How to Make Magnetic Slime -

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So you’ve probably made slime before, right? But have you ever made magnetic slime?  It’s the easiest and most fun way to teach your kids about how magnets work.  What’s better than art and science?!  This super stretchy magnetic slime is mixed with iron fillings which allows the slime to magnetize.  Keep reading to learn how to make magnetic slime.

You can use any slime recipe you prefer, but my super simple, best slime recipe ever, is my favorite.

What supplies will I need?

First, let’s collect all our ingredients. You’ll need the following:

Sta-flo or a Slime Activator

2. Baking Soda

3. White School Glue

4. Iron Fillings or Iron Oxide Powder

5. A Neodymium Rare Earth Magnet (it must be this type of magnet)

A note on the magnet: I recommend getting larger magnets. They are VERY strong. If you get more than one magnet and they are close together, they will pinch you and it doesn’t feel good. Keep away from small children that might put them in their mouth. Overall, use common sense when dealing with these materials.

How to Make the Magnetic Slime

Now that you have all your ingredients ready, it’s time to make the slime!

If you’ve ever made slime before, you know that it can be messy. While this recipe isn’t mess-free, it is less messy than many other recipes we’ve tried.

First, grab yourself a bowl that you don’t mind putting glue in. Typically we use a plastic bowl we can easily rinse out when we’re finished. You’ll also need a spoon or a stir stick. We like to use these wood sticks to mix our slime.

Then, add one cup of glue to your bowl. Once you’ve added the glue, now it’s time to add in the iron fillings or powder. A little bit goes a long way and the powder can be quite messy. Add a little bit at a time, 1 teaspoon at a time, until you’ve reached the desired amount. About 2 tablespoons.

Next, add two tablespoons of Sta-flo. Add a little bit at a time so that your slime doesn’t seize up. Sometimes you need more, sometimes less. Keep working it into the slime until it isn’t glue anymore. It should still be a little sticky but not feel like glue.

Finally, and what I believe is the secret ingredient, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of baking soda. This will make your slime the perfect consistency and texture. Again, like the Sta-flo, add a little bit at a time so you don’t ruin the slime texture.

As a pro tip, adding a little bit of baby oil can make your slime extra stretchy.

Depending on how many iron fillings or how much powder you add, your slime may look dark or it may have little spots like mine does here. Both work just fine. The more iron fillings, the stronger of a pull it will have to your magnet.

The Science Behind Magnetic Slime:

You may be asking yourself, “why is this slime magnetic?” That’s a great question, and I have an answer for you! Iron is one of three elements that are magnetic at room temperature. The other two elements are cobalt and nickel. The slime easily allows the iron to flow through the material which allows it to attract to the magnet. The slime also however creates a barrier for the iron fillings so that it cannot leave the slime and cling to the magnet. This creates a pull that makes a very cool and interesting science experiment.

Important Notes:

As noted above, neodymium magnets are very strong. When handling more than one magnet at a time, they can attract to one another and pinch. It’s not pleasant! Keep out of reach of small children and make sure an adult is present.

Another important note regarding iron fillings and iron powder is that it should not be breathed in. For this reason, it is important to add the fillings into the glue instead of at the end of the slime making process.

Good luck and have fun!