Bubbleology at Home! A Science Quest with Scientific Sue

🧫 The Secret Ingredients Behind Scientific Sue’s Super Bubble Mixes

Not all bubble recipes are created equal — but don’t worry, I’ve tested and tweaked until I found the ones that work best! Below are two powerful bubble recipes that you can

try at home. One uses Guar Gum, the other Xanthan Gum— both natural thickeners that help create stretchy, long-lasting bubbles.

You can buy your tri-string wand here!

Giant Bubble Solution Guar Gum Recipe Card

Ingredients to make 2 litres of bubble solution:

1.     4 grams Guar Gum (≈ 2 level teaspoons)

2.     300 mL Fairy Liquid Original

3.     10 grams Baking Powder (≈ 2 teaspoons, NOT baking soda)

4.     2 tablespoons Glycerine (vegetable glycerine ideal)

5.     1–2 teaspoons Rubbing Alcohol (optional – for guar gum slurry)

6.     2 litres Warm Water (filtered or distilled is best)

Method 1:

1.      Mix 4 g guar gum into 300 mL Fairy liquid (alkaline). Stir for 2-3  minutes.

2.     Add 2 tablespoons glycerine and stir again.

3.     Add 10 g of baking powder (acidic) to 1 litre of warm water.

4.     Add the water to the washing up liquid mix and top up with cold water to reach a total of 2 litres. Mix gently.

5.     Let the solution rest overnight if possible – improves performance.

6.     Remove any residual foam from the top of the bubble solution.

Method 2:

1.     Mix 4 g guar gum with 1–2 tsp of rubbing alcohol to form a smooth paste (prevents clumps).

2.     Stir the paste into 1 litre of warm water in a large container. Whisk or blend to dissolve.

3.     Add 10 g baking powder and stir gently.

4.     Add 2 tablespoons glycerine and stir again.

5.     Gently mix in 300 mL Fairy Liquid. Stir slowly to avoid foam.

6.     Add more warm water to reach a total of 2 litres. Mix gently.

7.     Let the solution rest overnight if possible – improves performance.

Giant Bubble Solution Xanthan Gum Recipe Card

 Ingredients to make 2 litres of bubble solution

1.     3 grams Xanthan Gum (≈ 1½ level teaspoons)

2.     300 mL Fairy Liquid Original

3.     10 grams Baking Powder (≈ 2 teaspoons, NOT baking soda)

4.     2 tablespoons Glycerine (vegetable glycerine ideal)

5.     1–2 teaspoons Rubbing Alcohol (optional – for xanthan gum slurry)

6.     2 litres Warm Water (filtered or distilled is best)

Method:

1.     Mix 3 g xanthan gum with 1–2 tsp of rubbing alcohol to make a paste (prevents clumps).

2.     Add this paste to 1 litre of warm water in a large container. Blend well to dissolve fully.

3.     Stir in 10 g baking powder until fully mixed.

4.     Add 2 tablespoons glycerine and stir gently.

5.     Slowly mix in 300 mL Fairy Liquid. Avoid foaming.

6.     Top up with water to make 2 litres. Stir gently.

7.     Let sit overnight for best bubble performance.

Tips for Bubble Success:

• Use a cotton loop or homemade string-and-stick wand – or buy our tri-string wand (see link above).
• Avoid foam – don’t shake after adding the Fairy Liquid. Scoop out excess foam.
• Best used on humid, wind-free or light breezy days.

• Keep the String Clean!

Little scientists love exploring — but if the string wand gets dropped on the ground, it can pick up grass, dirt, and grit. These bits can contaminate your bubble solution and stop it from working properly.

If the string gets messy, rinse it with clean water before dipping it back in the solution.

❗ A contaminated solution can’t be stored — but a clean one can last for up to 2 weeks in a sealed container!

Bubble Magic Science:

• Guar Gum and Xanthan Gum create stretchy bubble walls.
• Glycerine slows evaporation and strengthens bubbles.
• Baking Powder balances low pH of the washing up liquid for bubble stability.
• Fairy Liquid is like the secret superhero of bubble making. It helps the water stretch, stay together, and float without popping too fast.

The Science Behind the Suds

Not all washing-up liquids are created equal when it comes to making bubbles! Fairy Liquid (especially the original green version) is a favourite among scientists and bubble performers. Here’s why:

High Surfactant Concentration

Fairy contains a high level of surfactants — the special ingredients that reduce water’s surface tension. This makes the bubble walls more elastic. That means they stretch further without breaking.

Strong & Stretchy Bubbles

Fairy helps create tough, flexible films. That’s why you can make giant bubbles or bounce bubbles on a magic glove using the right recipe!

Slows Down Evaporation

Some versions of Fairy include additives that act like glycerine, helping the bubble stay moist and flexible – so it lasts longer in the air.

