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How to Make Homemade Giant Bubbles that will Blow your Mind

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Make the biggest bubbles ever with this homemade giant bubble recipe.

Making homemade giant bubbles has been on our to-do list for a while, but we’ve been waiting for the perfect weather conditions. The weather is really important for making the biggest bubbles that won’t pop.

More on that in a bit.

Yesterday, the weather was just right, so I whipped up batch of homemade giant bubble mix in the morning, and we tried it out this afternoon.

I am thrilled to report that this homemade recipe really does make the biggest bubbles ever! If you’re looking for something super-fun to do in the backyard with your daycare kids or family, or a great outdoor science activity to do with your class, you have to make these bubbles!

Giant Homemade Bubble Recipe

Check out the size of this bubble!

My goodness! Cheap and easy backyard fun doesn’t get much better than this!

Boys blowing giant homemade bubbles in the yard

I’ll admit that when I was mixing up this recipe, I wasn’t altogether convinced that these bubbles would work.  

The ingredient list seemed bizarre, the cornstarch didn’t completely dissolve, and when I dipped my hand in, it didn’t seem slick and slippery like store-bought bubble solution. I began to wonder if this mixture would produce any bubbles at all.

jug of homemade giant bubbles solution

Oh boy.  I shouldn’t have worried!

huge bubble made with homemade bubbles solution

This recipe made the best bubbles ever!

For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links.

I got my inspiration from Design Dazzle, but I’ve tweaked her bubble recipe because I didn’t have the ahem… “secret ingredient” that she recommended. I made our bubble mixture with glycerine instead.

Ok!  Ready?  Here’s how you’re gonna make homemade bubbles that will blow everyone’s minds!

Homemade giant bubbles ingredients - baking powder, corn starch, dawn dish soap, glycerine

For your conviencience, this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients:

You will also need a giant bubble wand. DIY instructions below, or buy yours here.

Homemade Giant Bubble Recipe

How to Make Homemade Giant Bubbles Solution

  1. Dissolve Cornstarch

    Dissolve cornstarch in the water, stirring really well.

  2. Add Remaining Ingredients

    Stir in the rest off the ingredients, being very careful not to create a lot of froth.

  3. Let it Sit

    Allow your bubble mixture to sit for at least an hour before using, stirring occasionally when you see the cornstarch settling to the bottom.

Note: Some of the cornstarch won’t dissolve completely and may even settle to the bottom when you’re using your bubble mixture, but it won’t affect the quality of your bubbles.

TIP: We find this bubble solution easiest to use if we pour it into a shallow baking pan or a large casserole dish. I like to use my largest (11×15) Pyrex dish. It allows us to get our wands completely submerged when loading them up with the bubble mix.

Boy making giant bubbles in the yard with homemade bubble mix

The more bubbles you make, the better the mixture gets! 

FYI: The first several bubbles popped immediately, and I was feeling deflated (no pun intended). We soon discovered however, that more we played with the bubble formula, the silkier it became.

Before we knew it, we were making huge bubbles. When they broke free of our wand, they jiggled and wobbled through the air, gaining altitude until they floated up over the housetops and out of sight.

It was crazy-cool!

The perfect weather for giant bubbles:

You might think a hot, sunny day would be best for an outdoor activity like this, but believe it or not, it’s best to pick a cloudy or overcast day, with high humidity and very little wind.  The reason being that sunshine and wind will dehydrate your bubbles, causing them causing it to pop.

If the weather isn’t overcast and humid, at least take your bubbles under the canopy of a large tree or to the shady side of your house.

Ideally, there will be no wind, so you may find that the bubbles need a little help getting air into them.  What worked for us was to hold our arms high in the air, and slowly walk backwards, which gently forced  air into the bubble.

Toddler holding homemade giant bubble wand

And speaking of bubble wands…

How to make a giant bubble wand:

You can buy huge bubble wands like this one, but it’s really easy to make your own.  This is how I made ours:

I used two drinking straws, and a length of yarn that was 6 to 8 times longer than the length of one straw. Thread the yarn through the straws, tie a knot, and you’re good to go!

Giant Homemade Bubbles Recipe - Happy Hooligans

Well?  What do you think?  Are you going to give it a try?

If you have any doubts, check out the comments at the bottom of this post.  Dozens of people can’t be wrong.

