How to soften slime? What to add to slime so that it stretches and does not tear if it dries out

Slime can harden for various reasons. A change in slime density occurs due to improper use or expiration date. There are several ways to soften slime at home.

For this purpose, it is not necessary to use special thickeners; sometimes improvised means, which are found in almost every home, are sufficient.

Why is this necessary?

Slime is a popular toy for relieving stress. It is a jelly-like viscous composition characterized by the properties of a non-Newtonian fluid. If the consistency of the toy changes, the slime begins to knead poorly, breaks, and does not stretch. Therefore, slimers strive to correct the situation using available methods.

There are various ways to soften slime at home so that it becomes normal and clicks. The procedure is performed with or without applying heat to the slime. The following can act as a softener:

water;
toothpaste;
hand gel;
lotion;
vegetable oil;
PVA glue.

Toothpaste and Panthenol

If the slime breaks, you can soften the slime at home using toothpaste. The recipe is recommended for both manufactured and store-bought “anti-stress”.

2 g of toothpaste are squeezed onto the toy.
Lizun is warming up.
Panthenol spray is added to the mixture.
The mass continues to be actively kneaded.

It usually takes up to 10 minutes for the toy to regain the desired consistency. If necessary, add a little more toothpaste to it.

What can be made from hardened slime?

If you started reviving the slime too late and it didn’t work out, don’t be upset. Even if the slime is completely dry, this does not mean that it is good for nothing. Here are some fun ways to use the toy.

Prepare a filler from it for a new handgam. A beautiful, but already dried slime can be crumbled and added to a fresh anti-stress. Colored crumbs will give the toy a spectacular look and original texture. To prevent the pieces from pricking your fingers when playing, you should treat them with a nail file.
"Cosmos" or "potion" in a bottle. If the slime has become as tight as rubber and you can no longer play with it, try making an unusual decoration for your room out of it. To do this, you need to place it in a glass bottle or flask, adding sparkles, beads, and rhinestones. You can mix several slimes that match in color.
Multi-colored balls. Old store-bought or homemade slime can easily be turned into a new toy. You just need to roll it into an even ball and leave it to dry in the air. Balls made from several slimes look beautiful; they acquire an interesting “marble” color.

How to make iceberg slime at home

How to soften slime without toothpaste

If the slime does not stretch, but breaks, you can use other recipes. In addition to toothpaste, to soften slime that has dried, you can use lotion or hand cream from any manufacturer. It is effective to use only Panthenol spray. It is sprayed onto the mass (2-3 presses), then the toy is gently kneaded until it returns the required structure.

Exposure to heat. One way to make slime soft is to expose it to high temperatures. When heated, the structure of the slime changes, making it softer and regaining its ductility. Procedures should be carried out under adult supervision so that children do not get burned. If the slime does not stretch, then boiling water, a microwave oven, and other methods can be used.
No heat required. There are also quite a lot of ways to soften the slime without heating it. Both cosmetics and PVA glue, glycerin, etc. are used as auxiliary substances. It is important to maintain proportions so that the slime does not become liquid, which will only worsen the characteristics.

We influence with heat

Change of structure

Let's figure out how to make the slime softer again. Let's look at some of the best instructions to help your slime soften if it's not stretching. They are based on exposure to high temperatures, as a result of which the structure of the toy becomes softer. Make sure children do not get burned when using these methods.

Using boiling water

Pour 150 ml of boiling water into a small bowl and place the affected toy in the container. Cover with a lid and leave for 5-10 minutes. After the specified time, carefully remove the lump and begin kneading without waiting for it to cool completely. The recipe is suitable if you need to soften slightly dried slime.

Soften in the microwave

If you need to quickly soften store-bought or homemade slime, this simple method will do. Place the toy in a plastic bowl, add 5 ml of boiling water and microwave for 40 seconds. The lump will become soft again and will stretch.

