Easy DIY Magnetic Slime Recipe

Fun slime recipe and a science experiment rolled (or squished) into one

Ready to have a slime-tastic afternoon with your very own batch of magnetic slime? With just a few household ingredients like Elmer’s glue and baking soda, you can easily transform traditional slime from a fun toy into a fun and funky magnetic wonder. Follow this recipe to make your own magnetic slime!

Materials Needed

¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of Elmer’s glue
¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of water
½ teaspoon (2 grams) of baking soda
1 tablespoon (78 grams) of iron oxide powder
2 tablespoons (30 mL) of contact lens solution (or other solution containing boric acid and sodium borate)
neodymium magnet

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Magnetic Slime Recipe

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1
Combine the water and glue in a mixing bowl. In your mixing bowl, add your ½ cup of water and ½ cup of glue. Stir until the solution is mixed well.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Optional: If you want your magnetic slime to have a certain color, add a drop of that specific food coloring to the mixture.
- Make sure you’re crafting on a flat, covered table in a room with an open window or air vent to avoid inhaling the iron oxide powder or borax from your boric solution. If you don't want to get your hands dirty, wear gloves.
Add your ½ teaspoon of baking soda to your diluted glue and mix the solution completely.^{[2]XTrustworthy SourceScience BuddiesExpert-sourced database of science projects, explanations, and educational materialGo to source}
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3
Add your contact solution a little at a time until the mixture peels. Slowly, add your contact lens solution a little at a time. Start with ½ tablespoon and stir. Continue until the mixture balls together and peels away from the bowl.^{[3]XResearch source}
- If you don’t have a contact lens solution, other solutions that contain the necessary compounds boric acid and sodium borate are laundry detergents, household cleaners, and liquid starch.
- If you are using a household cleaning solution instead, stand away while pouring to avoid ingesting any fumes.
4
Knead your slime. Use your hands to squeeze, ball, and smooth out your slime several times. Pretty soon, you should have a putty-like slime!^{[4]XTrustworthy SourceScience BuddiesExpert-sourced database of science projects, explanations, and educational materialGo to source}
- If the slime seems sticky at first, keep kneading. It should thicken as time progresses.
- Wear gloves for this part if you don’t want to get your hands dirty.
5
Add your iron powder. Slowly add your tablespoon of iron oxide powder to the slime.^{[5]XTrustworthy SourceScience BuddiesExpert-sourced database of science projects, explanations, and educational materialGo to source}
- Stand away to avoid ingesting iron dust.
- Iron oxide powder (or iron fillings) can be purchased at a nearby craft store, Walmart, or online if you don’t feel like going out!
6
Knead the iron powder into the slime. Once you’ve added your iron fillings, knead the slime until the powder is fully mixed in and it is all one color.^{[6]XTrustworthy SourceScience BuddiesExpert-sourced database of science projects, explanations, and educational materialGo to source}
- Around this time, the slime should start to smooth and dry. Use a paper towel if necessary to assist with this process.
- If one tablespoon is not enough iron oxide powder, feel free to add up to two.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Playtime Ideas

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1
Observe the slime’s magnetism! By now, you should have fully functional magnetic slime. Place your neodymium magnet close to the putty and watch their attraction!^{[7]XResearch source}
- Make sure you’re using neodymium magnets for this process. Neodymium magnets are a form of rare-Earth magnets with a super-strong magnetic pull and boron as a key element, making them extra reactive to the borax in the slime.^{[8]XResearch source}
- For fun, place your magnet on top of the slime and watch the slime swallow it whole!
2
Create magnetic field lines in your slime. To fully observe its scientific value, flatten your slime into a small rectangle and cover it in plastic wrap. Place your magnet on top of the slime for two minutes, then show it to the light. Look at the marks!^{[9]XResearch source}
- These field lines are a great example of your slime’s magnetic force.
When finished, clean your bowl, spatula and mixing materials to avoid the glue and baking soda sticking to them or, worse, the iron fillings causing damage.
Because of its metallic properties, your slime has a short shelf life. In roughly 48 hours, it will turn into a brown goo. Don’t contaminate your containers by attempting to store it. Appreciate your day of fun and then dispose of it promptly.^{[10]XResearch source}

Community Q&A

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Question
Will the magnets cut my hands?
Community Answer
Fingers can quickly become caught between magnets causing, which has the potential to cause cuts or blisters, but it's unlikely.
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Warnings

Keep your slime and magnet away from cell phones, credit cards and other devices with magnetic sensors that can be stripped away.
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Avoid slamming magnets together so your fingers don’t get hurt.
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