How to Make Bubble Solution

Blowing bubbles is fun, but don't worry if you run out of bubble solution. Luckily, it's easy to make at home. While you can always mix a little bit of water and dish soap and call it a day, you can make a more effective bubble solution by adding some sugar or glycerin to it. You can even spruce it up by adding some food coloring or vanilla extract!

[Edit]Ingredients

[Edit]Basic Bubble Solution

  • of warm water
  • 1/2 cup (115 g) of granulated sugar
  • of liquid dish soap

[Edit]Super Bubble Solution

  • of water
  • 1/2 cup (65 g) of cornstarch
  • liquid dish soap
  • 1 tablespoon (12.5 g) of baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of glycerin or corn syrup

[Edit]Colored Bubble Solution

  • of warm water
  • 2 tablespoons (30 g) of granulated sugar
  • of liquid dish soap
  • Food coloring

[Edit]Scented Bubble Solution

  • of lukewarm water
  • of mild or unscented liquid soap
  • Essential oil or extract
  • 2 to 4 tablespoons (30 to 60 mL) of glycerin or corn syrup (optional)


[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Making a Basic Bubble Solution

  1. Pour of warm water into a large jar. You can use another container, such as a bowl or pitcher. It just needs to be big enough to hold a little over of liquid. This will give you enough room for the other ingredients.[1]
    Make Bubble Solution Step 1 Version 8.jpg
    • You can use less water if you want to. You'll need to adjust the amount of the other ingredients, however.
    • The exact temperature of the water does not matter. You can use the warmest water from your tap, although distilled water would be better.
  2. Add 1/2 cup (115 g) of granulated sugar, then stir until it dissolves. How long you do this for will depend on how warm the water is. It shouldn't take more than 2 or 3 minutes.[2]

    • If you're using a jar, then you can just close the jar tightly, then shake it.
    • Sugar sounds like an odd ingredient to add to bubble solution, but it will help bind the ingredients together and help them last longer!
    • If you don't have any sugar, then you can leave it out. Just be aware that the bubbles won't be as tough.
  3. Stir in of liquid dish soap. Do not get too ambitious here! You want to mix the dish soap into the water, but you don't want to create foam.[3]

    • If you're using a jar, use a long-handled spoon to stir it. Do not close and shake the jar.
    • Most people find blue Dawn dish soap to be the most effective, but you can try using other brands too.
  4. Wait a few hours before you use the bubble solution. It would be even better if you wait until the next day. For some reason, this resting period helps produce better bubbles.[4]

    • Store the bubble solution in a cool, dark place. A fridge will help it last longer.
    • The sooner you enjoy the bubble solution, the better. Because it has sugar in it, it will only last 1 to 2 weeks.

[Edit]Making Super Bubble Solution

  1. Dissolve the cornstarch in the water. Pour 1/2 cup (65 g) of cornstarch into a large bowl. Add of water, then give the solution a stir. Keep stirring until the cornstarch dissolves.[5]

    • If you can't find cornstarch, use cornflour instead.
    • This recipe will create tough, longer-lasting bubbles. It's great for making giant bubbles as well!
  2. Add the dish soap, baking powder, and glycerin. Pour of liquid dish soap into the bowl. Add 1 tablespoon (12.5 g) of baking powder and 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of glycerine.[6]

    • Be sure to use baking powder and not baking soda. They're not the same thing.
    • If you can't fine glycerin, try corn syrup instead. It's not the same thing, but it'll do a similar job.
  3. Stir the ingredients together, but be careful not to create foam. A long-handled spoon would work the best for this, because it's the least likely to create froth. Just keep stirring until the soap, baking powder, and glycerin dissolve.[7]

  4. Wait at least 1 hour before you use the solution. Sometimes, the cornstarch won't dissolve all the way and settle to the bottom of the bowl. If this happens, just give the solution a quick stir.[8]

    • Don't worry if there's still some cornstarch left. It won't harm the bubbles.
    • Keep the bubble solution in a cool, dark place, and use it within a few weeks. If it starts to look cloudy, toss it out.

[Edit]Creating a Colored Bubble Solution

  1. Dissolve the sugar in warm water. Pour of warm water into a pitcher. Add 2 tablespoons (30 g) of granulated sugar, then give the solution a stir. Keep stirring until the sugar dissolves.[9]

    • You want to use a pitcher because you will be dividing the solution into smaller batches. It will be easier to pour from a pitcher.
  2. Stir in the dish soap, but be careful not to make bubbles. Pour of liquid dish soap into the pitcher. Stir the solution again until the soap dissolves. Be sure to stir slowly, so that you don't create too many bubbles.[10]

    • The original blue Dawn dish soap is reported to create the best bubbles, but the blue color will mix with whatever color you add to the bubbles.
    • Consider a clear dish soap. It will make mixing your own colors easier. It's a must if you want yellow, orange, or red bubbles.
  3. Divide the solution between 4 cups or jars. This will allow you to create 4 different colors. If you want fewer colors, use 1 jar for each color that you want. If you want just 1 color, pour it into a large jar instead.[11]