Shower gel

An effective way of what to do if the slime has dried out is to use shower gel or thick shampoo. To thicken the slime you need to follow the algorithm:

Add 10 ml of thick consistency cosmetic product to half a glass of boiling water.
The mass is mixed well until it increases and softens.
The slime is removed from the liquid.
The toy is placed on a paper napkin to dry slightly.
5 ml of boric acid is added to the mass and mixed well.

If everything is done correctly, the slime becomes viscous and elastic, and stops sticking to your hands. But if more ingredients are added than required, the mass will be too liquid. You can save the situation by combining a teaspoon with half a glass of water and pouring 15 ml of the mixture into the slime.

Why did the slime become liquid?

If the slime does not hold its shape, this indicates oversaturation with liquid. You can correct the situation using one of the following options:

add 1 tsp. table salt;
place the toy in starch for 15-20 minutes;
pour in 1-3 drops of sodium tetraborate;
mix the mixture with 2 tsp. granulated sugar.

Regardless of the composition, the following will help make the slime denser:

activators – boric acid, washing gel, liquid for storing contact lenses, sodium tetraborate;
thickeners - silicone, starch, granulated sugar, thick shampoo, film mask.

To avoid such situations, it is not recommended to store handgams in the bathroom and other rooms with high humidity.

Boric acid

Slime can become hard when it contains a lot of liquid. Over time, it hardens and begins to release water. If the slime does not stretch, you can use boric acid to improve its properties. In this case you will need:

0.5 tsp. toothpaste (non-whitening);
50 ml hot water;
15 ml boric acid.

To make the slime soft, you need to mix hot water with toothpaste. The toy is lowered into the resulting composition. The mixture is thoroughly mixed. Initially, the mass will stick to the walls of the container, but will gradually begin to curl up. It is necessary to introduce boric acid into the composition and continue to stir. After a while, the slime will curl and the slime will again become soft and viscous. If this does not happen, then another 10 ml of boric acid can be added.

Vegetable oil

To make the slime stretch and not tear, you can use vegetable oil. To do this, follow the following instructions:

The slime is placed in a dry container.
A spoonful of vegetable oil is added to the mixture.
The composition is carefully stirred until it reaches the desired consistency.

For this method of making slime stretchy, you can use not only vegetable oil, but also any other oil, including linseed or olive. It is recommended to take a refined composition that has no odor or color, which can ruin the original appearance of the toy.

Why does slime harden?

To understand the secrets of the softness and elasticity of a toy, you need to study what it is made of. Companies that produce slime in industrial quantities use their own recipes, which they keep secret. But there are many ways to make handgam at home using available materials.

In general terms, there are two main components, with the proper combination of which the slime acquires a special structure. This is a base - it is taken in large quantities - and an activator, which changes the properties of the main substance.

Loss of ductility occurs for several typical reasons:

Operating conditions are violated;
The ingredients have expired.

If the homemade slime initially turns out to be too dense and does not stretch, most likely the proportions between the base and the activator are off. This problem occurs when one of the components is of poor quality and has expired.

Many parents prefer recipes using safe substances. For example, you can make a completely edible handgam. But in this case, the question of how to make slime more viscous will be rhetorical. By default this is not possible when the toy is made from Marshmallow, for example. The problem can be solved when the base is PVA glue or shaving foam with sodium tetraborate.

It is worth understanding that the compounds that are obtained at home are not as stable as the mass produced industrially. Therefore, slimes fail faster. And most often they have to be thrown away precisely because of the loss of their original properties. This happens in different ways: depending on the composition, the toy becomes hard, too liquid, or becomes moldy.

How to solve the problem with elasticity depends on the degree of neglect of the situation. Conventionally, three stages of slime hardening can be distinguished:

At first, restoring ductility is not a problem. It happens that the slime becomes hard to the touch during play. If it becomes more difficult to knead it, just put the toy in a jar for a while so that its qualities become the same.
At the second stage, help is already needed in restoring softness and pliability. Because a child cannot really stretch his handgam once he starts playing with it. If the toy is stretched, it breaks easily.
When the situation is neglected, there is no pleasure in slime. It breaks and crumbles, is very dense and completely unyielding.

