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!
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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
Bouncing Bubbles Recipe
Video
Materials
- 1/4 cup sugar *or you can use glycerin, see notes below
- 1/4 cup Dawn dish soap
- 1 cup warm water
Instructions
- Add 1/4 cup of sugar to a bowl.
- Add 1/4 cup of Dawn dish soap to the bowl.
- Add 1 cup of warm water to the bowl.
- Mix thoroughly. Then let the solution sit overnight.
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