This recipe really does make the biggest, best, backyard bubbles ever!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Patty

    Love this! I have been making giant bubbles with my group for a few months now and was using JJ baby shampoo, water and glycerine. I can’t wait to try out this recipe.

    Reply

    • Melinda

      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!

      Reply

      • Jeannie

        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?

    • Henry

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

      Reply

  3. Jackie Coker

    Hi, Jackie! I had a more basic recipe for the bubbles but couldn’t do that because I couldn’t find glycerine anywhere. Do you know what stores sell it?

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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

      Reply

  6. Melissa (@ChMuffinTree)

    Excellent photos!(I love bubble photos) I have never had luck with bubble recipes. Some I have heard if you let them sit they will work better. I will have to try the recipe you used.

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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. 🙂

      Reply

  7. happyhooligans

    What a fun idea for a birthday party! I think you can totally get away with the straws and yarn instead of making the dowels. I just poured mine into a pyrex (glass) baking dish. We were using two of them today, a small rectangle, and a larger rectangle that they could dip big plastic bubble wands into as well. A shallow rubbermaid container would work too. The kind that I use for my water bins would be perfect, if you’ve seen those. They would allow for more children to gather around instead of the small baking dishes. I love the baking dish set up on a low table with a non-slip pad underneath. No fear of anyone tipping it over and spilling the mixture. You could do the same with a shallow rubbermaid. 🙂

    Reply

  8. Miss Eileen

    Thanks for posting this recipe! We just tried these bubbles today at our preschool and had a blast. I took out the leftover solution out later in the day and we had lots of fun sensory play making suds and “washing dishes”. We will definitely be making these again 🙂

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

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

      Reply

  9. Inese Bokia

    Thanks for these gorgeous bubbles and recipe how to make them! 🙂 I really love your blog! So much practical, easy and fab ideas!:) I am so happy that found you and could following you! Thanks for inspiring me!:)

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

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

      Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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.

      Reply

  12. Toni- Design Dazzle

    Thanks for sharing our bubble post. I’m so glad you and your kids had such a fantastic time. Love your straw wands. We’ve used those in the past – they work great!!
    Contact me if you would like to contribute a post for Summer Camp : )
    Toni

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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!!

      Reply

  15. Ashley

    It is early and I’m dying of laughter over here…. Looked at the recipe thinking who the heck has glycerine lol so I went to check Design Dazzles recipe to see what you replaced. LUBE lol now that I have.

    Reply

  18. Patti

    Thank you so much for sharing your bubble recipe! I supervise the summer free lunch program at our school, so I made some up and brought it, and the kids had a blast watching and popping the huge bubbles (although I think some of them forgot all about eating)! It was fun seeing how the little kids wanted to pop them immediately and how the older kids were learning to watch and wait. I can’t wait to share your bubble recipe and website with students and parents! I’m not sure I could bring myself to share the other one LOL… 🙂

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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

      Reply

  19. Courtney @ Teach Preschool

    Hey, Jackie! I saw you mention last night that you were experiencing some website problems. We had a follower asking for a link to giant bubbles. I gave her yours, but the post isn’t actually showing, just the comments. Just wanted to give you a heads up!

    Reply

      • happyhooligans

        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. 🙂

  20. Kristi

    I made these today and they were fun. Our problem was they popped as soon as they came off the string wand. Any ideas what I did wrong? Thanks!

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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.

      Reply

    • Lauren King

      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).

      Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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.

      Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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).

      Reply

    • happyhooligans

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

      Reply

    • Gladys

      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

      Reply

  27. Jodi

    Did anyone bother to read the ingredients before making this? I think I got the right one but I assume the dishwashing detergents are pretty similar: http://www.pg.com/productsafety/ingredients/household_care/dish_washing/Dawn/Ultra_Dawn_Power_Clean_Dishwashing_Ingredient_Disclosure.pdf

    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

    Reply

  29. Gaby

    YOU HAVE TO USE PHARMACY GLYCERINE (It is different from food glycerine). There are two types of glycerine. (DON’T USE FOOD GLYCERINE).

    Reply

  30. StephsTwoGirls

    Hi Jackie, just want to say thanks so much for this, my girls absolutely LOVED doing these and I know we’ll do them again and again! Am about to reblog for my UK readers, with links back to you of course, hope that’s OK! Everyone should know about these!!

