Buzz
Blowing bubbles is a delightful activity, and don't worry if you run out of bubble solution. Fortunately, you can make this solution right at home. While simply mixing water with soap is enough, you can boost the solution's effectiveness by adding a bit of sugar or glycerin. You can even make your bubble solution more exciting by adding some food coloring or vanilla extract for a fun twist!
Ingredients
Basic Bubble Solution
- 4 cups (1 liter) warm water
- 1/2 cup (120g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) dish soap
Super Bubble Solution
- 6 cups (1.5 liters) warm water
- 1/2 cup (70g) cornstarch
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) dish soap
- 1 tablespoon (13g) baking powder
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) glycerin or corn syrup
Colored Bubble Solution
- 1 ¼ cups (300 ml) warm water
- 2 tablespoons (30g) granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) dish soap
- Food coloring
Scented Bubble Solution
- 1 cup (240 ml) warm water
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) mild, unscented dish soap
- Essential oils or extracts
- 2 - 4 tablespoons (30 - 60 ml) glycerin or corn syrup (optional)
Steps
Basic Bubble Solution
Pour 4 cups (1 liter) of warm water into a large container. You can use a different container like a bowl or a bottle. Just make sure it holds at least 1 liter of liquid to accommodate the other ingredients.
- If you prefer, you can use less water, but you will need to adjust the other ingredients accordingly.
- The water temperature doesn’t need to be exact. You can use warm tap water, although distilled water is better.
Add 1/2 cup (120 g) of granulated sugar and stir until dissolved. The stirring time depends on the warmth of the water. You may need to stir for about 2-3 minutes.
- If you're making the solution in a jar, you can simply close the lid tightly and shake it.
- Adding sugar to the bubble mixture might sound odd, but it actually helps bind the ingredients together, making the bubbles last longer!
- If you don’t have sugar, you can skip this step, but keep in mind that your bubbles won't be as durable.
Mix 1/2 cup (120 ml) of dish soap with water. Don’t get too excited at this step! You need to combine the dish soap with water, but make sure the mixture doesn't start foaming.
- If you’re mixing in a jar, use a long-handled spoon to stir. Don’t close the lid and shake it!
- Many people find that Dawn dish soap works the best, but you can experiment with other brands too.
Wait a few hours before playing. It works even better if you wait until the next day. For some reason, this resting period helps you create better bubbles.
- Store the bubble solution in a cool, dark place. The fridge will help keep the solution fresh for a longer time.
- Use the solution as soon as possible. It contains sugar, so it can only be stored for about 1 to 2 weeks.
Super Bubble Solution
Dissolve cornstarch in water. Pour 1/2 cup (70 g) of cornstarch into a large bowl. Add 6 cups (1.5 liters) of water, stirring well. Continue stirring until the cornstarch is fully dissolved.
- If you can't find cornstarch, you can use cornflour as a substitute.
- This recipe creates stronger and more durable bubbles. It’s also the key ingredient for giant bubbles!
Add dish soap, baking powder, and glycerin. Pour 1/2 cup of dish soap into the bowl. Add 1 tablespoon (13 g) of baking powder and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of glycerin.
- Be sure to use baking powder instead of baking soda. These two ingredients are very different.
- If you can’t find glycerin, try replacing it with corn syrup. While they are different, they serve the same purpose.
Mix the ingredients together carefully, but be cautious not to create foam. It’s best to use a long-handled spoon for stirring, as this minimizes foam formation. Continue mixing until the soap, baking powder, and glycerin are completely dissolved.
Wait at least 1 hour before playing. Sometimes the cornstarch doesn't dissolve fully and settles at the bottom of the bowl. If that happens, just stir it up a bit.
- Don't worry if a small amount of cornstarch remains undissolved. It won’t affect the bubbles at all.
- Store the solution in a cool, dark place and use it within a few weeks. If the solution starts to look cloudy, you should dispose of it.
Colored Bubble Solution
Dissolve the sugar in warm water. Pour 1 ¼ cups (300 ml) of warm water into a pourable container. Add 2 tablespoons (30 g) of sugar and stir well. Keep stirring until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- You need a pourable container because you’ll need to divide the mixture into smaller batches. This will be much easier with a container that has a spout.
