Sustainability made simple

Homemade Glue: Non-Toxic Craft Glue for Kids

homemade glue
Photo: CC0 Public Domain / Pixabay – HollyDornak

Why make your own homemade glue? Because store-bought glue can give off toxic fumes that kids might breathe in while they do arts and crafts. We’ll give you two recipes for craft glue that is even safe to eat. 

Homemade Glue: Flour and Corn Starch

Here’s what you’ll need to make homemade glue:

  • 3/4 cup water
  • small saucepan
  • 1 tsp flour
  • 1 tsp corn starch
  • 1 tsp table vinegar
  • screw-top jar

Method:

  1. Bring the water to a boil in the saucepan.
  2. Stir in the flour and the corn starch.
  3. Stir the mixture on low temperature until it becomes thick.
  4. Stir in the vinegar and remove from the stove.
  5. Fill the warm glue into a screw-top jar, close, and let cool.

Your homemade glue will keep in the refrigerator for about three months.

Tip: Looking for more ways to make playtime more hands-on? Check out this recipe for homemade play-dough, and this recipe for DIY bubble solution.

How to Make Glue: Flour and Sugar

make your own glue
With homemade glue, you’ll never have to worry about kids putting their sticky fingers in their mouths. (Photo: CC0 Public Domain / Pixabay – Kaboompics)

Ingredients:

  • 1½ tbsp flour
  • 3/4 cup hot water
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • small saucepan
  • screw-top jar

Here’s how to make your homemade glue:

  1. Combine the flour and water in the saucepan.
  2. While stirring, bring the mixture to a simmer.
  3. Add the sugar, mix well, and remove the homemade glue from the stove.
  4. Pour the hot mixture into the screw-top jar, close, and let cool.

When unopened, this glue will last at least one month.

This article has been translated from German to English by Christie Sacco. You can read the original version here: Kleber selber machen: Ungiftiger Bastel-Klebstoff für Kinder

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