The sun has been shinning last week and our favourite way to play in the sun is with bubbles – you just can’t beat them. We were getting through bottles of store brought bubble mix and when I did a search through Pinterest and of the web I found loads of recipes but the “best” ones all had corn syrup in them and we can’t get corn syrup in the UK. I moaned to my mum about the fantastic bubbles that I used to make as a kid all summer long and how we never ever seemed to run out of bubble mix and off she popped found her note book and handed me the recipe that she used to use when I was a child (don’t you just love mums that kept things like that).
The mix has been a huge success T has had so much fun trying to blow the biggest bubbles and it’s made from ingredients that we’ve had in the house. She wanted to try blowing different shaped bubbles and we used some pipe cleaners to quickly make up some shaped bubble wands that worked really well as a bubble blower but she’s still trying to get shaped bubbles – I don’t want to tell her she won’t it’s fun watching her problem solve and she keeps coming back to it time and time again.
My Mum’s 1980’s Bubble Mix Recipe
2 cups Washing Up Liquid
1 tsp Glycerine or Cooking Oil
1 cup Water
Making the mix
In a large jar pour lots of washing up liquid in – we use fairy but it really doesn’t matter what the make. Add in a little water so it’s a strong mix and give it a stir. To the mix add a minimum of 1 teaspoon of glycerine or cooking oil – we have been using out of date glycerine cough mixture and last year used cooking oil and the bubble worked great both times. The glycerine or cooking oil makes the bubble mix stronger and the bubble less likely to burst.
Using whatever bubble wands you have go out and blow bubbles and when the jar is empty – a quick trip to the kitchen and you’ve got more mix within seconds.
Bubble Mix Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups Washing Up Liquid
- 1 tsp Glycerine or Cooking Oil
- 1 cup Water
Instructions
- a large jar pour lots of washing up liquid in - we use fairy but it really doesn't matter what the make.
- Add in a little water so it's a strong mix and give it a stir.
- To the mix add 1 tablespoon of glycerine or cooking oil - we have been using out of date glycerine cough mixture and last year used cooking oil and the bubble worked great both times. The glycerine or cooking oil makes the bubble mix stronger and the bubble less likely to burst
- Using what ever bubble wands you have go out and blow bubbles and when the jar is empty - a quick trip to the kitchen and you've got more mix within seconds.
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John Brown says
Did not work. At all. Not even close.
Gareth says
Thanks for this. Any chance you could tell me what the ratio of water to washing up liquid is, please (along with the subsequent increase in oil/glycerin)? I want to make a few litres for a bubble machine at a kids party. Thanks
Cerys H Parker says
Hi,
The best ratio that produces a thick liquid ideal for bubbles that you blow is 2:1 Washing up Liquid to Water. If you use the oil/glycerin then it’s a tablespoon per “cup” of water. I haven’t tested this in a machine so you may want to make a smaller quantity and then see how it goes before a big batch. From my experience with machines it maybe worth adding a little more water.
Alexandra Huckins says
Hi! Just a quick note that you are not correct when you say that all washing up liquids will make bubbles- this is simply not true. There are several, such as Sainsbury’s basic washing up liquid, that no matter which formula you use will completely fail to make bubbles either by hand or from bubble machine. Safest to stick to original fairy or Johnsons baby shampoo for guaranteed results! Xx
Sarah Lawrence says
That was my favourite bubble game and now it’s my daughter’s favourite game. I’ve also made similar mix with washing up liquid because the liquid ends very quickly.
Anna Fasolino says
What a great recipe for easy fun! Why can’t you get corn syrup in the UK?