Call me a killjoy, but I have been avoiding the slime craze at all costs in my house. The number one reason? The mess. The idea of having to remove slime makes me shudder.
I’m not the world’s most houseproud mum but I hate things that add unnecessarily to the chaotic and messy existence that is life with three kids. For this reason, I’m also not a huge fan of playdough, glitter or paints either (that’s what Grandma’s house is for!)
However, my kids have been begging me to let them make slime and the parts of me that are into scientific and sensory experiences are starting to waver. I might not like mess, but I do like active learning!
Borax-free slime recipes
I particularly like the idea of making slime without borax so it’s as safe as possible. Here are some great alternative recipes. The Empowered Educator also has some creative safe slime alternatives that are even good for littlies.
Before I cave completely on this slime thing, I wanted to make sure that this stuff isn’t going to permanently turn my house into a technicoloured slime-fest. I called on my good friend Google to tell me how hard (or easy) it is to remove slime. I was actually surprised.
How to remove slime
The take home tips from my research are:
- Remove the excess. Scrape of as much slime off as you can before you begin any stain removal treatments. A toothbrush or soft bristled brush seems to work well to lift the slime off the surface rather than rubbing it deeper into fibres.
- Freeze slime! After you have scraped off the excess, apply ice cubes in a Ziplock back to the slime to freeze it before removal. (I’d be inclined to chuck the whole item in the deep freeze)
- Vinegar is your friend. A handy cleaning agent at the best of times, it seems vinegar is often recommended to remove slime, particularly from clothes and other fabrics.
- Make it hot. Use warm to hot water to help with stain removal as this helps dissolve the slime.
- Avoid food colouring. It seems most of the staining from slime comes from the added colours so if you, like me, are worried about technicolour mess, go for au naturel slime!
There are a zillion posts and YouTube videos for showing you how to remove slime in different scenarios but this one sums up clothes, carpet and furniture quite nicely.
So, I guess there is nothing for it but to take the plunge and get slimed!
