How to Blow Bubbles

Last Updated: May 13, 2021

Blowing bubbles brings whimsical fun to any outdoor event - especially when there's a breeze to carry them high into the sky. You can buy bubble solution or make your own, and choose a wand for blowing colossal bubbles or tiny ones. See step 1 if you want to learn how to blow shiny, colorful bubbles.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Blowing Small Bubbles

1
Mix some solution. If you've already bought a bottle of bubbles solution, you're ready to start. If you don't have any on hand, it is easily make your own using a few household supplies. First, use any kind of liquid soap as your base. Add cornstarch to make the bubbles strong. Mix the following ingredients in a bottle:
- 1/4 cup dish soap
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
2
Find a wand. Store-bought solution comes with a wand, but if you make your own bubbles solution you will need to make a wand. Here's a chance to get creative. A wand can be fashioned from any item that has a hole to blow through. Look for one of the following items you can easily make into a wand:
- A wire dipper for dying eggs. These come in egg dying kits used during Easter. This little wire contraption has a hole and a handle, making it the perfect wand for blowing bubbles.
- A pipe cleaner. Just bend one tip of the pipe cleaner into a circle shape and wrap it around the stem of the pipe cleaner.
- A plastic straw. Bend the end of the straw into a circle and tape it to the stem of the straw.
- A slotted spoon. You can dip the spoon in the bubbles solution and blow a lot of tiny bubbles at once.
- Any other item that can be bent into a circular shape. If it has a hole, you can blow a bubble through it!
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3
Dip the wand into the bubbles solution. The solution should stretch over the hole to form a thin film. If you look closely you'll be able to see swirls of colorful soap in the film. The film should be thick enough to stay in place without breaking while you hold the wand steady for several seconds.
- If the bubbles solution breaks as soon as you lift the wand from the bottle, add a little more cornstarch to make it thicker. Or you could try adding an egg white.
4
Lift the wand to your lips and gently blow into the circle of the wand. A soft, gentle stream of breath will cause the soap film to bend outward until it forms a bubble. You've just created a bubble! Experiment with different ways of blowing to see how the force of your breath affects the creation of bubbles.
- If you continue blowing past the first bubble, you might find that there's enough solution left on the wand to create a stream of bubbles.. Keep blowing until bubbles stop flowing through the wand.
- Try making a bigger bubble. Very slowly, blow a steady stream of air through the wand.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Blowing Giant Bubbles

1
Make an extra strong solution. Gigantic bubbles have to be strong so that they don't pop. The bubbles solution needs a little extra cornstarch or additional egg white. Mix a large batch of bubbles solution with the following ingredients:
- 1 cup liquid soap
- 4 cups water
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
2
Make a giant bubble wand. In order to create giant bubbles, you'll need a big wand with netting over the opening. This lets the bubble grow large without popping. You can find giant bubble wands in a store, or you can make your own, by following these steps:
- Bend a wire coat hanger to form a large circle.
- Cover the hole with wire netting, like chicken wire. Using a pair of pliers, bend the netting into place.
- You can also use mesh fabric or a piece of netting. Make sure the ends are securely fastened to the wire hole.
3
Pour the solution into a shallow pan. The big wand won't fit into a bottle, so pour the solution into a large, shallow pan. You can use a cookie sheet with high sides or any other shallow dish.
4
Dip the wand and trail it through the air. Lay the wand into the solution so that the hole and netting get completely submerged. Lift the wand slowly and let it trail through the air. You should see a giant, undulating bubble emerge from the wand. Help it separate by continuing to move the wand until the bubble pulls away.
- Blowing giant bubbles may take practice. Large bubbles tend to pop more readily than smaller bubbles. Don't give up!
- Experiment with putting small objects in the bubbles. Try putting litter, tiny flower petals or another light, small object in the solution and see if you can make it float inside the bubble.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Playing Bubble Games

1
See who can blow the most bubbles. Now that you know how to blow bubbles, you can start playing fun games with your friends. Give everyone a wand and see who can blow the most bubbles in one breath. Remember that a steady, even flow of air will create more bubbles than a strong burst!
2
See who can blow the biggest bubble. This is another fun game to play with friends. Have everyone start at the same time and see who can blow the biggest bubble using the small-sized wand. If you have a friend who's sitting out, ask them to take a picture!
3
See who can create the strongest giant bubble. If you made a giant bubble wand, it's fun to see whose bubble will last the longest without popping. You can make the game harder by having the contestant move jog in place, put their hand inside the bubble, or bend up and down - all without letting it pop.
4
Play Bubble Darts. It's like regular darts, only a lot more fun! Have someone blow bubbles in front of the dartboard. The person throwing darts should try to pop as many bubbles as possible to get points for his or her team.
5
Make a frozen bubble. This is a great activity for a rainy day, when you want to play with bubbles but you can't go out in the sun. Blow a bubble and carefully transfer it to a plate. Gently place the plate in the freezer. Check it out in 1/2 an hour or so - it should be frozen solid.

Community Q&A

Question

Why will a steady, even flow of air create more bubbles than a strong burst?

Community Answer

If you blow too hard, then you'll run through the bubble solution faster, and it's possible that the surface of the bubbles wouldn't be able to form properly, causing them to pop before they even fully form.