime
If the slime is new, has been stored in the right conditions, but is sticky, you should not immediately add something to it to get rid of the deficiency. It might be possible to fix everything:
- Kneading. You need to knead the toy like dough until it stops sticking to your fingers.
- By drying. You can use this method immediately after discovering a problem or warm it up first. The slime is simply left in an open container for several hours. You can also lay it out on a sheet of paper, preferably glossy or polished, but in no case on a newspaper or napkin.
- Washing. This method is necessary if the slime was not fed correctly, or if particles of foreign substances were found in it. Dirt or lumps need to be pulled out of the mass, and then rinsed in a cup of cool water under a gentle stream from the tap. Then all that remains is to stretch the toy.
- Cooling. The method is suitable for slime that has become soggy from the heat. It should be placed in a sealed container and placed in the bottom of the refrigerator overnight.
Useful tips
To ensure that your slime does not spoil for a long time and retains its properties, read the tips below:
Any slime should be stored in an airtight, resealable container. Store-bought slimes are already sold in jars like these; If your slime is homemade, packaging made from soy sauce, cream or balm is suitable for storage. The temperature at the storage location should not be lower than +2 degrees and not higher than +4. This range is maintained in the refrigerator, so the slime can be stored there. Do not leave the toy in the heat - it will quickly turn sour. Do not store slime in the freezer - it will freeze and lose its shape. Wash your hands before playing with slime, and after playing, do not put it in dirty or dusty places. If small debris gets into the slime, you can only get it out with tweezers. Don't play with the slime too often - it may dry out due to loss of moisture. To prevent mold from growing in your slime, play with it at least once every three days. Periodically add a thickener to the toy to make it softer: tetraborate or eye drops will do. Then knead the slime in your hands for about five minutes. This advice does not apply to butter slimes; adding a thickener to them is not recommended. If the consistency of the slime has become watery, add a few grains of salt to the container where it is stored. It will dry out excess moisture and return the slime to its original structure. Periodically, the toy needs to be “fed” with water and salt. Once a week, add warm water mixed with salt to the bottom of the slime container. Due to prolonged play or overfeeding, the mass may harden.
You can fix this by adding a couple of drops of water to the slime and leaving it alone for a few days. If a purchased toy becomes too sticky, add a couple of drops of thickener and put it in the refrigerator for several hours. Before purchasing slime, pay attention to the storage conditions in the store and the date of manufacture of the product. To prevent homemade slime from sticking to your hands, add a couple of drops of vegetable oil to it. Do not heat the slime on a radiator, in the microwave or in other ways - this can lead to stickiness and damage to the toy. Let children under 6 years old play with slime only under adult supervision. Explain in advance that it should not be eaten or applied to the eyes. When adding a large amount of activator, the slime may begin to tear
To fix this, soften the toy with baby oil or hand cream containing glycerin.
The shelf life of purchased slime is from 6 to 12 months, depending on from two days to three months. If there is mold in the slime, it will have to be thrown away.
What to add to slime so it doesn't stick?
There are several substances that can thicken slime and restore its normal consistency:
- sodium tetraborate,
- boric acid,
- lens liquid,
- baking soda,
- nutritious cream,
- Body Oil,
- shaving foam,
- starch,
- concentrated washing gel,
- drops Naphthyzin, Levomycetin.
Whatever additive is chosen, it must be used carefully, in small quantities. And it’s better to try it on a small piece of slime first.
Starch
Starch is another absolutely safe food product; it has the form of a light white powder. It is used as the main component in slimes or added to glue to make the toy softer and keep its shape.
To eliminate the stickiness of the slime, you need to add just a little starch to it. But this method is worth using if there are no other options. Because starch further contributes to the drying of the mass, and in a fairly short time.
Sodium tetraborate
Sodium tetraborate is a medicinal product with a gel texture and can be purchased at a pharmacy. The substance cannot be called completely harmless, since with frequent contact with the skin it can cause allergies, peeling, and swelling. But for slimes, a little sodium tetraborate is used, especially when you just need to rid the mass of stickiness. You can replace it with a borax solution prepared from powder (2 tsp) and warm water (250 ml). It has the same disadvantages and advantages as tetraborate.