It’s time to take action at the second, and sometimes even at the first stage. If you restore ductility in a timely manner, you can extend the life of the toy.

Using varnish remover

To make the slime stretch and crunch, you need to add nail polish remover to it. The mixture contains the following components:

isopropyl alcohol;
acetone;
glycols

The product is used to soften hardened varnish, since the substances contained in it help reduce the density of the composition. Therefore, it is also suitable for ensuring that the slime does not tear and becomes soft and stretchy. To use varnish remover you must:

Place the slime in a clean container.
Add half a teaspoon of remover and 3 tablespoons of any toothpaste, except whitening, to the container.
The mass is gently kneaded for 5-10 minutes.
The “hand chewing gum” is pulled out of the container when it returns to its original characteristics.

This method helps to restore the condition so that the slime stretches. However, bench remover is not completely safe for humans. Therefore, after each use of chewing gum, you must wash your hands thoroughly. The procedure itself is performed in a well-ventilated area.

Recipes for different types of store-bought slimes

Store-bought slimes are softened using the same means as homemade slimes. However, you need to once again go through all types of slimes and find out which product is optimal for each of them.

Ninja

There are several ways to soften ninja slime:

You can put the slime in warm or almost hot water overnight. In the morning you need to add and mix in a pea of toothpaste. If after this procedure the slime has not regained its original softness and elasticity, you can further soften it with a non-greasy hand cream.
There is a faster way:
After this, place the slime in a fairly large bowl and microwave for 15 seconds.
During this time, the slime will have time to heat up and spread over the dishes. You need to try to collect it into one mass and then let it cool.
After it has cooled down, you need to knead it thoroughly with your hands again.
You can use shaving foam.
1. Simply roll the slime over the surface of the table, thus forming a kind of cake out of it.
Roll the cake into a tube and begin to thoroughly knead the slime so that the foam is completely incorporated into its composition and it becomes homogeneous again.

Instead of foam, you can also use hand lotion or even liquid soap in this method.

If the slime is really dry, then the following method is more suitable.
This time you will need citric acid. It has a very strong softening effect, so it is important to monitor the amount of citric acid introduced. Take literally a few crystals of citric acid, add them to the slime and knead as usual. If the slime starts to stick to your hands at the very beginning of hanging, then there is no need to worry, just continue to knead it in your hands and the stickiness will go away.

Transparent (glass)

Silicate glue is great for softening glass slime . It will not damage the transparency of this slime, will not make it cloudy or color it.

To soften transparent slime using this glue, you need to place the viscous toy in a durable bag and add a little glue there.
Directly in the bag, after tying it, remember the slime to return it to its original elasticity and uniformity.

Jelly

Jelly slime will soften well with plain water:

Just pour water on it, or dip it in water, or put it in a bowl with a little water.
Once the slime is covered with water, you can begin to knead and knead it.

Just be careful and don’t overdo it with the amount of water!

Antibacterial hand gel is also . You will need very little of it - just a couple of drops. In addition, such a gel will kill all microbes in the slime, which makes this method the best.

Batter

Butter slimes have a very pleasant texture. They are surprisingly soft and tender with quite a lot of density. In ideal condition, such slime does not tear, does not stick to your hands, and even smears on any smooth surface. Therefore, it is especially sad when such an amazing texture dries out. But there are ways to restore slime to its former elasticity and tenderness.

Let's look at it in order:

The first method: adding non-greasy hand cream to the slime. This is a fairly simple method, because all you need to do is just add a small pea of hand cream to the slime and knead it well so that the mass becomes homogeneous again. Start with a small amount of cream, and add more if it is not enough.
PVA glue is also perfect for softening butter slime. In order to soften the slime with PVA glue, you need to place the toy in a thick cellophane bag and add a drop of glue there. Then you need to close the bag and carefully knead the slime with glue until the slime becomes homogeneous again.
Methods with the addition of water and antibacterial gel are also suitable, because they are absolutely universal and suitable for softening all types of slime.

Ememdems

To soften the Ememdems slime, you will need a little ordinary toothpaste. Just add a pea of toothpaste to the slime and mix it thoroughly.

