If your bubbles are being impacted by sunny, dry weather, add more glycerin. It is a humectant which means that holds onto moisture, preventing things from drying out. As far as the baking powder goes- baking power is made of baking soda and corn starch. If you only have baking soda on hand, there really is no reason why it wouldn’t work. You can always add a smidge more corn starch to compensate the ratio but I can’t imagine the precision of the bubble recipe is that tight.

I came across this post and made the bubble recipe for my kids today. If you add more glycerin, the bubbles will be stronger. (I added 4 additional TBSPs).

I think 1/2 cup of cornstarch is too much. half of it won’t disolve no matter how long you stir it (I put it on
a magna mix for 4 hours!), and half of the rest settles out after a few hours. I think maybe a tablespoon or two would be plenty.

Anyhow, we’ll try it both ways and see what happens.

I’ve used it the next day, Lindsey, so I think you could make it up a few days in advance. Just stir it well, but gently – not vigorously, before using it.

No we don’t.

Awesome, that’s what kind I have!!
Now to figure out what to do in place of baking powder…

Hi! 2021 and this post is still “poppin'” !!
For cooking and baking, I usually mix my own baking powder using 1/4 tsp baking soda and 1/2 tsp cream of tartar…because I always run out of baking powder, but baking soda comes in huge bags at Costco 😉
Has anyone tried a baking soda+cream of tartar mixture in place of baking powder with this bubble mixture recipe?

Anyone having trouble with bubbles popping too fast in the sunlight, add some ice to your bucket of bubble solution or refrigerate it first.
Cooling the solution stops evaporation happening so fast, and the bubbles last long enough for a good chase around the yard before they pop!

Kids and dogs and so called adults all running around my yard right now making noise and enjoying themselves.

This is the best kind of game. One where they run round faster than i do! Thank you!

My 2 little ones would also love these bubbles…Especially now when they are quarantine and unable to go out…

Oh wao…what a coincedence in name.. .I am Lisa carrier running GreenMetropolis for sustainable living

Thanks for the tip, Galen!

Use Fog Machine solution if it has “Glycerin” as the main ingredient. Then you can use that in lieu of water/glycerin mix. We did it tonight and it worked very well.

You could try it, Andrea, but I’m not confident that it will work like the dish soap does. Let me know if you give it a try.

Walmart in our area keeps glycerin behind the counter. Ask the pharmacist.

Excellent tip! Thank you!!

On dry days I spray water in the air to create a temporary little micro climate. Our water isn’t metred so I use lots. On our cement pad I can make the bubbles stick so the kids can stomp them

Hi Corilee, We’ve actually never used small bubble wands with this recipe, so I don’t know if it would just blow a single bubble or a whole string of small bubbles. I’m sorry I don’t have an answer for you!

I took the photos myself, Ariadne, so yes, it does! If you read through the comments, you’ll see that many others had the same success. For those who didn’t, I’m guessing the weather was too hot/dry or windy for the bubbles to work. Weather plays a key role in the success of the bubbles. You want to do this on a day on a humid day. It’s best when the skies are overcast or you’re in the shade as dry heat and wind will dry out the bubbles and they’ll pop quickly.

We’ve always used ours all in one day, Julie, so I can’t say for sure. If you do keep some for another day, you’ll need to gently stir it before using as the powders will definitely settle.

I just wanted to thank you for making this post!

Five months ago I came across it and decided to have a try making some big bubbles. My Kids loved it and I have since started a local business so that others in our community can experience the joy!

Have a great day,
Shahn

Hi Zoe. I explain, in the post, how to make ours with straws and string. 🙂

Hi Zoe. I explain in the post how to make ours with straws and strings.:)

@Patty: Could you share the recipe and prep instructions for the shampoo and glycerin? Seems to be simple enough…
Thank you!

Do you have Fairy Liquid? I’ve heard that works really well.

Hello, have u managed to make up a good giant bubble mix with any detergent in NZ? I tried the countdown home brand yellow ones yesterday it was okay for medium sized bubbles,. but not big ones

Hello, I live in Arizona and tried your bubble solution. The bubbles did indeed pop all too quickly as you stated, and unfortunately I had to resort back to store bought bubbles. Do you have any solutions or suggestions for your mix? Are there any alternative bubble solutions that you might suggest that are better suited for dry warmer climates?