    Reply

  31. SpurgeonGirl

    Thank you for sharing your recipe and tips. Do you think this solution would work in a hula-hoop/baby pool scenario? If so, someone mentioned wrapping the hoop with string- any thoughts?

    Reply

  33. Kimberly Graham

    I am making this bubble recipe for our neighborhood block party tomorrow. If its a big success I will make it again for my 4yo bday party… I am confident it will by all of these wonderful comments! Thank you Thank you Thank you.

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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.

      Reply

      • Jen

        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.

  34. Susan Catron

    What did you put the solution in that they could dip the straw wand in, just the measuring cup?

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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.

      Reply

  39. WebbletMama

    We made this today….it took some getting used to to figure out how to make the bubbles with the straw and yarn. Thank goodness my 4 year old twins figured it out 😉 they love it! One of my boys said “wow mom, beautiful colors you have there!” -referring to the colors they make when blown up. It will keep us entertained all summer. My 2 year old even managed to make mini bubbles with it. So cool- thank you for sharing!

    Reply

  40. Barbara Peters

    Great recipes. I’d like to add my experience regarding the bubble mix. I use baby shampoo instead of the dawn because it doesn’t burn when it gets in their eyes. I’ve found that using dish detergent can sometimes turn them off on bubbles, forever.

    Reply

  41. Jo Howell

    Hi, I am in the UK and would love to give this a go but we don’t have Dawn, do you know what liquid I may be able to use. I saw a referece to baby shampoo is that any brand? Thanks in advance Jo

    Reply

  42. Vanessa

    teehee! the other link’s “secret ingredient” made me giggle like a school girl. I would see myself blushing everytime i saw a kid dip into the solution knowing the original purpose of the secret ingredient….also….awkward to explain to neighborhood parents who want to make their own for their kids….glad you found an alternative for us immature adults hahhaha

    Reply

  43. Shannon

    Great ideas! We’ve done the Design Dazzle version of bubble wands before, but they are difficult for little hands (and shorter arms) to wield, even though they want to desperately. The straw wands seem much more “little hand-friendly” — thanks!!

    Reply

  44. Bill Sweet

    If you really want to do something new with bubbles go to the dollar tree or any other dollar store and buy a bunch of “Glow Sticks” cut the end off and pour the liquid into the bubble mix. Wait till it gets a little dark and the bubbles glow in the dark. Also in the winter when the weather is really cold you can blow small bubbles and they will freeze before they hit the ground. Some will break but some will stay whole and last a long time.

    Reply

  45. Carolyn

    We make the most incredible bubble mix at my work with the same liquid ingredients and the a powdered bubble formula that we buy. I bet I know what is in the formula!

    Thank you!

    Reply

  46. Izyan

    This is awesome! my toddler loves playing with bubbles! However, is there a substitute for glycerine in the event i couldn’t find some?

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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. 🙂

      Reply

  47. Joyous

    HELLO! So ~ I made your recipe this morning and every time I walk by the sitting solution, all the powder (cornstarch or baking powder) is just settling on the bottom. I have to re-stir the sludge back into the liquid. Does it eventually dissolve completely? I did mix in just the water and cornstarch really well before adding everything else, so I don’t know what happened.

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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.

      Reply

  48. melanie klem

    I’m wondering if you could tie the string to kabob skewers instead of using straws…or would wood maybe not work as well?…….

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

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

      Reply

      • Dustin Covey

        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

    • happyhooligans

      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.

      Reply

      • Dustin Covey

        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.

  50. Joyous

    this just isn’t working out ~ it blows seemingly okay bubbles with a normal wand but pops as soon as you open the straws. What’s the trick?

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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.

      Reply

  51. Tina

    We live in California where it is very dry and hot. Our bubbles keep popping as so as we make one. Where do you live and do you have any pointers to help us out? We’re pulling our hair out trying to master it and the glycerin is expensive….lol

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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

      Reply

    • Cathy Fortin

      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

      Reply

  52. Allison

    I’m laughing because I made this same recipe this week (from another mom’s site) and thought the same thing (oh, this does NOT look like it worked) and then it did, brillantly, and I about 1 cup of bubble lasted 15-20 minutes (with my one big wand while the other kids ran around popping them) versus the store bought stuff that I went through a giant bottle in two afternoons! This stuff is awesome! 🙂 And now, I feel validated too that YOU, the expert that I wish were closer so that you could play with 🙂 my kids, use the same mixture. Fun! Fun! Fun! Thanks for always sharing your ideas and talents. I have so many things from your site on my summer bucket list! Thanks!