The substance is a strong activator, so it is better to use an aqueous solution to remove stickiness from the slime. The mixture is prepared from 250 ml of warm liquid and 2 tsp. pharmaceutical sodium tetraborate in glycerin. You need to add a few drops to the slime, then knead the toy with your hands.
Watch this video on how to restore slime that has become liquid:
Boric acid
Boric acid is a liquid medicine (borax plus alcohol) used as an antiseptic, a remedy for otitis media, conjunctivitis. There are fewer negative consequences from it than can occur when using sodium tetraborate. Boric acid has a less strong effect on the glue contained in the slime. Therefore, the liquid is added in larger quantities than sodium tetraborate. You can start with 0.5 tsp. substances, then you should stretch the toy. If it is still sticky, add more boric acid.
Liquid for lenses
Contact lens solution is used in combination with soda to make slimes. But only this should be added to the spreading slime, otherwise the mass will become too tight. You need to pour in a little and knead the toy until the problem is eliminated.
You can buy lens liquid at a pharmacy without a prescription. It is harmless, very rarely causes allergies, and then only when used for its intended purpose. And it is not necessary to take the most expensive liquid, the main thing is that it contains a borate buffer. This substance is found in solutions of Likosol, Licontin, Optimed, ReNu.
Baking soda
Soda is a food product that appears as a white powder. It is also used as an activator when creating toys, in very small quantities. To restore the texture of the slime, baking soda can be used in two ways:
- In the form of a solution . You need to mix 100 ml of water and 2 tsp. substances. Immediately before adding to the slime, shake this solution. First you need to pour in 1 tsp and knead the toy well. If it is still sticky, add a new portion of the product and knead again.
- In its purest form . The slime needs to be slightly rolled out and a small pinch of soda poured into the middle. Then the toy is folded into an envelope and kneaded.
It must be borne in mind that for some types of slime, soda is destructive and can lead to the release of even more moisture from the mass. Therefore, it is always better to try its effect on a small piece.
Nutritious cream
You can use any cream to remove stickiness from slime - for the face, hands, body. You just need to avoid gel textures, as they contain a lot of water, and the slime will spread even more. You just need to apply the fatty cream evenly on your palms and knead the slime in your hands. But this method will work if the mass is not very sticky.
Instead of cream, you can use baby oil or cosmetic oil intended for skin care. It is also applied to the palms, and then knead the slime with your hands. Fatty additives usually help if the toy contains starch or flour.
Shaving foam
Shaving foam is used as one of the ingredients in slime making. It gives the mass lightness and volume, but at the same time, in some recipes it also works as an activator. The foam does not dry out the skin and has a weak, unobtrusive odor. And yet you need to add it little by little, kneading the slime for a long time with your hands. If you introduce an excess amount of a component into the composition, the mass will fall apart into pieces.
Foam should not be used to thicken clear and ninja slime. But it works well with fluffy and original.
Washing gel
Concentrated laundry gel is essentially a laundry detergent with a large amount of active ingredients. It has a pungent odor and can change the color of the toy. The ingredient may cause allergies in some people. And if washing gel is the only thickener in the slime, after playing with it for a long time, the skin begins to peel off.
But to rid the toy of stickiness, the component can be used, since this will require a small amount. Literally a few milliliters are poured into a container with slime and the mass is mixed well. Suitable brands are Persil, Perwoll, Losk, Laska.
Basic methods
It is possible to restore softness, elasticity and ductility to the gel-like mass in several ways.
Exposure to heat
Sometimes, in order to restore your favorite toy, it is enough to warm up the mass.
Change of structure
As a result of exposure to high temperatures, the slime will be able to soften the mass. The structure becomes viscous and elastic again. All activities must be carried out under adult supervision.
Using boiling water
You can relieve stress in an easy and proven way:
- 145 ml of boiling water is poured into the container;
- immerse the composition in hot water and leave for 8 minutes, covered with a lid;
- then they pick it up and begin to actively knead it, without waiting for the mass to cool down.
This recipe is suitable for restoring a composition that has not completely dried out.