I’ve heard Fairy liquid works well, Tanya. The starch does settle, and you can gently stir it but you don’t want to stir too vigorously, as this will create a lot of froth in your mix, and for some reason, that has a detrimental effect on the mixture.
Be sure to use your bubbles on a calm, humid day. Early morning is best before the sun gets too hot. Sun and wind and dry air will wick the moisture out of your bubbles, and they’ll pop quickly. Overcast days with high humidity are best. Let your mixture sit for at least an hour after making it. You can let it sit overnight as well, but it definitely does have to sit.

The recipe should work but the weather plays a huge factor, Em. Damp, overcast days with no wind are best. If it’s hot and dry, or too windy, the moisture will be wicked out of the bubbles, and they’ll pop.

I’m not familiar with potato starch, Kinka, so I’m not sure if it has the same qualities as corn starch. A thick dishwashing liquid like fairy liquid or Palmolive should work instead of Dawn though.

Sorry to hear that, James. As you can see by the size of our bubbles, and by many of the comments on the post, the recipe does work well. Weather does play a very big factor though. Humid, damp, overcast days are best! Also, try not to stir up a lot of froth when using the mixture. That will have a negative affect on it as well.

I’m not sure what the cost would be for you, Annika. I believe there are significant differences in our grocery prices due to the vast differences in our locations. The most expensive part of the recipe would likely be the dish detergent. As for weather, I’m not sure if the actual temperature would affect the bubbles. It’s more the humidity or lack of humidity that affects whether or not they work. Humid, damp, overcast days with little wind are best. Good luck! Let me know if you give it a try!

Awesome tip! Thanks!

Thanks, Lexy!

If you’re still reading this post, Walmart has glycerin in the first aid area.

Dollar tree carries “personal lubricant” that is mostly glycerine, so I use it in my bubble recipe, and it only costs a dollar!

I laughed out loud at your wonderful pun. “The first several bubbles popped immediately, and I was feeling deflated”

Melinda, didn’t you have to wrap the hula hoop with a cotton type rope or cording to absorb the bubble solution to get it over their heads?

Have made this twice with my kids and it works out great.

We’re in Ireland, so thought I’d share some info. We used green Fairy Platinum, although I expect regular Fairy would work just as well.

Detergent has 15-30% Anionic surfactants and 5-15% non-ionic surfactants. I have read that Fairy green works best and perhaps lemon should be avoided.

The corn flour settles out no matter what you do, but I found it doesn’t matter. I ended up pouring our leftover mixture into a 2l milk jug and have used it a few times since we mixed it up 3 weeks ago so it keeps well.

Thanks!

Yay! So glad you had a great time with this recipe!

Thanks for the suggestions, Madelon!

Yay! So glad it was a success! Especially as you had hot, windy weather!

Interesting! I have no idea why that would happen. We’ve always used our mix all in one day, so I can’t say I’ve experienced that.

First of all, I would like to thank you for the amazing bubble recipe; my nieces and nephew love it.

Now, I have follow the recipe, but after I have left the bubbles (a new batch) over night, when opened it smelled like rotten eggs mixed with blue dawn. I assume this is not normal; would you happen to know what went wrong and/or how to fix it?

Thank you,
MaDonna

Yes, dip the straws as well, Claudia. Do you have Palmolive brand dish soap? I’ve heard from someone recently who used Original Palmolive, and it worked well.

I’ve heard that Joy original will work, and possibly Palmolive. You need a detergent that’s quite thick, and there must be some ingredients that are critical to the bubbles working because there are brands that it won’t work with. I haven’t heard anyone say that Ivory works well. You could give it a try, but I’m afraid it might be a waste of ingredients?

Okeedokee.
Raoul The owl

Thanks for the heads up. Internet Explorer is a very old, (and I think) outdated browser, and it causes all kinds of viewing problems for people. I’d stick with Chrome. It’s one of the best, and you’ll see sites as you’re supposed to see them. Most bloggers who want to stay up to date with their sites have them optimized for todays popular browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari etc.), and IE is just one of those ones that hasn’t kept up with the times. Thanks!

Other then that, terrific blog!

I’ve never had to alter the recipe, Matt. I do find that for the first few minutes that happens, but the more you work the solution, the better it gets.

Oh yes, you got hit so hard this winter! You’re not all that far from me, so we heard all about your weather. Hope it’s all gone soon for you, Kat!

