How to Make Silly Putty

Silly Putty was accidentally invented during World War II when American scientists wanted to create synthetic rubber. Now it has become a popular toy. This article will show you how to make the stretchy plastic commonly found in plastic eggs.

Table of Contents

Use liquid starch

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Mix two parts milk glue with one part liquid starch. Liquid starch (such as Sta-Flo in the US) must be concentrated and is often sold with laundry products. The level of effectiveness will depend on the product of each brand (Niagara products are said to be of low quality ^{[1] X Research source} ).

If you use Emler’s glue (name of a glue in the US) often used in schools instead of regular milk glue, silly putty will not bounce. ^{[2] X Research Source} However, Emlmer’s all-purpose glue will be very effective. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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You can add food coloring right at this step. Let’s give lots of color. Because the color will disperse and have a lighter color when finished.

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Stir the mixture until the texture is as thick as you want. If needed, you can adjust the amount of ingredients until the mixture has a texture similar to the commercially available Silly Putty.

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When the silly putty is about to form, remove it from the bowl and shape it with your hands. You need a few manipulations to achieve a good finished product. Round, stretch and twist to complete the silly putty process.

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Put the silly putty in a clear, sealed plastic bag when you’re done playing. To keep the silly putty, you should not leave it out in the air. In addition, silly putty will keep longer when stored in the refrigerator. Or you can put it in a zippered plastic bag. Remember to lock the bag tightly.

Use washing powder

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Pour ¼ cup of milk glue into the bowl. The amount you use will be equivalent to the amount of silly putty finished. If you want more then just adjust the amount to your liking.

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Add more food coloring if desired. Just add a few drops of color to the glue and stir well.

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Add 2 tablespoons of laundry detergent. Do not replace with dishwashing liquid because the texture is not the same. You’ll find liquid more effective than powder, but both work.

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Stirred. As you stir, the mixture will change from a sticky, thick paste to a bit stiff like the texture of silly putty. If the mixture is still sticky after stirring for a few minutes, add detergent, a little at a time.

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Once the mixture has a silly putty texture, knead it with your hands. The kneading process will help the mixture to form the right texture and reduce excess soapy water.

Store silly putty in an airtight container or bag. Except for the times when you hold and mold the silly putty in your hand, you must also keep it in a box or plastic bag. Put the box or bag (or whatever you use) in the fridge to keep the silly putty longer.

Use borax

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Mix ¼ cup glue with ¼ cup water in a bowl. Stir until you have an even mixture. Add food coloring at this step if desired. The more colors you add, the darker the silly putty will be.

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Dissolve 1 tablespoon (15g) of borax powder with 30ml of water. You should stir it completely so that the silly putty does not have loose particles. As noted, borax powder is toxic and should not be swallowed. ^{[3] X Research Source} However, it helps to form quality silly putty.

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Mix the two mixtures together. As you stir, you should see the mixture solidify. If it’s too sticky add borax powder. Continue stirring until the mixture has a silly putty-like texture. Then, put in your hands and knead for about 5-10 minutes.

Now you can play with silly putty. If it’s kept warm, you can still mold (and play).

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Store in an airtight container or bag for later use. You can also put it in the fridge. When you take it out from the fridge, you need to knead the silly putty to shape but after 10 minutes it will be back to the way it was. If you leave the silly putty in the air, it will not keep its original shape.

Use talcum powder

Slime or silly putty made from this material will not bounce or stretch. You can use it as a dry clay.

Use soap

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Mix clear soapy water or shower gel and shampoo in equal amounts.

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Stirred.

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Let stand and wait for the mixture to clear.

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Freeze the mixture in the refrigerator. After a few hours, put the mixture in the refrigerator overnight; you will have a hard slime to play with. Or put the mixture in the freezer to shorten the time.

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Completed.

Put silly putty in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge after each play. Should be discarded after about 1 month or sooner if silly putty is dirty.

Use soap and flour

Mix flour and soap in equal amounts.

Mix. (If necessary, knead by hand or wear gloves when kneading.)

Let stand for about 5 minutes at room temperature.

Knead silly putty. If it is too sticky add a small amount of flour.

Completed! Now you have a new toy!

Advice

You should put silly putty in the refrigerator to keep it like new and not moldy.
To prevent soiling, cover the work surface with old newspaper and have your child wear old clothes or an apron.
Borax is very toxic if not properly diluted and prolonged exposure can cause burns.
Knead silly putty. With some other types, you will have to be very gentle.
Remember to wash your hands after doing this because hands will be very dirty.
Be careful when putting silly putty somewhere because it’s fun but also pretty dirty!
Remember to wear old clothes and gloves when doing this because you never know what will happen!
Adding more water will dilute the silly putty.
Add less water for a better finished product.
Knead the silly putty so it doesn’t dry out right away.
If you make silly putty from soap and it doesn’t freeze quickly, keep it in the fridge for a longer time.
Store silly putty in a box or bag so it doesn’t dry out.

Warning

When using food coloring, you should cover the work surface and wear disposable gloves; Food coloring is very difficult to clean and cannot be removed if you do not wash it while it is still wet.
Avoid putting silly putty on the surface of the fabric because it will stick to the fabric and be difficult to clean.
Don’t swallow silly putty. The ingredients used to make it are inedible and are often very toxic.
Some homemade silly putty recipes use borax powder. Note that borax powder is considered “reproductive toxicity” and is on the EU’s Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) list. ^{[4] X Research Sources}
Keep out of reach of children and pets. Silly putty is very dangerous if swallowed. You should call 911 right away if your child swallows silly putty.

Things you need

With liquid starch

Milk glue and liquid starch in a ratio of 2:1
Bowl
Spoon
A box with a lid or a bag with a zipper
Food coloring (optional)

With washing powder

Bowl
¼ cup of milk glue
2 tablespoons washing powder
Food coloring (if needed)
Spoon
A box with a lid or a bag with a zipper

With borax powder

¼ cup of milk glue
1 tablespoon borax powder
30ml water
Bowl
Spoon
A box with a lid or a bag with a zipper
Food coloring (if needed)

With talcum powder

5 tablespoons talcum powder
1-2 tablespoons of glue
Bowls and utensils for mixing
Sealed container
Non-stick surface for playing (plastic tray, wooden stick, etc.)

With soap

Clear soapy water
Shower gel
Bowl to mix

Steps