Giant bubbles
A homemade bubble mix and two sticks with a string: bubbles bigger than the kids.
Age : age 3+
Materials
- 400 ml of water (bottled if your tap water is hard)
- 100 ml of washing-up liquid : Results vary by brand: test yours.
- 3 tablespoons of sugar
- 1 tablespoon of cornflour : Or glycerine, from the chemist.
- Two sticks about 80 cm long : Dowels, garden canes.
- Cotton string : One piece of 50 cm and one of 100 cm.
- A wide basin : To dip the string.
Steps
The day before: the recipe
- Dissolve the sugar and cornflour in a little water.
- Add the rest of the water, then the washing-up liquid, stirring gently so it doesn't foam.
- Leave to rest for at least 12 hours: the bubbles will be much stronger.
Make the wand
- Tie both strings to the ends of the two sticks: the short one at the top, the long one hanging below in a loop.
- Bring the sticks together: the string forms a triangle when you open them.
Make bubbles
- Dip the whole string in the basin, sticks together.
- Lift it out gently and open the sticks: a film of soap forms.
- Walk backwards slowly or let the wind blow into it.
- Bring the sticks together to close the bubble and set it free.
Washing-up liquid lets water stretch into a very thin film. Sugar and cornflour thicken it and slow down how fast it drains: the bubble bursts later. The colours come from light reflecting off both sides of the film.
The best time: a cool, damp day with just a little wind, for example after a shower of rain.
If it goes wrong
- Bubbles burst straight away : More cornflour, rest overnight.
- Bubbles heavy and drop : Less sugar.
- Lots of foam : Stir gently, skim the foam off with a spoon.
- Nothing works : Try another brand.
Safety
- The ground gets slippery: play outside, on grass if possible.
- The mix stings eyes: rinse with clean water if needed.