Learning how to make super strong bubbles has been on our list of summer things to do for way too long!
I love this post showing how to make bubbles and this one for giant bubbles. We've even made bubble snakes!
We've done all sorts of things while taking advantage of Minnesota's warm summers, but somehow we've missed this activity that combines science with fun!
You might be asking: What's the point? What Can we do with them? I have answers for you!
That's right. This is an ideal STEM activity, especially in warm weather.
Even better, it's just fun! The point of this particular recipe is to make longer-lasting bubbles that are more resistant to popping.
How to Play with them
Unbreakable bubbles are especially fun because you can do more with them than you can with atraditional solution.
Like it says in the recipe below, you should wear gloves if you want to touch them!
- Hold them in your hand.
- Bounce one or more to another person, then have them bounce it back.
- See how many times you can play catch with them.
- Blow them onto various surfaces (grass, rocks, patio furniture) and see where they last the longest.
- Juggle
- Test how hard you can squeeze them.
- See how many you can hold at one time.
- Use a straw to blow a bubble. Stick the straw inside it and blow another one inside a the first one!
- Compare them to another store bought or homemade solution. How much longer do they last? Do they float higher? Do they sink faster?
How to Make Super Strong Bubbles
Scroll down for a printable recipe with instructions to guide you.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup distilled water
- 2 tablespoons dish soap. Dawn dish soap truly works the best.
- 1 tablespoon glycerin (see where to buy glycerin below)
- 1 tablespoon white corn syrup
Directions:
- Mix the water, dish soap, glycerin and corn syrup in a bowl or an empty bottle.
- Cover and let sit in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours.
- Use wands, straws, bent pipe cleaners or a variety of other materials to start playing.
Where to buy glycerin for this super bubbles recipe?
Glycerin can be found in the cake decorating area of most craft stores.
If you're near a Michaels or JoAnn, you can find it with the cake and candy-making supplies or with soap-making products.
If you want to order glycerine online you can find several options on Amazon:
- Essential Depot Kosher Vegetable Glycerin: This is Amazon's bestselling glycerin. Reviews show that it's the best this kind of recipe!
- Wilton glycerin
- Now Solutions 100% pure vegetable glycerine
These are the varieties of glycerin you should look at for your own homemade recipe:
>Vegetable Kosher Glycerin, 1 Quart
NOW Solutions Vegetable Glycerine, 16-OunceYaley Soapsations Liquid Glycerine, 8-OunceWilton Glycerin, 2 Ounces
Be sure to pin this recipe on Pinterest to remember it and share it with your friends!
How to Make Super Strong Bubbles
This super strong bubbles recipe shows how to make super bubbles to bounce, hold or juggle. A perfect activity for babies and kids, this amazing formula makes an almost unbreakable bubble that lasts a long time!
Materials
- 1 cup distilled water
- 2 tablespoons dish soap. Dawn dish soap works the best!
- 1 tablespoon glycerin (see where to buy glycerin below)
- 1 tablespoon white corn syrup
Tools
- 1 empty bottle or jar with lid
Instructions
Pour the water, dish soap, glycerin and corn syrup in your jar.
Stir until well combined
Cover the mixture with the lid.
Let the mixture sit in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours.
Play with your super strong bubbles!
Penny says
This worked so well!
Katie says
I made these today – they were amazing!
Kelli says
Love this idea! A bent wire or pipe cleaner, a drinking straw, or a piece of cotton twine tied in a loop all make great bubble blowing tools.
Tina says
Hi Kelli,
I am planning to try this experiment today, will this the bubbles work if I use a string bubble wand? Best of luck on your future bubble endeavours!
Louise Porter says
DID NOT work. Running around to get glycerin, only to disappoint a 3 yo , not worth it!
Sharon Shapira says
Will this work if I use regular water?
Kelly says
You can distill your tap water by boiling it for 10 minutes then take it off of the heat and let it cool down. I learned that several years agi. Good luck!
Marybeth Hamilton says
Boiling water kills bacteria and purifies it, but it doesn’t distill it. Distilled water is water with the minerals removed.
Tina says
Hi Marybeth,
After reading your comments, I must say, I’m quite confused in your logic. On one hand you’ve told dear Sharon here that you can’t use tap water because boiling the water will not purify it. Yet alternatively, you’ve said that you yourself use tap water in your bubble solution. In order to prevent further confusion about this important subject, I suggest you make up your damn mind about the water you may use. Best of luck on your future bubble endeavours!
Sincerely, Tina Truman
Rebecca McConnell says
Simply boiling water does not distill it. If you boil water the dissolved salts and ions remain in the water. To distill water you would need to boil the water, have a way to capture the steam which does not contain any dissolved ions, then condense it. The water that results from distilling is simply water (H2O), whereas tap water or even bottled drinking water, contain certain amounts of calcium, iron, magnesium, chlorine, fluorine, carbonate etc. Tap water will differ from place to place, so someone’s water that does not contain many of these ions may work to make bubbles and distilled is not necessary. If you have “hard water” your water contains a lot of ions and may alter the ability to make bubbles properly. If that is the case, a local grocery store likely sells gallon jugs of distilled water. Just make sure it says “distilled.”
Sande says
Tina, she is sharing her recipe. You are being rude over a bubble solution?
Marybeth Hamilton says
I always use tap water. Distilled water is just more purified if the minerals in your tap water don’t “agree” with the bubbles. So you can definitely try tap water first.
Tina says
Hi Sharon,
I’ve tried making these bubble with regular water but it didn’t work. Best of luck on your future bubble adventures!
Tina says
Hi Sharon,
I’ve just realized that I wished you best of luck on your future bubble adventures rather than on your bubble endeavours. I am extremely sorry about this and hope you will forgive me. Best of luck on your bubble ENDEAVOURS
Sincerely, Tina Truman
Heather says
Hi Marybeth,
I see that in your recipe for strong bubbles it says refrigerate for 24 hours. If all of the solution is not used within 1 setting do you need to keep them refrigerated?
Sincerely
Heather
Rebecca says
Chill miss tina truman, it’s bubbles for goodness sakes
j says
Where is the printable?
Vicious says
People should not be so critical,. Unless they are perfect. And I’m quite sure not a ONE, and I say again,NOT A ONE , is perfect. At least you are woman enough to own it. Not everything works for everyone. Kudos to you.
Lisa Velez says
MaryBeth, Thank you for taking the time to post recipes and ideas. Don’t let a few rotten lemons mess with the lemonade. There are more of us that appreciate your efforts than don’t. So keep doing what you are doing the way you are doing it! Thank you once again! The kids and I will try this recipe.
Have you tried a large batch with this recipe? I’m looking to make a large batch so I don’t have to make it everyday. My little guy spills bubble solution all the time.
Sally says
Why should you wear gloves with the super syringe bubbles?
Autumn says
Also very curious about this. All the ingredients are edible (if you have used food safe glycerin) except for basic dish soap!
Marybeth says
Super strong bubbles? Wet gloves help keep the surface tension of the bubble intact. That means they’re less likely to pop when touched.
Barbara says
Being a great grandmother of a two year old, we had a bad experience when he rubbed his eyes with the bubble mixtureI made the bubble mixture with tear free wash and shampoo. It worked great!
Robin says
I was interested in this wonderful recipe for the grandkids when it hit me. Grandkids? Why not our group of retired group of grandmothers. A few few bubbles and a few glasses of wine and we have ourselves a party! Yippee!!!