8 toys you should clean regularly or toss Slime: 30 million CFUs – 3 times the amount of bacteria in a kitchen sink. Doll: 13 million CFUs – 9 times more bacteria than a pet's food bowl. Small toy car: 40,000 CFUs – about 2 times the bacteria of a bathroom faucet handle.
“Most slime recipes out there call for Borax, a strong alkaline substance like lye,” said Mark Johnston, program coordinator of the Regions Hospital Burn Center. “If used improperly or carelessly, it can cause chemical burns.” According to Johnston, close parent supervision is key to making sure your child stays safe.
Boron is a chemical commonly used in many brands of slime, DIY kits, and some DIY recipes to give it that rubbery texture. While it may feel fun, it's actually not great for our health. Boron is an acute eye, respiratory tract, and nasal irritant and is harmful if swallowed (1).
The slime can grow bacteria and/ or mold , which will make the slime gross, but the refrigerator can slow that process down. Keep in mind that some slimes get hard when you refrigerate them, though.
Collectively, these are called slime molds. Even though they can be strange or gross to look at, slime molds are completely harmless to humans, pets, and the plants in your flower beds. The type of slime mold that I have received the most calls about is called Fuligo septica aka Dog's vomit.
But some of the ingredients in slime can be harmful to the environment when it's thrown away. For example, slime made out of glue is essentially making a big lump of plastic. Plastic can take many years to break down because it doesn't rot like food or natural materials, such as paper.
“However, larger quantities of slime (depending on the ingredients) may cause nausea, vomiting, stomach aches, diarrhea, or other serious symptoms.” With this in mind, it's best to err on the side of caution and contact the Poison Control Center or your pediatrician at once, especially because there have been reports ...
What should I do if my child swallowed Borax slime? If your child has swallowed Borax slime and shows any of the above signs and symptoms, seek medical attention and call Poison Control: 1(800) 222 – 1222.
All you need to make safe slime at home without borax is glue, baking soda, contact solution, and a little glitter. It's a fun and safe activity for kids.
Avoid direct contact with the eyes and wash your hands after making and playing with the slime. And it's always a good idea to store household cleaning and laundry products out of reach of children.
Young children or others who may put the slime in their mouth should play only with edible slime made with food. Non-borax recipes that use starch are safer overall than the ones that use borax. Pregnant women should avoid borax-slime recipes.
Play-Doh Slime: Super Stretch, and HydroGlitz 12 Color Variety Pack for Kids 3 Years and Up, 1.8-Ounce Cans, Non-Toxic, Assorted Colors, Includes 2 Tools.
Most recipes for slime include so-called “non-toxic” ingredients and because of that it's assumed that they are safe. The truth is non-toxic isn't the same as inert and non-toxic ingredients still have dangers. The slime recipes that started this whole phenomenon contained borax.
That question has popped up as news reports have come out about children suffering burns and skin rashes from the slime. The potential culprit is borax, also known as sodium borate. You'll find borax in products like cleaning supplies and laundry detergents.
But isn't slime too dangerous for baby and toddler? I get asked this a lot – along with many of the other sensory activities I share and my answer is always the same NO! As long as you use safe/edible materials and supervise (as you always should with this age anyway!)
What Age Range to Start Using Slime? Devaney says children of any age can participate in making slime with food-only ingredients. However, for slimes that use ingredients like borax or polyvinyl (both common in many slime recipes), he recommends kids no younger than 4 create or play with the slime.
Slime is a unique sensory play substance typically consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a solution like white glue, and borate ions, commonly found in borax. When the adhesive reacts with the borate ions, it creates a thick, sticky “non-Newtonian fluid,” which means that it is neither a liquid nor a solid.
Slime doesn't go bad, but you may want to toss it if it develops mold or if it dries out. Refrigerated slime, kept in a baggie, should last for a couple of weeks and can last months in a sealed bag unrefrigerated. If slime contains borax, it shouldn't spoil at all.
Slime molds are not harmful to adults or animals, and you can break them up with a rake if desired.
Slime molds do not cause diseases.
Slime mold is not a plant or animal. It's not a fungus, though it sometimes resembles one. Slime mold, in fact, is a soil-dwelling amoeba, a brainless, single-celled organism, often containing multiple nuclei. View this slide show for some examples.