Just be careful when using this method, because after using toothpaste, the slime often becomes smaller in size and takes on a slightly different texture. And of course, now he will smell like toothpaste. So if you are not satisfied with this outcome, then it is better to turn your attention to such universal softeners as water and antibacterial gel.

Fluffy

Fluffy slime is very airy and soft, so shaving foam is best to soften it:

To add foam to the slime, roll it over the surface of the table. It will be more difficult to do this with him than with other slimes, because fluffy does not hold its shape for long. Therefore, it is worth doing everything quite quickly.
Once the slime is spread on the table, begin lubricating the cake with an even layer of shaving foam.
After this, crush and thoroughly knead the slime.

Voila! He is just as soft and gentle again. This method is not at all expensive, because you can borrow some foam from your father or older brother.

Cloud

To soften cloud slime, hand creams and body lotions are best suited . It is important to choose a non-greasy cream or lotion and not to overdo it with the amount of product added. Add a pea of cream and carefully knead the slime, achieving a completely homogeneous texture.

This method has one very pleasant side: the slime will smell wonderful like a cream or lotion, besides, such an additive will definitely not harm your hands and will even provide some care.

Adding Body Cream

Hand cream will help you make stretchy slime at home.

20-25 ml of any brand of cosmetic product is squeezed into a bowl.
Add 2-3 tbsp to the cream. spoons of heated water.
The slime is immersed in the liquid for 5-10 minutes.
The mass is kneaded in your hands until completely softened.

This method can be used to save jelly slime if it does not stretch well. Hand cream can be replaced with any other cosmetic body care product.

Using boiling water

If the slime has become hard and no longer stretches, it is suggested to liquefy it with boiling water.

The toy is placed in a plastic bag that closes tightly.
Add 2-3 tsp to it. water.
The hermetically sealed bag is placed in a container of boiling water for 15 minutes.
Over time, the toy is thoroughly kneaded to the desired state.

This method is used to soften glass slime. If the toy is not soft enough, then you need to repeat the procedure.

What care should be taken to avoid loss of elasticity?

A good stretchy slime will crunch and click for a long time if you follow a number of requirements and recommendations:

The toy is not designed for long-term continuous use. It begins to fall apart and may even stop stretching. This is due to the harmful effects of air particles.
At the same time, if you do not play with slime for a long time, it will also begin to dry out and lose its mass. Infrequent play with slime leads to loss of elasticity.
It is allowed to store the mass only in sealed containers. This could be a bag with clips or a jar with a lid.
“Feeding” the slime must be done at least 2 times a week.
Slime needs to have a “bath day” once a week, that is, wash it thoroughly with soap.

Having figured out the reason why the slime has ceased to be elastic and no longer stretches, you can easily solve this problem.

You can extend the life of a purchased toy by simply familiarizing yourself with its composition. Due to the fact that special components are used for original slimes, it is better to carry out the restoration procedure without adding any complex components. For example, you can use plain warm water. Heating it in the microwave also has a great effect on the elasticity of the slime.

With self-created slime, things are much simpler. The main thing here is to use the ingredients that are already in its composition. Thanks to these little tricks, the slime will serve for a long time and delight its owner.

Antibacterial gel

To make thick slime liquid, use antibacterial hand gel. It can be used for any type of slime, purchased or made independently. It will help turn thick slime into liquid in just a few minutes. 3-5 drops of the product are added to the anti-stress mixture, after which it is first stirred with a spoon and then with your hands.

Note! Antibacterial gel can not only soften the mass if the slime has dried out. It is recommended to use it periodically to clean the toy from harmful microbes. To do this, you need to add 2-3 drops of anti-stress gel and knead the mass well.

How to prevent slime from drying out and hardening

Over time, the slime decreases, which indicates the evaporation of moisture. If not properly cared for, handgam remains elastic for about 5-12 days. To protect it from drying out, you should:

store slime in a container with an airtight lid;
leave in the refrigerator door overnight;
Add liquid to the mass once every 3-5 days.