    Reply

  53. Nataly Ponce

    Hi! I don’t live in the US so Dawn soap it’s not available, would any other liquid soap woul work? Thanks!

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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.

      Reply

  55. Asia Pietrulewicz

    I live in Poland and so far I’ve learned that here the best choice of detergent is Fairy (lemon of apple). Also: I highly recommend you try a recipe with guar gum. It’s amazing and you don’t have to keep stirring it to prevent the starch from falling.

    Reply

  56. Helen

    I made this today. Live in the Uk I and used Fairy liquid and corn flour. They were fab. Kids had a great time and it kept the happy for hour. What does the corn flour actually do to help make the bubbles????

    Reply

    • Steph K

      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?

      Reply

  57. Lucy

    I think I might have done something wrong as I can’t get my bubbles to work, is there two types of glycerine and if so which should I use?

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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.

      Reply

  58. Lucy

    Hi, I must have done something wrong as my bubbles don’t work, I used food glycerine not one from the chemist should I have used that one? Is it better?

    Reply

  59. Paula Kennedy

    I have made bubble solution for years. I am going to try the giant bubbles this weekend with my four year old granddaughter. I got my glycerin at the grocery store in the pharmacy section. I live in South Georgia and we make bubbles all the time. I am anxious to see if the giant bubble mixture works.

    Reply

  61. Emma

    Thank you from Spain! Brilliant recipe, we´ve had an afternoon of great fun with it. Wands are super easy and effective too – a bit of technique needed opening and closing the bubbles, which meant I had to do most of it, but we all enjoyed ourselves immensely!

    Reply

  64. janita kruger

    We live in south africa. We made it today and didn’t work. What can be the problem. I used sunlight liquid SA to brand dish washing detergent.

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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?

      Reply

  65. Jennifer

    Hi. I made this recipe and it was great. One thing I don’t understand is why cornstarch is put in the mixture. I tried another batch without corn starch and the bubbles were just as big. In support, I have tried many recipes and is was most successful with or without cornstarch. Suggestion for a large bubble blower: slide off the net from a butterfly catcher from the dollar store. We had plastic ones laying around…works out great. For tiny, multiple bubbles, we used an old badminton racket.

    Reply

  67. julie

    Ive done this before one can also use a larg holahoop putting rubber boots on and stand inside the hoop pull it over your body and you are inside the bubble lol

    Reply

  68. betty

    I came to your site for the bubble recipe, but the social media posting bar on the left covers up all the list of ingredients on my laptop view. The bar is really awkward there and makes the site design very bulky. Too bad- looks like fun.

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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.

      Reply

  69. Kat

    Wowsa! Great bubble recipe! My kids got bubble wands from the Easter bunny. And the Easter bunny thought we had a big jug of bubble solution, but he was mistaken…unless it is lost under several feet of snow.
    Anyway, I had all these ingredients on hand on Easter. So I made it. Amazing bubbles! Very elastic and so fun. We used Dawn Ultra, and it worked beautifully. If regular Dawn works better, those bubbles must be amazing!
    Thank you so much!!! This made our Easter afternoon even better!
    Kat

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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!

      Reply

      • 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

      • happyhooligans

        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!

  71. matt cooper

    I’ve made the mixture but the giant bubbles won’t detach without popping. Do I need to increase or decrease any ingredient to make them better?

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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.

      Reply

  72. Mega IM

    Hello, I think your website might be having browser compatibility issues.
    When I look at your blog in Chrome, it looks
    fine but when opening in Internet Explorer,
    it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up!

    Other then that, terrific blog!

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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!

      Reply

  73. Raoul the owl

    I am a childrens entertainer and I also do the giant bubbles. I used to buy my mix from someone else but their recipe changed and the bubbles didnt work anymore. I have been experimenting but have had medium success. Tomorrow I will prepare the mix.
    A big THANK YOU for posting this. I walk tall stilts & jumping stilts & unicycle & juggle & the bubbles give me time to get my strength back between disciplines.

    Okeedokee.
    Raoul The owl

    Reply

  74. April

    Could you use different dish detergent other than Dawn? Reason I ask I use Ivory for sensitive skin… sounds fun try with kids this summer

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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?

