How to make bubble mixture

If you’ve run out of store-bought bubble mixture or need a quick activity for the kids, making your own bubbles from washing-up liquid and water is simple.

But what is the ideal ratio, and what can you use in the absence of a bubble wand? We experimented with various bubble mixtures and developed the best recipe for you to try at home with your children.

What you  need

• 50ml dishwashing liquid
• 300ml water

How to make it

1. Pour the dishwashing liquid into a container, such as a jam jar or glass bottle.
2. Slowly pour in the water, taking care not to create too many bubbles. To combine, gently stir the mixture together using a chopstick.
3. Let the bubble mixture rest for a while (preferably overnight) before using it; this will improve the quality of your bubbles.
4. Once ready, dip a bubble wand (see instructions below on how to make one from scratch) into the mixture and let your child enjoy blowing bubbles outside!

How to make a bubble wand

Don’t worry if you don’t have a wand from a store-bought bubble pot! You can have fun by looking around the house for different items that can be used to make bubbles. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

• Paperclips can be bent into wands or used as is
• Straws
• Pipe cleaners
• Biscuit cutters
• Fly swatters

Top hints

• Glycerine can be found in most major supermarkets’ baking sections and can be added to the bubble mixture to make it more stable. We discovered that adding 1 tablespoon of glycerine to the above recipe made our bubbles last much longer.
• Allowing the bubble mixture to rest overnight improves the bubbles.
• If you want to scale up the recipe, just use one part dishwashing liquid to six parts water.
• Make a large bubble mixture in a washing-up bowl, and then use larger items, such as colanders and slotted spoons, to make bubbles in the garden.