How to Make Toothpaste Slime
Create a simple, stretchy sensory slime using standard opaque toothpaste and table salt without using chemical activators, glue, or borax.
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🧰 Required Tools & Equipment
- ✓ Small mixing bowl
- ✓ Stirring spoon or craft stick
- ✓ Measuring spoons
- ✓ Refrigerator/freezer timer
📦 Materials & Supplies
- ✓ Opaque cream toothpaste (approx. 2-3 tablespoons)
- ✓ Fine table salt (approx. 1/4 teaspoon)
- ✓ Cornstarch (optional, for extra structure)
⚠️ Safety Checkpoints & Warnings
- • Ensure the slime is not ingested; wash hands after playing.
- • Avoid contact with eyes, as menthol in toothpaste can cause stinging.
📋 Step-by-Step Guide (5 Steps)
Dispense the Toothpaste
Squeeze approximately 2 to 3 tablespoons of opaque cream toothpaste into the center of the mixing bowl. Ensure you use an opaque paste rather than a clear gel for proper moisture balance.
- • A smooth mound of toothpaste resting in the center of the clean bowl.
- • Using a gel-based toothpaste instead of thick white cream paste.
Initial Aeration Stir
Vigorously stir the toothpaste using your craft stick or spoon for a full 60 seconds. This incorporates air and breaks down the gel binder slightly to prepare it for salt bonding.
- • The toothpaste becomes slightly glossy and slightly stiffened around the spoon.
- • Stirring too lazily or for less than 30 seconds.
Add Salt in Small Pinches
Sprinkle a very tiny pinch of fine table salt (less than 1/8 teaspoon) over the surface. Immediately stir the mixture thoroughly until the salt dissolves into the paste.
- • The paste starts clumping and pulling slightly away from the walls of the bowl.
- • Adding too much salt at once, which liquefies the toothpaste.
Chill the Mixture
Place the mixing bowl into the freezer for 10-15 minutes or refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours. Keep the bowl level on a flat shelf to cool evenly throughout.
- • The mixture surface turns matte and feels cold and firm to a light finger touch.
- • Leaving the bowl in the freezer too long until it freezes solid.
Knead and Test Consistency
Remove the bowl from the cold and gently knead the mixture with clean, dry fingertips. Roll the slime between your palms until it holds a ball shape and releases from your skin easily.
- • A cohesive, pliable dough-like ball that does not leave wet residue on fingers.
- • Handling with warm, wet hands which causes the slime to melt.
Credit: inspired by an original tutorial by ALL in One AB — watch the original on YouTube.
Don’t have everything?
- No Stirring spoon? Wooden craft stick or butter knife
- No Small mixing bowl? Plastic disposable cup or ramekin