In the microwave
A simple way to thicken the mass can be applied to both purchased and homemade slime:
- the toy is placed in a container;
- pour in 6 ml of boiling water;
- place the container in the microwave for 36 seconds;
- After this, the lump needs to be kneaded well.
No heat required
It will be possible to correct the situation with a damaged toy without exposing the mass to heat. In this case, additional components are used.
Boric acid
Boric acid will help to liquefy the frozen mass of the toy. The solution can be purchased at any pharmacy.
- 47 ml of boiling water is poured into a deep container;
- squeeze out a small pea of toothpaste;
- the components are mixed until a mass with bubbles is formed;
- immerse the slime in the prepared solution and begin to mix;
- At first, the mass sticks to the walls, gradually, during stirring, it turns into an elastic lump;
- add 14 ml of boric acid and continue stirring.
Shower gel
If anti-stress has lost its elasticity, stopped stretching and started to dry out, shower gel will help:
- pour 98 ml of boiling water into a bowl;
- pour in 9 ml of shower gel with a thick consistency;
- mix the components thoroughly;
- The slime is immersed in the solution and begin to knead with your hands until the mass becomes soft;
- then the toy is placed on a towel to drain off excess liquid;
- add 4 ml of boric acid so that the slime does not stick to the skin of your hands.
Dilution with lotion
In order for the slime to stretch well, it must be elastic. If the composition has hardened, body lotion will help. In addition, the lotion helps to increase the toy to its original size. It is enough to pour 9 ml of the product onto the surface of the slime and knead the mass. In just a couple of minutes the structure of the toy will be restored.
Adding Body Cream
A body cream with a thinner consistency will help revive slime you make yourself at home. Squeeze 18 ml of the product into the container, pour in 6 ml of water and immerse the lump in the solution. After 4 minutes, take the lump into your hands and knead it. Hands are also lubricated with cream beforehand.
Using varnish remover
If the slime is dry, does not stretch and breaks, you should try nail polish remover. 2.5 ml of solution is poured onto the surface of the slime, after which the mass is thoroughly kneaded. Then add a small amount of shaving foam and knead again with your fingers.
How to save with shaving foam
Shaving foam will help save your homemade toy. Apply a few sprays onto the sticky lump. Then knead thoroughly with your fingers for three minutes. The toy will not only become soft, but will increase in volume. If the mass sticks too much to the skin, you need to add a small amount of boric acid.
Toothpaste and Panthenol
An effective recipe using toothpaste is:
- 2 g of toothpaste is squeezed onto the surface of the slime;
- gently knead the slime;
- then take the “Panthenol” product in the form of a spray and apply two sprays per lump, continue kneading;
- after 9 minutes the slime will acquire the desired shape and structure.
Antibacterial gel
Another proven and effective method for softening slime is using antibacterial gel. Place a lump of slime in a bowl, add a couple of drops of antibacterial gel and stir thoroughly with a spoon. Then the slime is picked up and actively kneaded until it becomes elastic.
Vegetable oil
Any type of refined vegetable oil is suitable, for example, flaxseed, sunflower, olive. A few drops of oil are enough to change the composition of the slime.
PVA glue
This component is ideal for restoring homemade slime. You can also use PVA glue to dilute the purchased toy. Do not overdo it with the component, otherwise the composition will stick to your hands.
The toy is placed in a thick plastic bag and a small amount of PVA glue is added. Then the bag is tied and the contents are mixed until smooth.
A funny thing made from shampoo and sugar
If you want to make this miracle of science transparent, let’s make a jumper, or what else you can call it a licker, using ordinary improvised means, two ingredients are used.
Guess which ones? I won’t hide it and you will see everything for yourself soon. A cheap option, but it is in great demand among most children, as it is light and affordable.
We will need:
- pantin provi shampoo - 5 tbsp
- sugar - 2 tsp
Stages of work:
1. Take shampoo at random, use any shampoo, but it’s better to take Pantin Pro and add sugar to it, stir. Well, it will be a hell of a mixture.
2. Next, cover the cup with a lid and put it in the refrigerator for 2 days, so watch what comes out after such actions.
3. But he is magical and unique, like a glass licker.