Hi, we are about 40 mins north of Boston, on the coast. We were the bullseye/sweet spot of every storm! Over 100″ of snow this winter. So we are seeing the grass here and there. But still lots of plowed snow and drifted snow all around our house! Hoping it will be gone by May – fingers crossed! 🙂
Happy Easter and thanks again!
Kat

Awesome, Kat! So glad our bubble recipe saved the day! Where are you that you still have so much snow? I’m in South-Central Ontario, and ours is finally mostly gone. Thank GOODNESS. Enjoy the rest of your Easter Sunday!

There’s a small set of arrows under the bar, Betty. If you hover on the bar for a few seconds, you’ll see the arrows. Click on those, and it will move the bar off the screen. Hope that helps.

Thank you happy hooligans

Do you have fairy liquid, Jacolene? Or Palmolive (green, original)? I’ve heard those both work well

Great suggestions, Jennifer, thanks!

Great tips, Dustin! Thanks for sharing!

Arrowroot is fine, but try dissolving it in a small amount of warm water, and slowly stirring it in. The amount used will require adjustment; I’d start with about half the amount called for using corn startch, as you can add more if required.

A great permanent wand can be made by cutting a hula hoop type toy into 4 equal segments and using those instead of soda straws. The thicker diameter makes it easier for small hands to use. Also if there is cornstarch that doesn’t dissolve in 2-3 days, try cutting back a small amount in your next batch – it’s only the dissolved starch molecules that are strengthening the bubble. ..drr

Well, there could be a few problems, Janita. As I mention in the post, the weather plays a big factor in the success of the bubble mixture. Hot, sunny, windy and dry conditions will quickly wick the moisture out of any bubbles you blow, resulting in the bubbles popping before the even get a chance. The other major factor is the type of dish soap. I’ve only heard of people having success with the Blue Dawn that I recommend in the article, or with “Fairy” liquid, which I understand is a brand available in other parts of the world. Other brands are too watery for this recipe. Do you have Fairy liquid available where you are?

I read on another site that light corn syrup can be used in place of glycerin. I’m trying it tonight!

Yay! Aren’t they amazing? So glad your family had fun with them!

Good luck with them, Paula! Have fun!

I got mine at a health food store, so I’m assuming mine is food grade, glycerine, Lucy, but I don’t think it matters which kind you use. The weather is key. A damp, humid, overcast day is best. No sun, very little wind, as those two things evaporate the moisture in the bubbles. Also, be sure to let your mixture sit overnight before using it. It won’t work well if you use it right away.

I have no idea, Helen, but they work so well, I figure it must be in there for a reason. lol

Yes, I think any thick, unconcentrated soap would likely work, Nataly. I’ve heard that Palmolive is good, and if you’re in the UK, a brand called Fairy works well, apparently.

I’m in Canada, Tina. The best I can suggest is to wait for a humid, overcast day or to try it in a very shaded area on a day with little or no wind. The wind, sun and dry heat are the enemy when it comes to bubbles. lol

It’s hard to say for sure, Joyous. I’ve found the biggest culprits are sun, dry heat and wind. They wick the moisture out of the bubbles, causing them to pop quickly. Heavy, humid, damp air is great, especially when it’s overcast. A grey day is much better than a sunny day. If it’s sunny, make sure you’re doing it under the shade of a big tree.

Hi Linda. I’m not familiar with arrowroot. Maybe “google” it and see if the two are interchangeable? Sorry I can’t be of more help.

I think that would work very well, Melanie. I’ve seen wooden dowels used so skewers should be fine. 🙂

Hi, Joyous, Yes, it will settle a bit. You can gently stir it and let it rest for a bit before using. You’ll see some settling while you’re using your solution as well. It didn’t seem to affect our mix and the more we used it, it seemed to dissolve. Most important is that you don’t want to stir it in vigorously. If you agitate your mixture too much before or while using it, it won’t work nearly as well.

Sure, Izyan! Just check out the “secret ingredient” that I refer to in the post. Click on the link to find out what it is. 🙂

Thank you!

I’ve heard your Fairy Liquid works very well, Jo.

Of course it’s toxic, Yaya. It’s dish soap. I’m fairly certain any brand of dish soap or dollar store bubble mix could make you quite ill if ingested.

Thanks Happy!

As long as the weather co-operates, you’ll be fine, Kimberly. You want it to be humid and overcast with very little wind. If it’s sunny, try to do it in a shaded area. Sunlight and wind dry the bubbles out, and they tend to pop quickly.

