How to Make a Homemade Bubble Mixture (With and Without Glycerin)

Co-authored by Kyle Hall

Last Updated: December 20, 2022 References Tested

It's really easy to whip up your own bubble solution using ingredients you probably have on hand. We'll give you a few quick bubble solution recipes—one for simple bubbles using just a few ingredients and one for bubbles that last longer before they pop. Keep reading for step-by-step instructions and variations on these fantastic recipes!

Things You Should Know

Mix 4 cups (950 mL) of warm water with ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of liquid dish soap and 1/2 cup (100 g) of granulated sugar for an easy bubble solution.
Add glycerin or corn syrup to your bubble solution for bubbles that float longer before they pop.
Customize your bubble solution by adding food coloring, essential oils, or glow-in-the-dark paint.

Ingredients

Basic Bubble Solution without Glycerin

4 cups (950 mL) of warm water
1/2 cup (100 g) of granulated sugar
¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of liquid dish soap

Makes 4 ¹⁄₂ cups (1.1 L) of bubble solution

Super Bubble Solution with Glycerin

1 cup (240 mL) of warm water
2 tablespoons (30 mL) of liquid dish soap
1 tablespoon (15 mL) of glycerin or corn syrup
1 teaspoon (5 g) of granulated sugar

Makes 1 cup (240 ml) of bubble solution

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Basic Bubble Solution (No Glycerin)

1
Pour 4 cups (950 mL) of warm water into a large jar. If you don't have a big jar, use a bowl or pitcher that's large enough to hold a little over 4 cups (950 mL) of liquid that will give you enough room for the other ingredients.^{[1]
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- If you'd like to halve the recipe, pour just 2 cups (470 ml) of warm water into a jar and halve the remaining ingredients.
- For bubble solution that lasts longer, use distilled water. If you're not concerned about storing the solution, it's fine to use tap water.
2
Stir in 1/2 cup (100 g) of granulated sugar. Add the sugar to the container and stir it for a few minutes so the sugar dissolves completely. The sugar dissolves faster in warm water than in cold.^{[2]
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- If you're using a sealable jar, screw the lid on tightly and shake it until the sugar dissolves.
- Sugar sounds like an odd ingredient to add to bubble solution, but it binds the ingredients together so your bubbles and solution last longer.
- If you don't have any sugar, you can leave it out, but it will be harder to blow bubbles.
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3
Stir in ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of liquid dish soap. Go slow and steady with your mixing or your bubble solution will foam up. If you're using a jar, don't put the lid on and shake to combine the soap—use a long-handled spoon to stir it gently.^{[3]
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4
Use the solution or store it in an airtight container. Have fun blowing bubbles right away! To store the solution once you're done, pour it into a container that you can seal. Then, put it in a cool dry place—a refrigerator is great—and use the solution within 2 weeks.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Super Bubble Solution with Glycerin

1
Put warm water, dish soap, glycerin, and sugar into a bowl. Pour 1 cup (240 mL) of warm water into a bowl or container with a pour spout and add 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of liquid dish soap, 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of glycerin, and 1 teaspoon (5 g) of granulated sugar.^{[4]
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- If you can't find glycerin, use corn syrup instead. Corn syrup acts like glycerin to slow down evaporation, so your bubbles are stronger and last longer.^{[5]
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2
Stir the ingredients together, but be careful not to create foam. If you end up with foam, it will be hard to blow bubbles with the solution. Instead, use a long-handled spoon to stir the mixture really gently until the sugar dissolves.^{[6]
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3
Wait at least 1 hour before you use the solution. This resting period strengthens the bonds within the bubble solution, so you end up with sturdier bubbles that last longer before they pop.^{[7]
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4
Stir the bubble solution right before you use it. Give the solution a gentle stir before you dip a bubble wand in it and blow a bubble. If you want to store the solution, pour it into an airtight solution and put it in a cool, dark place—the fridge is a good spot. Then, plan on using it within 6 months.^{[8]
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- Throw out the bubble solution if it looks cloudy or begins to smell bad.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Trying Variations

1
Stir in 5-10 drops of food coloring if you want different colored bubbles. Pour ¹⁄₂ cup (120 ml) of bubble solution into a container and slowly stir in 5 to 10 drops of food coloring. Repeat this using different solutions for a rainbow of bubble solutions!^{[9]
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- Keep in mind that the food coloring will mix with the original color of the dish soap. For example, if you add red food coloring to blue dish soap, you'll get purple!
- Use clear dish soap if you want to make yellow, orange, or red bubbles.
2
Add 15 to 20 drops of essential oils if you want to make scented bubbles. You'll probably notice a light scent if you use liquid dish soap that has fragrance. To make a stronger scented bubble solution, stir in 15 to 20 drops of your favorite essential oils—you can use a single scent or combine fragrances for a custom bubble solution.^{[10]
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- For instance, if you're using lemon dish soap, add lavender essential oil to make a lemon-lavender-scented bubble solution.
- Avoid adding more than 15-20 drops since essential oils are very concentrated!
3
Add a splash of glow-in-the-dark paint for luminous bubbles. If you're having a black light party, make bubbles that glow in the dark! Stir a squirt of glow-in-the-dark paint into any kind of bubble solution. Then, turn off the lights, turn on a black light, and blow bubbles that look like they're magically glowing!^{[11]
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Community Q&A
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Question

Do bubbles last longer in cold or hot water?

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In general, bubbles last longer in cooler temperatures, because the water in the skin of the bubble evaporates more slowly when it’s cold. However, it’s harder to form bubbles in really cold water, since the bubble solution doesn’t dissolve into the water as easily when it’s cold.
Question

Why does sugar make better bubbles?

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Mixing sugar into the bubble mix helps slow down the evaporation process. When the water that forms the skin of a bubble evaporates, it pops. This means that adding materials like sugar and glycerin, which slow evaporation, can make bubbles less fragile and longer-lasting.
Question

How do you make unpoppable bubbles?

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Adding corn syrup won’t make your bubbles completely unpoppable, but it will make them a lot stronger. You can also handle bubbles without popping them by coating your hands (or another object, like a stick, pencil, or bubble wand) with the bubble mixture or some liquid soap.