How to make bubble solution at home

And if you don't have a bubble machine or wand, we've got simple guides and ideas to making your own homemade bubble wands too — which could be another fun way for kids to get creative before they begin their bubble blowing.

What you’ll need

To make your bubble solution, you'll need one part washing-up liquid to six parts water. For example, to make 350ml of bubble solution you will need:

• 50ml washing-up liquid
• 300ml water
• A straw or stirrer

How to make bubble solution for kids

1. Measure out your washing-up liquid into a container
2. Add in the water slowly, try and ensure you don't create too many bubbles at this stage
3. Gently stir the mixture together to combine the mixture
4. If you have time, let the bubble mixture rest for a short while (ideally overnight — this will make the ingredients blend well and make the bubbles even better!)
5. When your child is ready to make bubbles, dip the bubble wand into the mixture and start blowing bubbles!

If you want to make bigger bubbles or more bubble solution, just increase the quantities (but keep the ratio as one part washing-up liquid to six parts water).

Homemade bubble wands

Made your bubble solution but missing a bubble wand? Don't worry, you can use different items you probably have around the house to make homemade versions.

How to make a small pipe cleaner bubble wand:

You will need:

• Pipe cleaners
• A handful of beads that will fit over the pipe cleaners

To make the bubble wand:

1. Bend one end of a pipe cleaner into a small loop
2. Twist the end around to secure it in place (leave about 14cm of the pipe cleaner going down from the loop)
3. Optional: bend the loop into a fun shape, such as a heart
4. Thread some colourful beads onto the long stem of the pipe cleaner (stop a couple of centimetres from the end)
5. Bend the end of the pipe clearer around the last bead, then poke it up through the other beads to hide the end
6. Use the wand to blow your bubbles!

Credit: The Bear and the Fox

How to make a giant bubble wand:

You will need:

• 2 x sticks roughly the same length — ideally between 45-60cm long (you could also use wooden dowels)
• Rope, such as braided cotton cord (you could also use wool, string or cord, but the thicker the better as it will be less likely to get tangled up)
• Eyelet screws
• A large metal washer
• Optional: paint (if you would like to decorate your bubble wand)

To make the bubble wand:

1. Cut off any jagged edges or flaky bark from your sticks
2. Insert an eyelet screw near the top of each stick (they should create their own hole when you twist them against the wood)
3. Tie your long piece of rope/cord to one eyelet, then leave a short piece of rope/cord spare (about a few centimetres)
4. Thread your washer onto the long piece of rope, then tie the other end to the eyelet in the other stick to connect both sticks together
5. Take the short piece of cord and tie it onto the longer cord (not the eyelet) — this knot should sit just beneath where that long cord is knotted onto an eyelet
6. Repeat with the other end of the short cord, again tying it just below where the long cord is tied onto the other eyelet screwed into the second stick
7. Leave a short piece of cord on these knots too — you will now have two ‘tails’ of cord at each eyelet
8. On each stick, tie the two tails together to make another knot right next to the first one — this ‘tail knot’ will keep your your short cord in place, and stop it sliding down the long cord later on
9. When you hold the two sticks, the long cord with the washer-weight should hang down, while the shorter piece therefore stretches across the middle
10. Both strings together should form a triangle shape

Credit: Rhubarb and Wren

How to store your homemade bubble solution

If stored correctly, your homemade bubble solution could last for up to six months (if your kids don't use it all to blow bubbles by then!).

We recommend storing your homemade bubble solution in a clean, airtight container with a lid.

Pic: Getty

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