How to Make Bubbles & Bubble Wands

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Learn how to make the best bubbles solution and bubble wands in this easy kids activity. Mix up a few simple ingredients and your kids can be blowing homemade bubbles that don’t pop in minutes.

Close up of homemade bubbles in jelly jars with pipe cleaner wands

How to Make Bubble Solution

Learn how to make homemade bubbles in this easy kids activity tutorial.
5 from 4 votes
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Active Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Makes: 3 jars

Supplies

  • 2 cups filtered water - warm
  • cup dish soap
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar - substitute half glycerin for stronger bubbles

Tools

  • 8 ounce mason jars
  • Mason jar label
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Mixing bowl
  • Whisk

Instructions

  • Pour 2 cups of water into your mixing bowl then whisk in the granulated sugar until it’s totally dissolved. Gently mix in the dish soap until it’s well combined.
    Supplies to make homemade bubbles
  • Pour the mixture into the labeled jars (it should make about 3 jelly jars of bubbles solution).
    Two jelly jars of homemade bubble solution on a blue plastic kids table with pipe cleaner wands
  • Shape your pipe cleaners into the shape of a bubble wand or reuse old bubble wands to blow big bubbles. Stir gently before each use.
    Close up of Kaylee holding a bubble in her hand

Notes

See tips and tricks for making the best homemade bubbles below.

Tips and Tricks for Making Homemade Bubbles

Tip #1: Make Pipe Cleaner Wands.

If you don’t have any bubble wands to reuse, you can make your own with pipe cleaners. Just have your kids shape them into wands and blow. Make sure your kids know that all bubbles will come out round – even if they make hearts, square or other shapes with their pipe cleaners!

Tip #2: How to Make Your Bubble Solution Last Longer.

We use sugar in our homemade bubbles so they last longer. It helps slow the process of evaporation so your bubbles won’t dry out. That way if your kids don’t go through bubbles fast, they won’t dry out so quick. This bubbles recipe should keep for about a month as long as you keep the lids tightly sealed on mason jars.

Tip #3: How to Make Bubbles That Don’t Pop.

If you have some on hand, glycerin will help make stronger bubbles. The glycerin combines with the soap to make a thicker solution, and therefore thicker bubbles. Kids really love bubbles that don’t pop easily and this mixture works great.

Tip #4: DIY vs Dollar Store Bubbles.

If you’re thinking dollar store bubbles are a better deal than making homemade bubbles, think again. Our experience is that dollar store bubbles make terrible bubbles compared to our homemade bubble solution.

Tip #5: Natural Dishwashing Liquid vs Conventional.

We typically have natural dishwashing liquid in our home, and find that this recipe works great using it. You can make this recipe with all types of dishwashing soaps – each brand may result in a different strength of bubble.

Tip #6: Why Using Warm Water is Important.

It’s important to use warm water rather than cold when making DIY bubbles. It helps the dishwashing liquid to fully dissolve into the bubble solution.

Tip #7: Experiment with Colored Bubbles.

You can add a little food coloring (3-5 drops per jar) to your bubble mixture. If you add a different color to each jar, kids can see the difference in the different colors when they blow bubbles. It’s a fun activity for bored kids or your homeschool science curriculum.

Kaylee carefully holding a bubble she blew with her homemade bubbles with a pipe cleaner wand in the other hand

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