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SLIME CARE

HOW TO MAINTAIN SLIME

Slime is a perishable product in the sense that it will change textures over time. Here are some tips to maintain your slimes and prolong it's lifespan:

  • We recommend storing your slimes in a cool, dry place, or even in the refrigerator to prolong it's lifespan. Slime is sensitive to heat (with the exception of our sand puffs), and will melt faster in higher temperatures.
  • When playing with slime, ensure your hands and playing surface are clean. Wash your hands before and after playing with slime to prevent debris and bacteria growth.
  • When slime begins to melt (you can tell when it becomes less solid and sticky, or if there is clay in the slime, there will be a separation of clay that rises to the top), it is time to activate your slimes. Try as much as possible to activate it with an activator solution before it reaches a liquid state.

With careful maintenance, some customers have reported our slimes have lasted for up to two years!

SLIME STORAGE

Most slimes comes in their own containers and do not need a separate container. However, depending on your play style, you may need an additional container because slime does swell and grow when more air pockets are integrated into slime -- this process is called "inflation", and many people find inflation a desirable trait because it is more slime to play with!

If you find yourself with too much slime that it does not fit in it's original container, we recommend housing the extra slime in another container. We sell deli containers specifically for the purposes of storing extra slime! People have also used empty tupperware containers and sealed ziplock bags to store their slimes. The most important part is that the container is sealed, so that the slime does not dry out. When slime dries out, there is no way to fix it and it must be thrown out.

REMOVING SLIME FROM FABRIC AND CARPETED SURFACES

Sometimes, you will get slime will get on fabric or carpet. If you get slime on your favourite t-shirt or carpet, there is no need to worry as it is easily removable. We recommend the following methods to safely remove slime from most surfaces:

  • Remove slime as soon as possible: If the slime is still moist and sticky, try to scrape it off the surface immediately by wiping it off as much as possible with a warm moistened paper towel. If the slime is hardened on carpet, we recommend softening it with a paper towel soaked in warm water or vinegar/citric acid using a butter knife to scrape as much off as possible.
  • Saturate spot/surface with vinegar: After removing as much slime as possible, spot-treat the affected surface with a rag or paper towel saturated with vinegar (we recommend white or apple cider) to soften the slime.
  • Removal of slime: After spot-treating the slime, use a toothbrush or similar object to lightly scrub and scrape slime off. If you get slime on clothing, we recommend washing it immediately in warm water.

FIXING STICKY SLIME

Slime can get sticky due to a number of factors such as warm hands, unclean hands or playing surface, the "age" of your slime (time), or rising temperatures. Sometimes, slime can be sticky due to dry hands (which is very common with people who have eczema), which can be remedied by applying lotion on your hands before playing. 

However, if your slime is sticky and you do not have dry hands, please read further! You can fortunately fix sticky slime with slime activator, which is a solution made of borax and warm water. We provide complimentary borax (1 tsp), but you do have to add it upon checking out through the notes section or just adding it in your cart. 

How to make borax solution:

To make your borax solution, mix 1 teaspoon of borax to 1 cup of warm or hot water, mix well, and store in an empty and marked container (tip: people have used empty water bottles, spray bottles, or even pump bottles to store their activator).

How to re-activate slime:

We call the process of fixing sticky slime "re-activating" slime. Here are our tips to re-activate slime:

  • Find a CLEAN and stable place to re-activate your slime as it can get messy! Slime can get on clothes or fabrics, and the probability only increases when slime is sticky and melted. For this reason, we recommend re-activating your slimes on a table, away from a carpeted surface, and wearing clothes that you do not mind getting messy. 
  • Most people use their (clean!) hands to activate their slimes. We personally use disposable gloves (our favourites are Daxwell's stretch poly gloves because it does not stick to melted or liquefied slimes, unlike vinyl or nitrile) when re-activating. Some use plastic spoons or plastic popsicle sticks/stirring sticks.

To re-activate slime, here are our recommended steps:

  • Add tiny amounts of borax into your slime that you wish to re-activate. Be careful not to add too much because you can "over-activate" your slime and make it hard. To judge the amount of activator needed, if it is lightly melted and mildly sticky you do not need a lot. If it is in a near liquid state, you will need more. Please note that if it is in a liquified state, the process to re-activate will be slightly messier.
  • Gradually add activator into your slime and mix until it is the desired consistency. It should be stretchy, firm, and not sticky. If if it becomes rock-hard, you added too much! However, over-activated slimes can be fixed (see next section)!

