If you thought the slime trend had dried up by now, you couldn’t be more wrong. Kids’ interests are ever-changing, but one thing always seems to remain the same: an enthusiasm for all things sticky, gooey, bendy, and sometimes gross.
Not only is slime fun for your kids, but it’s a great learning tool. Slime can be used to teach kids about science, math, art, and even history! It’s also a great way to get creative with their playtime.
Although it’s simple to make, sometimes, slime can go wrong. If you’ve ever over-activated your slime, you’ll know that the solid, unbendable blobs that follow will NOT go down well with the kids.
If you mess up your slime in this way, is there a way to fix it? Well, you might just be in luck. Keep reading to find out more about over-activated slime and how to fix it.
What Is Slime?
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of slime. This super gooey, sticky trend has become popular with kids of all ages, and honestly, they can’t get enough of the stuff!
Slime is basically just water mixed with sodium borate or borax. Kids add other ingredients like salt or baking soda for different effects.
The most common type of slime is called “activator” slime because it contains an activator. An activator is a chemical compound that makes your slime come alive.
Activators are usually added to slime in order to make it stretchier and more pliable. They also help keep the slime from hardening up too quickly after being made.
The problem is that sometimes these activators aren’t used properly. For example, some kids use them as if they’re regular food coloring, and others mix them into the slime without even realizing what they are doing.
The result? A lot of kids have had trouble getting their slime to work right. It’s either too thick or too thin, or it doesn’t stick together at all!
This guide will show you how to fix over-activated slime so you can enjoy making this fun activity again.
What Causes Over Activated Slime?
Over activated slime happens when you use too much activator. If you don’t know how much activator to use, here’s a helpful hint: You should be able to spread your slime out easily on a flat surface.
If you need to push down on it to flatten it out, then you may have used too much activator.
If you do end up using too much activator, there are a few ways to fix it. We’ll take a look at how to fix over-activated slime in depth below.
How To Fix Over Activated Slime
Add More Water
One of the easiest things you can do to fix over-activated slime is to simply add more water. Adding more liquid will dilute the activator, which means less of it will be left behind once you knead the slime.
Use Boric Acid Instead Of Sodium Borate
When adding activators to slime, you want to avoid using sodium borate (borax). While it works well to activate the slime, it tends to leave a residue behind that isn’t good for your skin.
Instead, try using boric acid. Boric acid is similar to borax, but it won’t leave any residue behind. You can find boric acid in the baking aisle of your local grocery store.
Knead Your Slime
Another thing you can do to fix over-activated slime is to knead it. When you knead the slime, you’re essentially mixing the activator back into the water. This helps to break down the activator and reduce its effectiveness.
Try Another Activator
Sometimes, no matter what you do, you still end up with over-activated slime. In this case, you might want to try another activator.
There are many different types of activators available, including citric acid, vinegar, lemon juice, and corn syrup.
Other Ways To Fix Over-Activated Slime
If none of the above fixes can cure your over-activated slime, here are a few more methods you can try. These include:
Use Antibacterial Gel
Not only can anti-bacterial help soften up your over-activated slime, but it can also help prevent bacteria growth in slime. Simply apply some of the gel directly onto the slime before you start playing.
Add Extra Glue
If this doesn’t work, you can also try adding glue to your slime to soften it up. To do this, try adding one spoonful of glue to your slime at a time and slowly knead it into the mixture. This should help soften it up.
Lemon Juice
You can even try using lemon juice to soften up your slime. Try pouring lemon juice over your slime and knead it in carefully.
Give it a few minutes, and this should make your slime soft and stretchy before you know it.
Try Hand Lotion
If you’re still struggling to fix your over-activated slime, we recommend trying hand lotion.
When you think about it, it’s an obvious fix, but it’s definitely not too good to be true. Adding hand lotion to your slime (just one or two spoonfuls) can help soften your over-activated slime.
Mixing in a small amount of water while you go will also help loosen things up a bit, too.
Wait It Out
If your kids have the time and patience (we thought not), you can always just wait it out.
Slime tends to soften up and melt with time, so unless your slime is SUPER over-activated, there’s a good chance it’ll sort itself out on its own.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, these tips have helped you fix over-activated slime! So, before you go throwing it straight in the bin, try out a few of the tips and tricks above to help get things moving.
The best bit? Most of these ingredients are things you probably already have in your cupboards, so you won’t have to shell out for completely new slime or an expensive fix!
Before you know it, your slime should be gooey, stringy, bendy, and fun again!
