How to make the best-ever gigantic bubble mix - Australian National Maritime Museum (2024)
Enjoying science play and simple experiments with young children is a fun and easy opportunity to foster their curiosity and problem solving skills.
Suitable for ages:
2 years and up Time required: 30 mins Difficulty: 2 out of 5 Related Programs: Mini Mariners / Kids On DeckThis "best ever bubble mix" recipe is courtesy of one of our in-house Questacon-trained science communicators. You could use any detergent but we heard from the experts that this brand is the best for producing gigantic bubbles.
To Make:
Step 1. Mix the detergent, water and glycerine together well. Pour the mixture into your empty bottles.
Step 2. Allow your bubble mixture to sit for a while before using. The longer you keep it, the better it gets.
Step 3. Shape your plastic-coated wire into any shape you wish – stars, hearts, circles! You might want to use gaff tape to cover over any sharp edges at the end of the wire for safety.
Now you're ready for some bubbly fun in the sun! Bubbles will work best if you move the wand through the air slowly. It's also easier to make great bubbles in damp or humid conditions.
We’d love to see your creations! Please send us photos either by email to:web@sea.museumor tag us on Instagram - just tag the photo with our username@sea.museum
Johnson's® baby shampoo produces better bubbles than any of the dish soaps we tried, Dawn® dishwashing liquid (blue) was our soap of choice. All of these solutions work better if you “age” them overnight in an open container.
Other substances, such as corn syrup or glycerin, can be added to the solution of water and detergent to make even better bubbles. Label the three cups "Detergent Only," "Glycerin," and "Corn Syrup," respectively.
Pour equal parts of water, detergent and glycerine into the container. The amount of ingredients you use depends on how much bubble mix you want to make! To make a small amount of bubble mix, make 1 part equal to 1 tablespoon. For a large amount, make 1 part equal to one-quarter of a cup.
SUBSTITUTES: There aren't really any direct substitutes for guar gum. Some people find xanthan gum easier to find, but the juice created with xantham gum seems not to work as well as that made with guar gum.
In a seperate glass, mix alcohol & Xanthan gum to make a slurry. While stirring the bucket of hot water mixture, slowly pour in the alcohol slurry. Add Dawn & stir once more. Have fun!
1/2 cup (120 ml) blue Dawn dish soap. (I'd prefer not to specificy a brand, but the type of detergent can literally make or break your giant bubbles.) Dawn Ultra-not concentrated, or Dawn Pro are also highly recommended. You can also use Joy detergent.
Just adding a little sugar to your homemade bubble recipe will make your bubbles last longer. The sugar slows down the water evaporation, which in turn keeps the bubbles from drying out so they stay intact for a longer period of time (unless of course the bubble hits the ground - then all bets are off!)
Fill a bowl with 3 cups of water. Add 1 cup of the dishwashing liquid and ½ cup of corn syrup in the water. You can also add glycerine, but it is optional. Stir the mixture slowly to get an even texture.
If you don't have glycerine on hand, you can use 2-3 tablespoons of sugar or corn syrup. If using sugar, use warm water to dissolve the sweetener. We find that small wands work best, as opposed to larger ones.
Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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