Most household slime should stay out of sinks and toilets. Keep it contained while you check the product label or homemade recipe ingredients.
Ordinary, non-recalled slime may go in household trash if the maker and local program allow it. Unknown, leaking, or recalled products need a more careful check.
Sort Slime by What You Know
- Commercial and labeled: follow the maker’s storage and disposal instructions.
- Homemade with a known recipe: keep the ingredient list for any waste or exposure question.
- Unknown, leaking, strongly odorous, or irritating: stop handling it and seek product-specific advice.
- Recalled: follow the exact CPSC or manufacturer remedy.
Do not assume slime is biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, or harmless. Recipes may contain glue, borate, fragrance, color, beads, glitter, clay, or other additives.
Keep It Out of Drains
Do not wash a lump of slime into a sink, toilet, storm drain, or garbage disposal. It can stick to plumbing and carries its ingredients into wastewater.
Scrape reusable slime back into its container. Pick up small residue with material you will discard, then clean the surface according to the product instructions.
Ask your local wastewater utility for advice after a large accidental drain release. Do not add another chemical to dissolve it.
Use or Share It Carefully
If the slime is clean, usable, within its intended age range, and not recalled, keep it sealed and use it according to the label.
Do not donate homemade, opened, unlabeled, contaminated, moldy, or irritating slime to children or community programs.
Do not improvise heating to restore old slime. Follow the product instructions.
CPSC’s alert concerns squishy toys filled with gel or liquid: heating those toys can cause serious burns.
Check for a Recall
Search the CPSC recall database using the brand, product name, model, and date information.
A recall remedy may require a specific refund, return, or disposal step. Do not resell or give away a recalled product.
Use Household Trash Only When Allowed
Keep ordinary slime in its closed container or another locally accepted containment method. Follow the label and local trash rules.
Do not put loose slime in curbside recycling. An empty container is recyclable only if your local program accepts its material, shape, and cleanliness.
EPA says local programs decide which plastic containers they accept.
Exposure or Irritation
If slime gets in the eyes, mouth, or on irritated skin, follow the product’s first-aid label and contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for case-specific advice.
Call 911 immediately if someone collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or cannot be awakened.
Questions People Ask
Can Slime Go in Compost?
Do not assume it can. Only add material that your compost system accepts and whose complete ingredients are suitable.
Can You Recycle Slime?
No ordinary program recycles the mixed gel itself. Ask separately about a clean, empty container.
Can You Dry Slime Before Throwing It Away?
Only if the maker or local program instructs that step. Do not heat it or leave it where children or pets can reach it.