How to Make Your Own Fluorescent Bubble Solution

Turn your bubbles different colors with food coloring.

If you spend so much money on bubble solution that it warrants its own budget, you can cut the expense and make the solution at home. Double the bubble fun by adding color to the solution, so that your children can fill the air with floating orbs outlined in fluorescent hues. All of the necessary ingredients are available at the supermarket, if they are not already in your home. You can even make the task a craft or science project for all your anxious bubble-blowers, to demonstrate cooking or chemistry fundamentals.

Things You'll Need

• Container with lid, large enough to hold all the other ingredients
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup liquid dish soap
• 5 drops glycerin
• 5 drops neon food coloring
• Spoon or wooden stick

Instructions

1. Pour 3/4 cup water in the container.

2. Add 1/4 cup liquid dishwashing soap.

3. Add 5 drops glycerin.

4. Add 5 drops neon food coloring.

5. Stir the mixture gently with a spoon or wooden stick. Add more food coloring if you want a stronger hue.

6. Leave the open container on the counter overnight. This allows some of the soap's alcohol to evaporate, increasing the bubble solution's potency.

7. Seal the container with its lid the following morning. Store the solution until you are ready to use it.

Tips & Warnings

• You can find glycerin in most pharmacies. It stabilizes the bubbles and keeps them intact longer, but you can make the solution without it. Replace the glycerin with light corn syrup if glycerin is unavailable.

References

• Exploratorium: Bubble Formula
• National Wildlife Federation: Bubble Fun