How to Make Giant Soap Bubbles
Mix a high-elasticity bubble solution and form durable, giant soap bubbles using a simple DIY string wand.
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🧰 Required Tools & Equipment
- ✓ Large plastic mixing bucket
- ✓ Measuring cup
- ✓ Stirring spoon
- ✓ Two wooden dowels
- ✓ Cotton yarn or soft rope (about 6 feet)
📦 Materials & Supplies
- ✓ Liquid dish soap (concentrated, non-ultra)
- ✓ Clean tap water or distilled water
- ✓ Glycerin or light corn syrup
- ✓ Baking powder or guar gum (optional enhancer)
⚠️ Safety Checkpoints & Warnings
- • Work outdoors or cover smooth indoor floors to prevent severe slip hazards from spilled solution.
- • Keep soapy water away from eyes; flush immediately with clean water if accidental contact occurs.
- • Avoid running with wooden dowels extended.
📋 Step-by-Step Guide (6 Steps)
Measure and Pour Base Water
Pour 6 cups of warm water into the plastic bucket. Ensure the water is lukewarm to help the ingredients dissolve smoothly without creating premature foam. Keep pouring steady to minimize micro-bubbles.
- • Clear, still water sitting at the marked level inside the bucket with no thick foam layer.
- • Using scalding hot water which degrades dish soap surfactants.
Incorporate Dish Soap Gently
Add 1 cup of concentrated dish soap into the water. Slowly stir with the spoon in a continuous figure-eight motion to blend without agitating. Avoid vigorous whipping that creates thick foam.
- • Evenly tinted solution with little to no surface lather.
- • Whisking rapidly and creating a dense layer of suds.
Add Elasticity Agent (Glycerin)
Measure and pour 1/4 cup of glycerin into the soapy mixture. Stir smoothly for one full minute until the heavier glycerin is completely integrated from the bottom of the container. The liquid will feel slightly slicker and more viscous.
- • Uniform fluid with no visible viscous swirling streaks or heavy pooling at the bottom.
- • Under-stirring, leaving dense glycerin settled at the bucket base.
Construct the Triangle String Wand
Cut a 4-foot piece of cotton yarn and a 2-foot piece of cotton yarn. Tie the ends together onto the tips of your two wooden dowels to create a hanging triangular loop with a lower dip. Ensure the knots are tight and the yarn hangs freely without tangles.
- • A distinct V-shaped or triangular rope loop hanging loosely between the tips of the two dowels.
- • Using synthetic nylon string which cannot absorb and hold soapy solution.
Fully Saturate the Wand
Submerge the entire yarn loop into the bucket while holding the dowels together. Let the cord soak for 10 to 15 seconds so the core fibers become completely saturated. Lift the dowels slowly straight up, keeping the tips close together to avoid catching wind early.
- • Darkened, wet yarn with an intact shimmering soapy sheet spanning between the strings as they emerge.
- • Yanking the wand out fast, ripping the fragile starter film.
Open Wand and Draw the Bubble
Turn your back to the gentle breeze and slowly separate the dowel tips outward to open the triangle. Walk backward at a steady pace or let the breeze inflate the tunnel of film. Once the bubble extends 3 to 6 feet long, bring the dowel tips smoothly together to pinch and seal the bubble off.
- • A large, spherical or oblong rainbow bubble fully detached and floating upward freely.
- • Snapping the dowels shut abruptly or opening the wand against strong gusts.
Credit: inspired by an original tutorial by Lively Lewis Show — watch the original on YouTube.
Don’t have everything?
- No Glycerin? Light corn syrup (equal amount)
- No Wooden dowels? Clean straight wooden sticks or chopstick extensions
- No Cotton yarn? Braided cotton shoelaces or thick cotton baker's twine