You can see it in the first photo, Susan. It’s a shallow, glass baking dish. 🙂

Absolutely, Steph! Share! So glad your girls had fun with it!

I’m assuming I used food glycerine, Gaby, as I bought it at a natural bulk food store.

There is also an MSDS sheet for Dawn Dishwashing Detergents. They can be found here: http://www.pg.com/productsafety/search_results.php?searchtext=Dawn&category=msds&submit=Search&submit=Search

Well where I live anyway 🙂

You can try, Kathie. I’ve heard Palmolive works well – the original green kind. I think the thicker the detergent, the better.

I’m pretty sure any kind would be fine.

You can definitely make it ahead of time. It does best if it sits over night. I’m not sure exactly how far ahead you can make it though, or how long it’s good for (we never have leftovers).

supermarkets in the medical section or at a chemist

If it’s hot and sunny, they won’t work well, Michele. Move into the shade, or save the activity for a humid, overcast day. Grey skies and high humidity are key.

I don’t really know, Kristi. We’ve done this a couple of times, and both times, the mixture got better and better the more we used it. I do know that the weather plays a big factor. Overcast, humid days with very little wind are best. If you’re in the sunlight, move into the shade. The sunlight, or hot, dry weather will dry the bubbles out as they come off the wand.

Hey, Courtney. I don’t think it’s really fixed yet, but what I’m finding is if I re-try the link I can usually get the full post on the 2nd or 3rd attempt. It’s very bizarre. i think it’s a plugin that’s making things a little wonky. Thanks for passing my bubble recipe along! I hope your follower is able to see the full post eventually. 🙂

Well, I take that back! It showed up right after I posted the first comment! Hope that means everything is up and running properly for you! 🙂

Try your pharmacy, ask at the counter.

Thanks so much for the tip, Mona!

Hobby Lobby has it 8 oz for 4.00

Steve Spangler has a fun idea..I did this with my students last year and they loved it…get a small kiddie pool and a small hula hoop and have the kiddos stand in the center of the hula hoop and pull the bubble up around them! It was so fun to watch their faces!

Wonderful! I’m so glad your hooligans had such a good time with their bubbles! Yeah…. you might want to keep the other recipe to yourself. lol

Bahahaha! THAT is hilarious, Ashley!!

Haha! Yes, I thought that was pretty funny too!

Thank you, Toni! Your post was so inspiring. I can’t wait for the weather to warm up a bit so we can make your bubbles again. I’ll keep your Summer Camp offer in mind! That interests me!!

You’re so welcome, Inese. Thanks for being such a loyal follower, and for taking the time to leave a comment! x

There’s nothing perishable in there, so I think it should last for a while, Eileen. I don’t know that for a fact though because we used ours all up in a couple of days. You would definitely have to give it a gentle but thorough stir after letting it for a day or two, as the powders settle.

What a rebel you are, Tracy! First the tempera in the watercolour paints, and now this! lol You go girl!

ok well i made a batch of this lets see if it will work. i didnt have “blue” dawn so i used the hand renewal pomogranate scent and i didnt find the “glycerine” in the cake decorating section i found “glycerin” in the pharmacy it says skin softening on bottle….

For anyone else who’s curious, glycerine can be found in the health section of most pharmacies/walmarts, near the bandaids and meds. It can also be found in some health food/bulk food stores near the candy and cake decorating accessories.

i cant find glycerine. whr can i find it?

Aren’t they awesome, Miss Eileen? So glad your kiddos had fun with them! Great thinking playing with the leftovers!

🙂 Super! Thanks again.

Thanks, Jennifer!

And target if they have a pharmacy

Walmart in the pharmacy aisle by the bandaids is where I found mine

Thanks, Melissa. I’ve tried making bubbles a few times before too, and never had any luck. This recipe is by far the best one I’ve tried. 🙂

Hi Jackie,

I found mine at my local bulk food/natural food store, in among the cake decorating things. I’ve seen it at Walmart as well, but in larger bottles (and therefore more expensive). I have heard that corn syrup will work as well, but I haven’t tried it, so I can’t say how well it works, or if it even does. I would try a bulk food store or a Walmart type of store. Good luck! (I do know you can order it online. I think mine is Wilton brand (the cake decorating people), and I know they have a website that you can order from, so it’s probably available that way).

Cheers! Jackie