I Hate Slime

I hate slime. I don’t want to hate it. The child in me thinks it’s fabulous. Every picture of every slime recipe is enticing to me. When those images come across Pinterest I have an automatic response. Pin it.

Then I think, “Why am I pinning this? I hate slime.”

There is guilt over this. It’s like when I said out loud, “I Don’t Like Bedtime,” in my post, “Why I Suck at Being a Mom.” I want to be an amazingly fun mom who embraces slime, gak and putty, but I’m just not.

I’m not alone. So many parents I have chatted with have banned slime from their home.

I Hate Slime

Why do I hate slime so much? It’s not the slime itself. The glittery gooey that runs off the hands is fun to play with, punch, mold and touch. It stretches in fun ways. There is a zen-like experience watching it flow from your hands.

There are some great recipes out there too. This borax-free gak recipe requires only a few ingredients, and it’s easy to make and clean-up.

Watching YouTube will leads you to all kinds of recipes and experiences. The Soccer Mom Blog is a great resource for slime recipes. So is Fun at Home with Kids.

On the world wide web I’m sure you will find thousands and thousands of resources. It’s on trend and kids think it is fabulous. It’s wonderful, wonderful, right?

No. It’s not. I hate slime.

Why Do I Hate Slime?

When really reflecting upon slime, it’s not the slime itself that I hate. It’s the lack of self control my kids seem to exhibit around slime.

In my character development series I am intentional about teaching self-control. It’s still a work in progress with my kids. It is pretty much a life-long process.

When slime enters the picture, self-control exits.

We have had rules when it comes to slime. It started with, “We keep it only at the kitchen counters and dining room tables.”

What people don’t understand about slime is that it somehow grows legs. That extraterrestrial slime somehow ends up elsewhere, but no one has done it. No one! “Not me.” “I didn’t do it.” Oh, the denial is ripe.

No one has done it, and yet the slime has invaded.

Slime Addiction

Slime has an addictive quality. I’m convinced if they studied it, there would be dopamine released in the brain when interacting with slime. Kids can’t seem to get enough. They are crazy over the stuff.

The addiction makes them sneak it, hide it in plastic containers throughout the home, and make more when you are not looking.

Did you know they officially have video game addiction treatment facilities? It’s really an issue, and I am so glad they are finding ways to help people with this addiction.

Will they have slime addiction facilities next?

Where Does the Slime End Up?

The slime doesn’t stay at the kitchen counters or the dining room table as instructed.

We have found slime or putty all throughout our home. Our stairs still have spots ground into the carpet. Mattresses, sheets, and other bedding has been infected by the goo. Hair has been invaded. We had to throw away one of those huge stuffed animals because the slime somehow found itself oozing around the creature. Our couch, rug and other surfaces of the house have also been exposed.

It’s a mess. Slime doesn’t stay contained.

How do I Clean-Up Slime?

With our slime migration issues, I have a bit of experience cleaning up slime.

Water Dissolvable

Some slime or gak is water dissolvable, which is the best kind. Just saturate the area using a spray bottle or pouring the infected area with warm water. Allow it to soak in and then dab away the slime. It might take a few attempts. If this doesn’t work, move onto one of these next solutions.

Hydrogen Peroxide Solution

My hydrogen peroxide solution that removes the the smell of vomit from anything is amazing. Just read the reviews to know how affective it is on vomit.

This solution can also work on slime.

Vinegar Solution

Combine 1/4 cup vinegar with 1 cup warm water and apply to clothes, carpet or furniture. Soak solution into the slime mess and blot or wipe away. Repeat if necessary.

I always say “spot test” first just to cover my bases, but I’ve never had a problem.

Rubbing Alcohol

I have found that rubbing alcohol removes many things, including Sharpie, pen and slime. No need to dilute. Simply apply rubbing alcohol to the spot and blot away.

There Are Solutions to Removing Slime, so…

Yes, there are solutions to removing slime. However, we have things destroyed because of slime.

Also, as a busy mom, the last thing I need is one more thing to clean up. I have dishes, bills, laundry, food to cook, surfaces to clean and errands to run.

Why not have them clean it up? They made the mess!

I do! However, I’m already bugging them to do their homework, clean their rooms, help with chores around the house, be nice to their siblings, respond in a reasonable manner, and eat their food. The last thing we need is something else that adds pressure to the relationship.

What About the Benefits of Sensory Interaction?

Yes! There are benefits to making and playing with slime. I have a sensory kid who has done sensory processing therapy, so I get it. Just read the posts here if you want to learn more about sensory processing.

Having a degree in education and having taken classes in child psychology makes me understand the benefits of exploring their environment with their senses.

So, if there are great benefits to sensory experiences, why not sacrifice and let them do slime?

We have done slime, and we have done Aaron’s Thinking Putty, which is also really cool…theoretically. However, there are other ways for sensory kids to get great sensory input.

We have experienced sensory tools, body pressure and heavy work solutions, and other fun sensory experiences that don’t involve slime. There are other ways to meet your child’s needs in this area.

Why Not Just Make Slime an Outdoor Activity?

Recently I decided to try it again. It had been banned from our world for a while. I was taking the kids to a park over spring break, and my kid that adores slime said, “Can I just take all the materials and make it at the park?”

Oh sure. Let’s make it at the park and then just keep it outside. They’re older now. They’re exhibiting more and more self-control as they age. Let’s just try this again.

So we did.

She was in heaven. The other kids were climbing all over the play structure, and my mad scientist was mixing and stretching and oozing slime the whole time.

Time to leave. We had packed plastic containers for the slime, and it followed us home. First mistake.

When we got home I gave the reminder, “Slime stays outside. Put your bins by the back door.”

They did.

And then they didn’t.

We had a babysitter over that evening and the slime was brought in while I was away. It was stretched across the kitchen floor, across the dining room floor and into the living room when I wasn’t there to monitor.

OK – Literally no joke. I interrupt this blog post writing to bring you a service announcement. As I was sitting here typing this post, I glanced over at the stool next to me, and what do I see? Slime. Look at the picture.

I know! I know. It’s stupid. It’s such a trace amount, but it’s not the only one.

They haunt me and taunt me. These trace amounts have been found throughout the house since the dreadful day I allowed them to make the slime they were to keep outside.

Back to my story…

The only way I knew the slime was in the house that night when we were away were the little clues…blue pieces of slime…I found from their not-so-brilliant cleaning job.

The next morning I woke up to kids openly dripping and oozing slime in the living room. It was on the couches and the rug.

We don’t need to explore what happened next. You can use your imagination. We’ll just say that the slime found it’s own new home, much to the dismay of the children.