How to Store Slime

Making your own slime is the perfect do-it-yourself afternoon project. You can make it from simple ingredients, and then you can play with it for hours. Of course, after making it, you want to keep it fresh, and the best way to do that is to put it in something airtight and stick in the fridge. When it does go bad, you'll want to toss it in the trash.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using a Ziplock Bag

  1. Image titled Store Slime Step 1
    1
    Stick the slime in a plastic bag. A simple ziplock bag from the kitchen will suffice for storing your slime. Pick one that's just big enough to hold your slime. You don't want one that's too big, as you want as little air in the bag as possible.[1]
  2. Image titled Store Slime Step 2
    2
    Squeeze out the air. Zip up the bag partway, and then squeeze out as much of the air in the bag as you can. Air will cause your slime to dry out, so getting it out will help preserve your slime.
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  3. Image titled Store Slime Step 3
    3
    Zip up the bag. Once you have as much air out as you can, zip the bag up tight. Go over the zipper again to ensure it's fully closed. Keep in mind the slime may stick to the bag.
  4. Image titled Store Slime Step 4
    4
    Place the bag in the refrigerator. Sticking the bag in the refrigerator will help preserve the slime. The slime can grow bacteria and/ or mold , which will make the slime gross, but the refrigerator can slow that process down.[2] Keep in mind that some slimes get hard when you refrigerate them, though.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Keeping Slime in an Airtight Container

  1. Image titled Store Slime Step 5
    1
    Pick a container just large enough to hold your slime. You don't want your slime to dry out, so air is your enemy. Go for a container that just barely holds your slime. It can also help to tuck some plastic wrap on top of the slime to keep it from drying out. Press the plastic wrap onto the slime.
    • A plastic food container will work just fine.
  2. Image titled Store Slime Step 6
    2
    Seal up the container. Close up the container tightly, making sure it's sealed all the way around. You can also use a screw-top container or jar. You want to keep that air out as best you can![3]
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    3
    Put the slime in the refrigerator. The best place to keep your slime is in the refrigerator. The cold will help slow down the growth of bacteria, mold, and other yucky stuff.[4]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Keeping Your Slime Fresh

  1. Image titled Store Slime Step 8
    1
    Keep the slime away from dirty surfaces. If your slime lands somewhere gross, such as in the dirt, you'll likely need to toss it. It's best to just keep it away from these areas to help preserve it.
  2. Image titled Store Slime Step 9
    2
    Wash your hands before playing with your slime. The bacteria on your hands can increase the chances of nasty stuff growing on your slime. Try washing your hands thoroughly before playing with your slime. Use soap and warm water, and be sure to scrub for 20 seconds. But if your slime is a softer watery slime, scrub for 5-10 second or it will become runny and too sticky to touch. You may also leave your dirty slime in a bowl of warm water for 10 minutes (not hot or it could melt your slime).
  3. Image titled Store Slime Step 10
    3
    Add water to dry slime. If your slime has dried out a bit, you can put it in a bowl and add some water. Mix it together with your hands until it softens. You can also use a drop or two of antibacterial gel in place of the water.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Disposing of Slime

  1. Image titled Store Slime Step 11
    1
    Check on the slime before a week is up. Your slime won't last terribly long, usually a week or less. Make sure you play with it before it goes bad, and check on it in a week to see if it has.[5]
  2. Image titled Store Slime Step 12
    2
    Throw out moldy slime. If your slime starts growing anything, it's time to toss it out. It might grow white or blue fuzz on top of it, which is mold. If you see it, just think of it as a sign to make new slime.[6]
  3. Image titled Store Slime Step 13
    3
    Look for dirtiness. If you notice your slime is getting grungy, it's time to toss it. You may notice it's a different color or that it smells funny. It's also time to toss it if you accidentally drop it somewhere gross.
  4. Image titled Store Slime Step 14
    4
    Toss the slime in the garbage. You might be tempted to throw slime down the drain because it seems liquidy. However, it's much better to toss it in the trash, as it can clog up the drain.[7]
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    What is the maximum amount of time that my slime can last?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    As long as it is stored in an airtight container, it should last for a few weeks to a few months.
  • Question
    Do you need to refrigerate slime?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No, you don't have to refrigerate slime. In fact, many people found that their slime lasts longer outside of the fridge, as long as they seal the baggie tightly. Keeping the slime in the fridge will help prevent mold and bacterial-growth, however.
  • Question
    Is there any way to store slime without putting it in a refrigerator?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes. The best way to store slime is by putting it in an airtight container. It is not mandatory to refrigerate if you put in an airtight container.
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Things You'll Need

  • Dirty Slime
  • Ziplock bag or airtight container
  • Plastic wrap, optional

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/adventures-in-chemistry/experiments/slime.html
  2. ↑ http://www.miniscience.com/kits/slime/
  3. ↑ http://blog.learningresources.com/make-slime-science-experiment/
  4. ↑ http://www.miniscience.com/kits/slime/
  5. ↑ http://blog.learningresources.com/make-slime-science-experiment/
  6. ↑ http://www.miniscience.com/kits/slime/
  7. ↑ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/slime-is-it-a-solid-liquid-or-both/

About This Article

wikiHow Staff
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 79,229 times.
73 votes - 83%
Co-authors: 19
Updated: May 17, 2022
Views: 79,229
Categories: Putty Dough and Slime
Article SummaryX

One way to store slime is by placing it in a Ziploc bag. Be sure to use a bag that is large enough to hold all of your slime, and zip it part of the way before pressing the air out of the bag. Seal it the rest of the way and place the bag in the refrigerator to prevent bacteria growth on the slime. If you don’t have a Ziploc bag, you can wrap the slime completely in plastic wrap. Then, place the wrapped slime into an airtight container, and seal it tightly before putting the container in the refrigerator. Remove your slime from the refrigerator when you want to use it. IF you want to learn how to keep your slime fresh when you play with it, keep reading!

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