Recipe · Glow

Glow-in-the-dark slime

A slime that glows after it has been under a light, with no black light needed: the recipe with glow-in-the-dark powder, plus the safety rules.

By the Slime & Co editorial team · Updated

Glow-in-the-dark slime
Photo: Shubham Dhage on Unsplash.

To make slime glow in the dark, you add glow-in-the-dark powder: it “charges up” in light (sunlight or a lamp), then gives off a glow for a few minutes in the dark. No black light needed.

Choose a powder sold for arts and crafts, with its intended use and precautions on the label. The effect is stronger in a clear slime.

Ingredients

Supplies: a mixing bowl, a spoon, a lamp or a sunny window.

Need more or less? Recalculate the amounts for this recipe to fit your bowl or the number of kids.

Why these ingredients? What the activator does and which glue to choose.

Steps

  1. Mix the glue and water.
  2. Add the baking soda.
  3. An adult adds the glow-in-the-dark powder and stirs well (try not to let it fly around).
  4. An adult pours in the contact lens solution a little at a time, then knead.
  5. Set the slime under a bright light for a few minutes, then turn off the lights: it glows.

How do you know it worked?

The glow lasts a few minutes and fades little by little; just “recharge” it under the light. If it’s very faint, there’s too little powder or the slime is too opaque.

The most common slime fails

It barely glows
Charge it longer under a bright light. Next time, use clear glue and a little more powder.
The glow fades fast
That’s normal: for a few minutes, the powder gives back the light it soaked up, fainter and fainter. Recharge it under a bright light right before you play in the dark.
The powder clumps up
It was poured in all at once. An adult sprinkles it into the liquid glue a little at a time and stirs well before adding the solution.

Another problem? The Slime Fixer goes through every symptom.

Why does it work?

Glow-in-the-dark pigments absorb energy from light and slowly release it as a glow. That’s why they fade little by little and need to be recharged.

Variations and ideas

How to store it

Airtight container, like a clear slime. The powder doesn’t wear out: it will glow as long as the slime is still good.

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