Make Your Own Bubble Blowing Mixture

bubbles in the air
Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images
Project Overview
  • Total Time: 1 hr
  • Yield: 1 jar
  • Skill Level: Kid-friendly

Bubbles captivate people of all ages. Perhaps it’s their rainbow reflective surface, the way they float on a breeze, or the satisfaction that comes from popping them. Whatever your reason is, it's easy to find the joy in them. Bubbles can keep small children enthralled for hours, and older kids can find satisfaction in making this recipe for the best bubble solution ever.

Making bubble solution is also a great STEM activity for young budding scientists. You can introduce concepts about surface tension (what shape is a bubble? Can a bubble be a cube or a pyramid?), matter (are bubbles solids, liquids, or gas? Answer: They are actually a thin layer of liquids filled with the gas O2), and wind direction (can you tell which way the wind is blowing from how the bubbles float?) to kids in an engaging hands-on way.

Use this recipe to keep yourself, your family, and friends enjoying bubbles all year long. If young children are using the bubble solution, make sure they keep it away from their eyes, as soap can irritate them.

Tip

The dish soap will help give the bubble mixture its color, so choose a soap in a desirable color—we went with blue!

The Best Way to Make DIY Bubbles

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Measuring spoons
  • Measuring cup
  • Stirring stick

Materials

  • 1 jar
  • Bubble wands
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon dish soap
  • 1 tablespoon glycerine

Instructions

  1. Measure and Pour the Water Into the Jar

    Using your measuring cup, measure out 1 cup of water. Pour the water into the jar.

    DIY bubble blowing mixture
    @nadydelarosaphotography
  2. Measure and Add Dish Soap to the Jar

    Add 1 tablespoon of dish soap to the water in the jar. Any brand of dish soap will work here.

    Dish soap helps create the bubbles, but dish soap alone won't work well for your bubble blowing mixture. Proceed to the next step to learn about glycerine and how it ties the entire mixture together, and the science behind bubbles forming and popping.

    DIY bubble blowing mixture
    @nadydelarosaphotography
  3. Measure and Add Glycerine to the Jar

    Measure out 1 tablespoon of glycerine and add to the water and dish soap mixture in the jar.

    Glycerine is a sugary compound that mixes with the dish soap to form a thicker bubble. Bubbles "Pop!" when the water that's trapped within the soap bubble evaporates. A thicker bubble will keep the water from evaporating longer, and the bubble from popping so soon!

    DIY bubble blowing mixture
    @nadydelarosaphotography
  4. Stir the Bubble Mixture Together

    Stir the bubble solution mixture together using a wooden popsicle stick, a spoon, or anything you have handy that works as a stirrer!

    Once the mixture is combined, test it out! If you find that the bubbles aren't forming well, you may need to add a little more dish soap or glycerine.

    While this craft comes together in minutes, kids will enjoy hours of fun forming bubbles outside on a beautiful day. Make a small collection of these jars to keep with your outdoor toys and your kiddos will be entertained all season long.

    DIY bubble blowing mixture
    @nadydelarosaphotography