All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Instructions Print

Save

My Favorites

Pin This

Make bubbles bounce with this easy bouncing bubbles recipe! Kids can help you make the bubble solution and will have fun making the bubbles bounce!

RELATED: Bubble Snake

Recipe for Bubbles that Bounce

You only need a few ingredients to make bubbles that bounce. And you probably already have them on hand!

Warm water

Sugar (or glycerin, see below)

Dawn dish soap (you can try with other dish soap as long as it’s not a natural kind, but we found Dawn works the best for bubbles)

What is the science behind why they bounce?

In order to make bubbles you only need soap and water. When you add sugar to the bubble mix, the sugar makes the bubbles stronger and more stretchy so they are less likely to pop. The sugar makes the bubble liquid thicker, kind of a like a syrup. This makes the bubbles stronger and less likely to pop. It also keeps the water in the bubble longer so the bubble doesn’t pop as quickly. Finally, it helps the bubble film stretch without breaking so it can bounce off surfaces without popping right away.

Tips for Bouncing

Use a glove or your sleeve to bounce the bubbles. A simple winter knitted-style glove works well.
If the bubbles aren’t bouncing – check that your dish soap is not a natural brand. We find Dawn dish soap works the best, but similar brands should still work.
If your bubbles don’t bounce, use a smaller bubble wand. The larger bubbles are more likely to pop.
Leave the solution overnight – this helps the sugar dissolve
Be gentle when trying to “bounce” the bubbles. Let it fall onto your hand and gently lift up to make it bounce. You may need to practice or try a few times before you get the hang of it. Watch our video for how gentle you should be to make them bounce.

Alternative to Sugar

If you do not want to use sugar since this can attract ants, you can use glycerin instead. Simply swap out the sugar for 1 tbsp of glycerin. It is still helpful to let the mixture sit overnight.

Get the Bouncing Bubbles Recipe

No ratings yet