How to Make Slime Stretchy Again

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: March 24, 2023 Tested

Slime is a fun and stretchy toy that can be played with over and over. However, over time slime can lose some of its stretch. To make your slime softer, stickier, and stretchier, simply knead in water or lotion until the slime reaches your desired consistency. Within 5 minutes your slime will be restored to its former glory.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Making Slime Stretchier with Hot Water

1
Pour hot water into a small bowl. Run the tap until the water is hot but still comfortable to touch. Half fill a small bowl of water and then place it onto the bench.^{[1]
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- Don’t use very hot or boiling water as this can cause burns. Always ask an adult to help you when you are using hot water.
- Use a bowl that is large enough to fit the slime in.
2
Dunk the slime into the bowl of water. Place your ball of slime into the water for about 10 seconds. This gives the slime a chance to soak in a little bit of the liquid. After 10 seconds take the slime out of the water and place it on a clean surface, such as a bench or table.^{[2]
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- If the slime isn’t in a ball to start with, use your hands to squish it into a ball. This will make it easier to handle in the water.
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3
Knead the water into the slime. Use the base of your hands to flatten the slime and then fold it in half. Continue to flatten and fold the slime until all of the excess water has been absorbed into the slime.^{[3]
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- Don’t worry if initially, the texture of the slime is a bit strange because the more that you knead it; the softer it will become.
4
Mix more water into the slime, if necessary. If the slime is still hard to stretch and breaks easily, dunk it into warm water and knead it again. Continue to repeat this process until the slime reaches your preferred level of stretchiness.^{[4]
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- If the water in the bowl gets cold, refill it with hot water.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Lotion to Make Slime Stretchier

1
Add a squirt of lotion onto the top of the slime. Place the lotion onto a clean dry surface, such as a table or bench top. Push the slime down so that it lies flat and then pump 1 squirt of lotion into the middle of the slime. Make sure that there are no clumps of dried out lotion. ^{[5]
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- Any hand or body lotion will work for this method. However, avoid using a body butter or ointment as these tend to be thicker.
- This method will help to make the slime stretchier, softer, and stickier, and can be used on new or old slime.
2
Knead the lotion into the slime with your hands. Fold the slime in half so that the lotion is trapped in the middle, and then push down on the slime. Continue to fold and push down on the slime until all the lotion is mixed into the slime. ^{[6]
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- Take off any rings or bracelets before kneading the slime as it can be a slightly messy process.
- If you have a large ball of slime this could take up to 5 minutes.
3
Test out the slime. Stretch and squish the slime to determine if it has reached its optimal level of stretchiness. If the slime is difficult to pull or snaps when it is stretched, this shows that it is still lacking moisture.^{[7]
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4
Knead extra lotion into the slime, if necessary. If the slime still isn’t stretchy enough, flatten the slime again and add another squirt of lotion into the centre. Knead the lotion into the slime to make it extra soft and stretchy.^{[8]
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- Continue to mix lotion into the slime until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Make sure to wipe the surface that you kneaded the slime on with a surface cleaner and a cloth. This will get rid of any stickiness and leave it nice and hygienic.

Community Q&A

Question

Will this work on clear slime?

Unicorn Fangirl

Community Answer

Yes, on any slime. Note that the lotion might make your clear slime a little opaque.
Question

Will this work with any kind of slime, like, fluffy, jiggly, etc.?

Community Answer

These methods should work on all types of slime; however, if you use the lotion method on clear slime, the slime will become more opaque.
Question

How do you make slime stretchy without lotion

Community Answer

You can microwave the slime for 10 seconds, or place it in warm water for 30 seconds to a minute, depending on your slime's texture.