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    Home » Make glue from milk

    Make glue from milk

    February 6, 2012 By Emma Vanstone 25 Comments

    Did you know you can make homemade glue from milk? All you need is milk, white vinegar and baking soda. The vinegar is used to split milk into curds and whey.

    This fun kitchen science experiment is very simple, but does require a bit of adult help to heat the milk.

    Image of curds separated from milk in a hand

    How to make glue from milk

    What you need:

    Milk

    White vinegar

    Baking soda

    Pan

    Water

    Strainer

    Make glue from milk

    First you need to split the milk into curds and whey.

    • Heat 1 and a half cups of milk in a pan, once warm add 3 teaspoons of white vinegar.
    • Keep heating and stirring the mixture and you should see the curds ( solid part ) and whey ( liquid part ) separate.
    curds and whey from milk in a pan
    Curds and whey
    • Strain the mixture using a sieve. You should be left with solid lumps which can be moulded to make a ball. These are the curds.
    • Place the solid mixture back in the pan and add a little water and a tablespoon of baking soda.
    • Heat the mixture until it starts to bubble.
    • Give it a good stir and leave to cool. You can now use it as glue. You might need to add a little more water or baking soda until you get the right consistency. It should look like a thick paste.
    • I tested ours by sticking two egg boxes together ( both contain eggs, so are heavy ). It worked!!!
    two eggs boxes stuck together with glue made from milk

    How can you make homemade glue from milk? Why does it work?

    Here’s what happened to the milk. The vinegar creates a chemical reaction which makes the milk separate into two parts, a solid (the curds), and a liquid (the whey). The curds are milk protein, called casein. Liquid casein is a natural glue.

    When you add the baking soda it neutralises the vinegar ( which is acidic ). The bubbles are caused by carbon dioxide gas being given off as part of the reaction. The curds form a liquid again after being neutralised.

    More science experiments using milk

    Learn about emulsions with a colourful milk display made with milk and dish soap.

    Curds can also be used to make small decorations. In the early 1900s milk was sometimes used to make buttons and other items! You can find our more about this in my book Gross Science!

    collage of gross history experiments including milk split into curds and whey, a vegetable mummy and toilet paper for an absorbency test

    Last Updated on April 1, 2022 by Emma Vanstone

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    Safety Notice

    Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

    These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mammozza

      February 06, 2012 at 10:27 am

      It’s very interesting. I have this idea in my mind but I haven’t realize it yet. Every sunday we do a scientific experimet and maybe one of the next sunday we will make it.
      Greetings from Ital

      Reply
    2. Mammozza

      February 06, 2012 at 10:27 am

      Sorry from Italy

      Reply
    3. Actually Mummy...

      February 06, 2012 at 3:55 pm

      Ah! Interesting – not doing this one though when there are more beautiful things i still haven’t done – like the Christmas sugar crystals!

      Reply
    4. HELEN

      February 07, 2012 at 12:07 pm

      amazing! that’s very clever…although I cant begin to imagine the smell!
      x

      Reply
    5. sherri

      February 11, 2012 at 11:02 am

      My kids would love this! Fantastic idea! Thanks!

      Reply
    6. Beth

      February 14, 2012 at 9:20 pm

      WOW!! How cool! You come up with the neatest ideas!!! Thanks for linking up to TGIF =-)
      Beth

      Reply
      • Victoria Labelle

        February 24, 2014 at 5:13 pm

        Ya, this is cool. But not THAT sticky.

        Reply
    7. lindsi

      February 15, 2012 at 1:52 am

      oh NEAT! So glad I found this post…I’m going to try making glue! I’d love it if you would share this with my readers for Fun Stuff Fridays. Would you please link up? http://www.toysinthedryer.com/2012/02/14-days-of-valentines-fun-stuff-fridays_10.html

      Reply
    8. Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum

      February 15, 2012 at 9:01 pm

      Very cool I think I need to store these ideas up for when I go back to teaching

      Thank you for linking up to Tuesday Tots

      Reply
    9. Nien

      February 09, 2013 at 6:49 am

      Sweet! This is awesome.

      Reply
    10. dawn

      August 21, 2013 at 2:55 am

      This is awesome. Going to do this tomorrow. Then I’ll take it a next step. My daughter wants to know if add in borax would have the same effect on this glue as store glue.

      Reply
    11. tabluei

      January 22, 2014 at 3:25 am

      this is the best experiment ever.
      im doing this experiment for my science project
      wish me luck..:)

      Reply
    12. Carmela Mante

      November 07, 2015 at 12:20 pm

      Does this experiment work with evaporated milk?

      Reply
    13. Autumn Haynes

      May 05, 2016 at 8:27 pm

      This is a graet idea!!!!!!

      Reply
    14. Lauren

      November 21, 2016 at 8:24 pm

      AWESOME!!

      Reply
    15. nanoalabad

      February 10, 2017 at 11:12 am

      how much will this glue still works before it dries

      Reply
    16. Jon Jones

      April 21, 2017 at 6:34 pm

      Very cool! This type of glue was used in the early days of wooden aircraft construction.

      Reply
    17. Lillie

      July 10, 2017 at 10:52 am

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      Skype for Web also now can handle Chromebook and Linux
      for immediate online messaging conversation (no video and voice however, individuals require a plug-in installation).

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      Reply
    18. Pamela Bronson

      January 04, 2018 at 2:05 am

      I believe this works best with skim milk.

      Reply
    19. Adrian Paul H.Tamayo

      January 24, 2018 at 8:25 pm

      WOW! Thanks Science Spark I can do this from my SIP(science investigatory project)

      Reply
    20. Boyd Ramsay

      September 16, 2018 at 1:43 am

      I recall reading that the very earliest Bell Helicopters – the one with the clear bubble –
      used casein to mold the bubble. This was because they could mold casein, but
      did not yet have the technology to make the bubble out of acrylic resin.

      They had a big incentive to develop the acrylic bubble. If left out in the rain, the
      casein bubble tended to turn “milky”.

      Reply
    21. Alice

      February 18, 2019 at 5:43 am

      So very cool! A McIver minute

      Reply
    22. Martha

      February 18, 2019 at 3:01 pm

      Can you save this glue for a long time ?

      Reply
    23. Anita Manns

      March 04, 2019 at 4:52 am

      LOVE ALL OF THESE RECIPES KEEP THEM COMING! ANITA L MANNS IN COMPTON

      Reply
    24. Lourdes

      April 12, 2019 at 4:39 am

      Great Science activity . Thanks

      Reply

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