Stir the dish soap into the solution, but be careful not to create foam. Pour 1/3 cup (80 ml) of dish soap into the container. Stir until the dish soap is fully dissolved. Be sure to stir slowly to avoid creating too much foam.
- Dawn’s original blue dish soap is considered the best for making bubble solutions, but the blue will mix with any color you add.
- Consider using a colorless dish soap instead. This way, you’ll have more control over the color of the bubbles. This is essential if you want to create yellow, orange, or red bubbles.
Divide the solution into 4 cups or containers. This will allow you to create 4 different colors. If you want fewer colors, use one color per container. If you only want a single color, you can pour everything into a large container.
Stir 5-10 drops of food coloring into each container. Remember, this amount of color is enough if you're dividing the solution into 4 containers. If you use fewer containers, you’ll need to add more color.
- You can also substitute food coloring with liquid water colors. Although they are different, both produce vibrant colors.
- To make glowing bubbles, you can add a bit of glowing or fluorescent paint. Keep in mind that these bubbles will look brightest under UV light.
- Food coloring will blend with the original color of the dish soap. For example, adding red to blue dish soap will give you purple!
Play with the bubbles outdoors and be careful not to get dirty. Stay away from anything that could get stained, such as cars or furniture in the yard. Also, wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
- Wait at least 1 hour before playing. The solution will create stronger and longer-lasting bubbles.
- Store the bubble solution in a cool, dark place, such as a refrigerator. Use it within a few weeks.
Fragrant Bubble Solution
Mix soap with water. Pour 1 cup (240 ml) of warm water into a bowl. Add 1/2 cup (120 ml) of mild unscented dish soap and stir gently until the soap dissolves into the water.
- Stir slowly to avoid creating too many bubbles.
- Castile soap (plant-based soap) is a good choice as it is unscented. You can also use a soap with a very light or neutral scent.
- Avoid using strongly scented soaps like lavender, as the soap's scent will overpower the fragrance you wish to add to the solution.
Add a few drops of flavor extracts, such as vanilla, and stir it in. A subtle fragrance is more pleasant, so just use 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon. Lemon and almond extracts are also great choices. Peppermint extract is strong, so only a few drops are needed; this scent is very potent!
- You can also use a few drops of essential oils or soap fragrance oils. Start with 2-3 drops and add more if desired.
- Try adding 2-3 drops of candy flavoring. This type is very concentrated, so you won’t need much.
- If you want to add color to your bubbles, you can also add a few drops of food coloring or liquid watercolor.
Mix in some corn syrup or glycerin if you want stronger bubbles. You don’t need to add these ingredients, but they will make your bubbles more durable and long-lasting. Just 2-4 tablespoons (30-60 ml) is enough.
- Pick one of the two ingredients. Don’t use both!
- Stir gently! You don’t want to create too many bubbles!
Use the solution to blow bubbles, but discard it if it starts to become cloudy. Unlike other bubble mixtures, this one may not last long. The longevity depends on the ingredients you add. For instance, bubble solutions that use extracts for fragrance won’t last as long as those with essential oils.
- If you only use water, soap, and essential oils, the bubble solution will last almost indefinitely!
- If you use water, soap, flavor extracts, and corn syrup, the solution may only last 1-2 weeks. Be sure to store it in a cool, dark place.
Tips
- Distilled water works better than tap water. Tap water contains minerals that can make it harder for bubbles to form.
- If you don't have dish soap, you can try using hand soap, body wash, or even shampoo. Anything that doesn't contain alcohol will work.
- Bubbles tend to last longer on humid days.
- Blow bubbles outdoors when the temperature is freezing. Your bubbles will freeze too!
- Reuse old bubble wands or make new ones using pipe cleaners! The bigger the wand, the bigger the bubbles!
Warning
- Homemade bubble solution won't last as long as store-bought solutions. If you notice the solution becoming cloudy or smelling odd, it's time to dispose of it.
What You’ll Need
- A large bowl, jar, or container for the solution
- A long-handled spoon