  4. Stir 5 to 10 drops of food coloring into each jar. Keep in mind that this is only if you divided the solution between 4 jars. If you used fewer jars, you'll have to use more food coloring.[12]

    • You can also try using liquid watercolor instead. It's not quite the same thing, but it will still produce beautiful colors.
    • For glow-in-the-dark bubbles, you could use a squirt of glow-in-the-dark or fluorescent paint. Keep in mind that these will show up the best under black lightbulbs.[13]
    • The food coloring will mix with the original color of the dish soap. For example, if you add red food coloring to blue dish soap, you'll get purple!
  5. Use the bubbles outside and be careful of stains. Stay away from anything that can get stained, like cars and patio furniture. It would be a good idea to wear clothing that can get dirty too.[14]

    • Wait at least 1 hour before you use the bubbles. This will help produce stronger, longer-lasting bubbles.
    • Store the bubble solution in a cool, dark place, like the fridge. Use it within a couple of weeks.

[Edit]Trying a Scented Bubble Solution

  1. Stir the soap into the water. Pour of lukewarm water into a bowl. Add of a mild or unscented liquid soap. Gently mix the 2 ingredients together to help the soap dissolve.[15]

    • Stir slowly so that you don't create too many bubbles.
    • Castile soap is a great option because it's unscented. You can also use a soap with a very mild or neutral scent.
    • Avoid heavily scented soaps, like lavender. They will overpower the fragrance that you'll add to the bubble solution.
  2. Add some baking extract, such as vanilla extract, then give it a stir. A little bit goes a long way, so you'll only need 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon. Other great choices include lemon extract and almond extract. You can also use peppermint extract, but reduce that to just a few drops; it's very strong![16]

    • You can also use a few drops of essential oil or soap making fragrance oil. Start with 2 to 3 drops, then add more if desired.
    • You can also try 2 to 3 drops of flavoring oil meant for candy making. It's very potent, so you don't need much.
    • If you want colored bubble mix, add a few drops of food coloring or liquid watercolor.
  3. Mix in some corn syrup or glycerin if you want stronger bubbles. You don't have to add this in, but it will help make the bubbles tougher and last longer. About 2 to 4 tablespoons (30 to 60 mL) is all you need.[17]

    • Choose 1 or the other. Don't use both!
    • Mix gently! You don't want to create too many bubbles!
  4. Use the bubble solution, but throw it out when it starts to look cloudy. Unlike other bubble mixes, this one may not last very long. It really depends on what you added to the solution to begin with. For example, bubble solutions made from extracts may not last as long as those made from essential oil.[18]

    • If you used just water, soap, and essential oil, the bubble solution can last essentially forever.
    • If you used water, soap, baking extract, and corn syrup, the solution may only last 1 to 2 weeks. Store the solution in a cool, dark place.


[Edit]Tips

  • Distilled water works better than tap water. Tap water contains minerals, which can prevent the bubbles from forming properly.
  • If you don't have dish soap, try hand soap, body wash, or even shampoo. Anything without alcohol added to it is a good bet.
  • Bubbles tend to last longer on humid days.
  • Blow the bubbles outside when the temperatures hit below freezing. The bubbles may freeze too!
  • Reuse old bubble wands or make new ones out of pipe cleaners! The larger the wand, the bigger the bubbles will be!

[Edit]Warnings

  • Homemade bubble solution won't last as long as store-bought bubble solution. If it starts to look cloudy or smell bad, pour it out.

[Edit]Things You'll Need

  • Large bowl, jar, or pitcher
  • Long-handled spoon

[Edit]Related wikiHows

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

  1. ↑ https://artfulparent.com/how-to-make-homemade-bubbles/
  2. ↑ https://artfulparent.com/how-to-make-homemade-bubbles/
  3. ↑ https://artfulparent.com/how-to-make-homemade-bubbles/
  4. ↑ https://artfulparent.com/how-to-make-homemade-bubbles/
  5. ↑ https://happyhooligans.ca/homemade-giant-bubbles/
  6. ↑ https://happyhooligans.ca/homemade-giant-bubbles/
  7. ↑ https://happyhooligans.ca/homemade-giant-bubbles/
  8. ↑ https://happyhooligans.ca/homemade-giant-bubbles/
  9. ↑ http://www.mamaplusone.com/diy-color-bubbles/
  10. ↑ http://www.mamaplusone.com/diy-color-bubbles/
  11. ↑ http://www.mamaplusone.com/diy-color-bubbles/
  12. ↑ http://www.mamaplusone.com/diy-color-bubbles/
  13. ↑ http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/08/paint-and-play-glowing-bubble-painting.html
  14. ↑ http://www.mamaplusone.com/diy-color-bubbles/
  15. ↑ https://preschoolinspirations.com/homemade-ice-cream-scented-bubble-recipe/
  16. ↑ https://preschoolinspirations.com/homemade-ice-cream-scented-bubble-recipe/
  17. ↑ https://preschoolinspirations.com/homemade-ice-cream-scented-bubble-recipe/
  18. ↑ https://preschoolinspirations.com/homemade-ice-cream-scented-bubble-recipe/

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