      Reply

  75. keith

    A hint when mixing, put the dry ingredients in a small bowl and mix with a whisk with only JUST enough water to dissolve it. then mix the rest together. Consequently this is how you thicken gravy without having lumps.

    Reply

  76. Nana Bubbles

    Hey Happy Hooligans…wow this thread has lasted awhile…how cool…been using your bubble recipe for about 3 years now…THANK YOU! using with the hula hoop & pool in large events for the community children….they are a super hit! sometimes the bubbles work well, other times they pop easier…probably the humidity…I just did and event last Thursday…scheduled to meet each Thursday thru the Summertime…sad to say my bubble solution is flat today…I’ll try to revive tomorrow night…I’ll keep you posted…Does anyone else have experience reviving the mixture?

    Reply

  77. Michael

    Thank you for this solution, I am going off to use this now with my daughter. Instead of using the rods that you have made though we have to thin bamboo stick with string attached at the end, not as much mess. Thanks heaps.

    Reply

  78. Claudia Ziersch

    3 stars
    Okay, I live in Germany and made the recipe with ‘fit’ natural. No luck, but have bought ‘fairy’ since then and stopped at the pharmacy to buy glycerin to try again. My question is, do I dip the straws, too? Or just the string? It wanted to work – I even tried a regular bubble wand, but couldn’t get a bubble. Any tips?

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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.

      Reply

  79. MaDnna

    Hello,

    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

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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.

      Reply

  82. Paula

    This is brilliant. I live in the UK and have just made this with my two children. ( well I made the solution) My husband made the bubble wand using plastic straws and 2 long shoe laces. I used fairy washing up liquid however any thick washing up liquid will do not the cheap stuff. Its go to be thick. The day was sunny, hot and windy and it worked very well. Thanks

    Reply

  83. madelon

    I did so much research and experimentation last year and this recipe was almost perfect…but I found that it was much more effective to first dissolve the cornstarch in 3 cups water and cook over low heat stirring constantly until it becomes this thick gluttonous soup. Remove from heat and stir in other 3 cups cold water and other ingredients stirring constantly to avoid clumps. The soap is added LAST to avoid foaming when stirring. Had lots of fun and am doing it again this year for the birthday party of my 8 year old. Thank you for your recipe and photos .

    Reply

  84. fiona

    5 stars
    Thank you so much for this recipe 🙂 I’m from Singapore and we tried this today it was so exciting seeing the hugeee bubbles!

    Reply

    • Lisa @ GreenMetropolis

      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

      Reply

    • Jason

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply

      • Martin

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

    • happyhooligans

      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.

      Reply

  88. Annika

    5 stars
    How much is the total of this? Because this sound like so much fun for alaska! I would like to do this with my sister, but do you think it would be to cold? How much would all of the ingredients cost?

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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!

      Reply

  89. Kinka

    Will different kind of dishwashing liquid and potato starch work as well? Not living in US, so Dawn and corn starch are quite problematic.

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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.

      Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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.

      Reply

  91. Tanya McCallum

    Hello
    Tried your bubble mix and couldn’t get it to work. They were forming really well but they would hardly ever come off the wand and float away (they just popped before they closed into a bubble). In the UK we don’t have Dawn, so I used another liquid detergent (concentrated on one day and a different one not concentrated another day). The corn starch settled out of the liquid quite a lot and I was not quite sure whether it’s better to keep stirring it in or leave it separated. Any ideas? We’re normally good at giant bubbles as there is a mix we normally buy but it is so expensive that we wanted to make it instead. Help! Thanks

    Reply

    • happyhooligans

      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.

      Reply

      • Evan

        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?

  93. Kendra

    Made these yesterday for a birthday party today! Awesome recipe!! Thank you for all the tips. We were starting to be discouraged when the bubbles kept popping at first. They are gigantic and don’t pop easily after waiting overnight!

    Reply

  95. Jonnie Johnston

    5 stars
    I’ve tried this bubble recipe. And it’s fantastic! Even the older kids AND the parents got involved with the fun. It was great!