The plastic toy needs periodic water treatments. In hot weather and with frequent play, it quickly thickens. To prevent this, you need to place the slime in a container with a small amount of water. After 30 minutes, knead it thoroughly.

How to save with shaving foam

You can use shaving foam to soften the slime without much effort. It is not recommended to use the gel, as its use will not have the desired effect. To restore the slime, if it stretches poorly and breaks, follow these steps:

The mass is placed in a plastic bag.
Make 3-4 sprays per slime.

The mixture is kneaded well until it increases in size and becomes fluffy.
If the toy sticks to your hands, you can add a few drops of boric acid.

How to remove dirt

Handgams with a sticky surface quickly become dirty. This is especially noticeable when playing with transparent slime. To clean it from dirt, you need to:

pour 100 ml of warm water into a container;
add 1 tbsp. l. salt;
wash the slime in it.

If there are black specks on the surface or inside the toy, it is better to throw it away. These inclusions indicate mold growth. This slime is a source of fungal infection, so it is better to get rid of it.

What to do if the slime is dry

To restore slime if it has dried out, various methods are used. Among them are the addition of substances such as clear, toothpaste, body oil, etc. When choosing a method, you need to focus on the type of anti-stress, since the composition of toys varies.

Glycerol

Glycerin is used to make the slime soft again. The product can be purchased at a pharmacy at a low price. A few drops of the substance are added to the container with the dried mass, after which it is thoroughly mixed.

Antibacterial gel

If the slime is dry, you can use antibacterial gel. It helps to return to its original shape if the slime is tight or completely frozen. The procedure is performed in the same way as for softening.

Hand lotion

Hand lotion will be a more effective solution for store-bought toys. It is also suitable for homemade regular slime. A few drops of the product are added to the surface of the mass, after which the anti-stress is kneaded with hands to the desired consistency.

Water

You can add regular water to dried slime to make it stretch. The liquid should be at room temperature. The slime is placed in a container with water for 10-15 minutes, which will help increase its size and make it soft.

Hand cream

To make the slime stretch, you need to add hand cream to it. This will help make it chewy and soft. For the procedure, it is enough to use 5-10 ml of cream.

Lemon acid

Citric acid is one of the things that can be added to slime to make it stretch. It is used for various types of toys. For a standard slime, it is enough to sprinkle a pinch of acid on the surface, after which the anti-stress is kneaded. Citric acid will not help if the mass has already begun to fall apart.

Method 5: water

There are 3 proven ways to soften slime with plain water:

First you need to heat it well. Then the tight mass is poured with boiling water so that the liquid completely covers it. You need to soak the toy in water for 10-15 minutes. After this, carefully remove it from the liquid with a spoon and knead it with your hands until the mass has cooled. If it turns out to be too fluid, you should add a little activator.
Pour some water into the bowl with the slime and place the container in the microwave for 15-30 seconds. Instead of a household appliance, you can use a steam bath. The melted slime must be kneaded very carefully, as it will be hot. If the consistency is too liquid, add an activator. Then the mass is kneaded again.
Pour some warm liquid into the bowl with the hardened slime. And knead with your hands so that the water is completely absorbed into the mass. But this simple method is suitable if the slime has dried out a little and lost its former elasticity. For very hard slime that tears at the slightest attempt to stretch it, more radical measures are needed.

What to add to slime to make it stretch?

To make the slime stretch, you can add substances such as:

shaving foam;
body lotion;
boric acid;
varnish remover, etc.

If the made slime does not stretch and breaks, then toothpaste is added to it. Glycerin is considered an effective remedy; only a few drops are needed to make the toy more chewy. Anti-stress properties are restored with the help of glue and sodium tetraborate.

We save with shaving foam. You can revive the slime so that it stretches with shaving foam. It is applied to the surface of the mass with 3-4 sprays. Next, the slime is kneaded well for 5-10 minutes.
Dilute with Johnson's Baby Lotion. Homemade slime, if it becomes hard, can be softened with Johnson's Baby lotion. To do this, place the toy in a container, where a tablespoon of the product is added. The mass is thoroughly kneaded with a spoon to the desired consistency.

