How to Make Silly Putty Ingredients Using Borax
You can make a putty, similar to Silly Putty, the elastic, nontoxic substance that bounces higher than a rubber ball, in your own kitchen with borax and other household products. The 50-year-old, multimillion dollar seller, entertains children and adults alike. Children enjoy stretching, bouncing and sculpting the putty. You can also copy ink print and comics from certain types of magazines and newspaper with it. Adults find Silly Putty therapeutic for stiff hands and stress reduction.
Things You'll Need
- Measuring spoon and cup
- 1 qt. jar with lid
- Borax
- Label or marker
- 1 zipper plastic bag (quart size)
- 1 tbsp. Elmer's White Glue
- Food coloring (optional)
Instructions
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1
Pour 1 cup of warm water into a medium-size jar, add 1 tbsp. of borax and gently shake it up until powder dissolves. Label the jar for storage identity and future use. Set aside until ready for use.
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2
Put 1 tsp. of water into a quart size, zipper bag along with 1 tbsp. of Elmer's White Glue. Add a drop of food coloring to the mix to make your homemade Silly Putty colorful. Do not substitute any other glue for Elmer's White Glue as other types do not work as well.
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3
Add 1 tbsp. of borax mixture to the glue and water. Zip the bag shut and squeeze the ingredients between your fingers until it forms a putty-like substance.
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4
Remove from the bag after two minutes, squeeze it with your hands to desired consistency and enjoy the new Silly Putty.
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5
Place the homemade silly putty in a clean zipper bag and store in the refrigerator to keep it fresh. Make a new batch from the stored Borax and water mixture as often as you like.
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Tips & Warnings
Substitute the jar with an empty plastic soda bottle with cap, if necessary.
Purchase good quality zipper bags to prevent leakage during the mixing and squeezing process.
Do not leave children unsupervised while making the homemade putty, and do not allow them to taste or eat the substance.
Do not leave the Silly Putty on clothing, carpeting, upholstery or wood as it may stain.
Do not pour any of the putty ingredients down the sink drain.
Store the labeled borax and water mixture in a safe place away from children.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit space ball image by drx from Fotolia.com