    Reply

  96. Greg Berge

    Been making my own giant bubble mix on and off for 30 years. Simple original Dawn, distilled water and Glycerin works best. The fewer impurities, fragrances, extra ingredients the better. I could see Baking Soda if you used tap water and needed to soften the water but Baking Soda is designed to leaven bread not increase surface tension of a liquid. Same with Corn Starch/Syrup. They are both thickening agents and can transform water into a “non Newtonian fluid” aka Oobleck. That property serves no purpose in a bubble. Simple original Dawn with no added “grease cutter” or scents, distilled not purified water. Glycerin is sold at Walmart for less than 4 bucks. I usually just make my want out of a coat hanger. Take a cheap pair of round woven cotton shoelaces or similar. Cut the eyelets off and thread the coat hangar through the middle of the shoelace. Cut off any excess then bend/twist wire to form loop of desired size.. A bubble mixture that is perfect one day can be useless the next day. Humidity levels make a big difference in bubble formation. The soap to water ratio. in your mix is altered by the moisture levels in the air as you create the bubble. Ber patient.

    Reply

  99. stacy gosman

    worked like a charm. took a bit before they stopped popping. no wind is important. i found glycerin at shoppers drug mart (drug store)

    Reply

  100. Shahn Redding

    Hey Jackie,

    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

    Reply

    • Jackie Currie

      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.

      Reply

  102. Sheila

    These are awesome! Was babysitting and trying to find something new and fun, and found this. The kids loved it and the bubbles worked great. And they want me to leave the recipe for their mom so they can do it every day after school. 🙂 Thanks a lot!

    Reply

    • Jackie Currie

      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.

      Reply

  104. Rebecca

    Hi, I tried this recipe and found our tap water was too hard for proper bubble formation. I’m an American living in the UK. The water where we live is very high in minerals. I found we had to use distilled water. Has anyone else had difficulty with this recipe using tap water? If so, it may be the mineral content in your area. We found switching to distilled water made a big difference. Thank you for sharing this bubble recipe. It was better than some others we’ve tried.

    Reply

  105. Corilee

    Hello, the last homemade recipe I tried made pretty good giant bubbles, but only 1 small bubble at a time! Does this recipe work for small bubbles, too?

    Reply

    • Jackie Currie

      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!

      Reply

  107. Andreea

    Hi, I was lucky to try this out at a kids event, since then we are in coronavirus lockdown allowed to shop for basic essentials so can’t get glycerine at the moment . I have a small bottle of shampoo that contains glycerine will that work instead?
    Thanks,
    Andreea

    Reply

  108. Kerry AULD

    Hi! Just be careful around dogs that love popping bubbles! My Father’s dog was a bit too enthusiastic and we had to go the vet to get pain medicine and eye cream because of the irritation. (The dog is nuts but thought I’d mention it 🙂

    Reply

  109. Brad

    5 stars
    Late to the party i know, but here we go.

    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!

    Reply

  110. Laura M Drake

    Store bought water if you need it. I have a well and these don’t turn out the best if I use tap. Just another FYI tip. I’ve been making this recipe the past few summers, just love it!

    Reply

  111. b

    I am a 60 year old bubble freak!!! I love them. In 2002, we were in Ocean City vacationing. I watch this bubble maker making the biggest bubbles I’d ever seen with a really cool wand. My hubby bought me the wand and I followed the bubble makers recipe.. the “secret recipe” is the BEST bubble enhancer ever!!!! Been making them everywhere I go since 2002. Never get tired of making them or watching the looks I get whether on the beach or in a campground or just in the neighborhood. Great times!

    Reply

  112. David

    My granddaughter and I love your recipe. Thanks. As a veteran chef, I had problems with raw cornstarch. I couldn’t figure what it did. The solution even seemed better when the cornstarch settled out. So I tried several batches bringing five c of water to a simmer and liquefying 1/4 c cornstarch and slowly adding it. I did a batch with two tablespoons too. Both worked, the 2T version seemed best.

    Reply

  113. Lindsey

    Has anyone tried pre-making the solution? We are going camping and I thought this would be great activity to take with us. I am wondering if I can pre-make the solution a few days before and keep it in a water jug?

    Reply

  115. Candi Owens

    Made this receipe in a half gallon milk carton. It works great because you can mix it up very easily by turning it upside down and all around. It also has a lid to keep it contained.

    Reply

  116. Dr H

    Tried this with my niece recently, and had the same issue others mentined. Made nice big bubbles on the wand, but we couldn’t get them to float free. Of course we did this on a pretty dry day, so we’ll have to try it sometime when the humidity’s higher.

    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.

    Reply

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