FIXING OVER-ACTIVATED/HARD SLIMES

Sometimes, due to factors such as cold temperature, changing weather conditions in the shipping process, or simply over-activating slimes, can result in a hard "over-activated" slime. We recommend the following methods to re-activate your hard slimes:

  • ALL SLIMES (ANY BASE):
    • HEAT SOURCE: Place the slime (sealed in container) near a heat source such as a sunny window, heater, or hot water bath.
    • MICROWAVE: You may try to microwave the slime in a microwave-safe container for a few seconds (we recommend 10-second increments on high).
    • GLYCERINE: Vegetable glycerine is known by many as "deactivator" and can be purchased online or in pharmacies! Add small drops until it is to your desired texture and consistency.
    • VINEGAR OR CITRIC ACID: Using VERY tiny amounts, mix into slime until it reaches your desired texture and consistency. We do not recommend this method if you want to preserve the fragrance of slime, as it may impart a vinegar scent.
  • WHITE GLUE-BASED SLIME: Add a little bit of unscented lotion, mineral oil, or coconut oil until it reaches your desired texture and consistency.
  • CLEAR GLUE-BASED SLIME: We strongly recommend vegetable glycerine to de-activate slimes. However, aloe vera gel is another approved alternative. Mix until it reaches your desired consistency and texture.
  • CLAY/DIY-BASED SLIMES: If your slime has clay content in it, we recommend any of the above methods, or simply add warm/hot-water to soften slime.

If these methods do not work, it may simply be that your slime is beyond saving. This happens in circumstances such as playing with slimes too much. We observed that this often happens with small-sized slimes.

The analogy we like to tell customers is that slime is like a playable candle: the more you play with it, the more it gets "used up", in which case it becomes rubbery and hard. The more the slime loses it's moisture content, such as through integrating too much air in slime (e.g., by prolonged pulling and stretching), it will cause the slime to shrink and become rubbery. Like lighting a candle, if you want to keep it for a longer time, try to exercise self-discipline. We recommend giving love to other slimes and playing with slime in shorter bursts.

 

SAND PUFF CARE

Sand puffs are one of our signature textures at Potcha Slimes and is famous in the slime community because it is one-of-a-kind! Despite it's name, sand puffs are not made of real sand, but is instead densely packed with plastic snow flakes and a mix of a secret blend of glues and other ingredients that results in a very dense, dry, and "sandy" and "gritty" texture similar to sand. Unlike most slime textures, sand puffs fare better with warmth and reacts positively to warm hands, and prolonged play, it swells and inflates! 

How to play:

Since sand puffs are an unconventional texture that is unique to our shop, there is some confusion as to how to properly play with it. For this reason, we rate this texture as an "expert" texture and is not recommended for beginners of slime.

Sand puffs are completely dry and crumbly out of the container. It may be hard or stiff. It does not stretch at first pull, and will have some fallout. Not to worry, these are all completely normal. 

To play with sand puffs, remove the slime from the container and start folding the slime. Keep folding, and folding, and folding! This process is important to generate heat as you play with the sand puff, as heat "loosens" up the slime and becomes "activated", and eventually, the slime will begin to moisten, swell, inflate, and stretch over time as more heat is generated through your hands. When your sand puff inflates and moistens, you can easily pick up any glitter or snow particles!

Fixing sand puffs:

We recommend the following steps to fix your sand puffs:

  • Dried out/not stretchy/hard: If your sand puff is rippy, too dried, or if it does not stretch, the best method to fix it is to add a tiny drop of glycerin. Be careful not to add too much, as it will melt. Alternative methods include warming it up near a heater, sunny window, or hot water bath, or adding clear slime (not recommended since it will alter the texture).
  • Crumbly/wet/falls apart: If your sand puff falls apart into crumbs, it likely needs to be activated. Add some activator on your hands and knead until it becomes solid. Be very careful when activating sand puffs, as it can get easily overactivated.

Further notes on caring for your sand puffs:

  • It is VERY important that after playing with sand puffs, you keep the container without it's lid for at least 10-15 minutes to it out, to prevent bacterial growth and possible mould, and to preserve it's longevity.
  • Due to the high snow content, there will be fallout of snow particles over time.
  • Sand puffs, compared to other textures, will shrink faster due to the high snow content. To prolong it's lifespan, we recommend exercising some restraint in playing with your sand puffs.