How to prevent thickening?

Proper and competent care of your slime is extremely important if you want your slime to last for a long time. Therefore, we will tell you in order how to care for the slime, so that later you don’t have to revive it or throw it away:

Often, homemade slime turns out to be of rather poor quality only because during production you added a large amount of thickener at once. It is best to add a few drops of thickener and mix the mass thoroughly, repeating this procedure the required number of times to ensure the slime acquires the desired consistency and elasticity.
To keep your slime stored for a long time and not dry out, try to get into the habit of always putting it away in a package or any airtight jar after playing with it. Do not leave it in the sun or in a very hot place, put it in a cool place.
There is no need to add various cereals, starches, soda and other bulk products to slimes. This ingredient is not at all suitable for slime and will affect its texture and elasticity in the most negative way. In this case, the slime will simply become tough, hard and not at all viscous.
When buying slime in a store, it is better to buy one, but more expensive. After all, cheap and weak ones are often much worse in quality. In addition, they are often sold already dry, because they were poorly stored in the store, for example, they stood on display under the scorching sun.
When buying slime from a craftsman who makes slimes, carefully study his page on social networks, read reviews, compare his price with the prices of other craftsmen in your area. You can ask for a specific slime to be made to order.
Also, the slime may simply expire, so carefully monitor the expiration dates of your slimes.

There's no need to worry about your slime drying out or drying out when there are so many cool, budget-friendly ways to get it back to its best texture! In addition, this is a very interesting and exciting process.

What to do if the slime does not stretch but breaks?

If the slime breaks, then the following methods are used:

adding a pinch of citric acid to the mass;
apply shaving foam to the rubber slime and knead it;
use toothpaste without whitening particles;
drip a little PVA onto the toy.

Sometimes heating the slime with boiling water or a microwave helps. This helps to change the structure and restore the original properties.

Method 7: without water

In addition to the previously mentioned methods, you can soften dried slime without water by adding:

Shaving foams . You will need 3-4 tbsp. l. means, and then the mass needs to be kneaded properly with your hands.
Air plasticine. This method is suitable for opaque slimes. The amount of plasticine is determined by the size of the spoiled slime. It can also be combined with shaving foam.
Body cream or lotion . This method is good for toys with a dense texture, handgams, but should not be used with jiggly and crystal. The fatty component should be added little by little, mixing into the mass each time.

Prevention

There are many reasons why slime breaks and does not stretch, but the main one is improper storage and expiration date. Spoiled slime can be remade or agents can be added to it to help improve its properties. But it is better to initially follow the storage rules so that the toy does not break down longer.

How to store slime so it doesn't dry out

To prevent the slime from drying out, it is necessary to store the slime properly.

The toy must be in a hermetically sealed container.
Do not leave slime in the open air for a long time.
Playing too long can cause it to dry out.
Anti-stress is recommended to be periodically cleaned of dust and dirt, for which antibacterial hand gel is used.

It is recommended to store the slime so that it does not dry out in a dark place where there is no direct sunlight.

Adding thickener

If the slime becomes hard, it should be softened, for which various means are used. For prevention, it is necessary to periodically add a few drops of thickener to the mixture. After this, the mass is thoroughly mixed for 5-10 minutes.

What not to “feed”

Components such as starch and flour cannot be added to slime, as they worsen the properties of the toy. In addition, these substances contribute to the development of pathogenic microflora on “hand chewing gum.” To prevent the appearance of bacteria and microorganisms, it is recommended to periodically add 2-3 drops of an antiseptic to the slime.

What is it for

After making the slime stretches well, but do not forget about caring for the toy. Otherwise, it becomes dense and begins to dry out. Why does slime break?

moisture evaporates quickly;
penetration of dirt and dust into mucus;
lack of proper storage.

The properties of homemade slime are no worse than those bought in a store. The main difference is that if stored improperly, the density of homemade slime increases several times. Regular feeding will help restore the slime's elasticity. This requires the use of familiar substances.