Less Foam, More Fun

Fairy creates fewer unwanted bubbles when handled gently, meaning you get a clear surface for giant bubble wands or bubble bounce tricks.

Scientifically Trusted

Bubbleologists, teachers, and performers across the UK and Ireland have tested many brands — and Fairy keeps coming out on top.

Top tip: Always use Fairy Original Green for the best bubble results!

Ready to put your solutions to the test? Here are three brilliant bubble experiments to discover which recipe is best!

Bubble Test 1: Recipe Comparison – How Long Does It Last?

1. 1. Blow a bubble the size of a tennis ball using a bubble tube.
   2. Use a stopwatch or just count to time how long it lasts before it bursts.
   3. Repeat 3 times for each bubble solution. Record and calculate the average time – to do this add all 3 times together and divide the answer by 3.

Bubble Solution	Bubble Size	Trial 1 (s)	Trial 2 (s)	Trial 3 (s)	Average Time (s)
Xanthan Gum (fresh)	Tennis ball
Xanthan Gum (overnight)	Tennis ball
Guar Gum (fresh)	Tennis ball
Guar Gum (overnight)	Tennis ball

Why is it important to make sure all bubbles are the same size?

When we compare how long the bubbles last, we want to make sure we are being fair. If some bubbles are big and others are small, that could change how long they stay before popping. By keeping all the bubbles about the same size, we can be sure that we’re really finding out which solution makes the longest-lasting bubbles.

Good scientific practice also means repeating our tests to make sure our results are reliable. We do each test a few times and then take an average of the results. This helps us make sure that what we see is not just a one-time thing.

By repeating the tests and being fair, we learn how to be good scientists and discover the most accurate answers!

Bubble Test 2: Bounce on a Magic Glove

1. 1. Blow a tennis ball-sized bubble with a bubble tube.
   2. Hold the tube high, gently flick it, and let the bubble fall onto your gloved hand.
   3. Count how many times it bounces before it pops.
   4. Repeat 3 times for each bubble solution and calculate the average number of bounces.

Bubble Solution	Drop Height (cm)	Trial 1	Trail 2	Trail 3	Average Number of Bounces
Xanthan Gum (fresh)
Xanthan Gum (overnight)
Guar Gum (fresh)
Guar Gum (overnight)

How do we make sure our bubble bouncing test is fair?

1. Same Bubble Sizes: All bubbles should be about the same size, like a tennis ball. This makes sure we’re comparing bubbles equally.
2. Same Drop Height: We should flick the bubbles from about the same height each time, so the first drop is fair.
3. Bounce Height Depends on the Push: The height the bubble bounces after it hits the glove depends on how hard we push it. We need to make sure our pushes are gentle and similar each time, and that the bubble hits the glove and not the arm. If we push too hard or too fast, the bounce might be higher or the bubble might burst.

By doing this, we make sure our test is fair, and we can see which solution makes the bubbles bounce the most!

Bubble Test 3: Stretch Test with the Tri-String Wand

Before you start, make sure your tri-string wand is fully soaked in bubble solution. Play with the wand to create bubbles of all sizes and get the string ready!

To measure bubble length, use a measuring tape or mark the ground using foot lengths or strides.

Test Instructions:

• Dip the string section of the wand into the bucket of bubble solution. You have to make sure the whole of the string is covered. DO NOT STIR this will tangle up the string.
• Keeping the sticks of the wand together remove the string from the bubble solution. Lift the sticks high. Open up the sticks. You will see a bubble film stretch between the strings.
• If it isn’t windy you will have to walk backwards (safely!) to catch the air in the bubble film.

To Make a Bubble:

On a calm day: Walk backwards to let the air fill the film – you will need to practice the speed at which you walk. Too slow and nothing will happen – Too fast the bubble film will burst

On a breezy day: Stand with your back to the wind.

The wind will inflate the bubble for you! You don’t need to move – just open the wand and let the wind do the magic. If it is too windy the pushing forces of the air molecules will burst the delicate bubble film.

1. 1. Measure the length of your longest bubble at the point that it just pops or breaks.
   2. Repeat 3 times for each solution.
   3. Because wind can affect your results, should you repeat the test more than 3 times?

Bubble Solution	Description of Weather	Trial 1	Trial 2	Trial 3	Average Length of Bubbles (m)
Xanthan Gum (fresh)
Xanthan Gum (overnight)
Guar Gum (fresh)
Guar Gum (overnight)

🧠 Science Note:

The large loop and gentle movement help trap air in the bubble film. The soaked string creates a stable surface that stretches into a giant bubble before breaking away.

💡 Top Tip: Close the Wands to Make the Bubble Fly!

When you’re ready to release your bubble, gently bring the two wands back together. This pinches the soap film and seals off the bubble, allowing it to float away instead of collapsing.

🧪 Why This Works:

• The soap film is like a stretchy curtain between the 3 lengths of string.
• If you don’t close the wands, the film stays open and the bubble won’t break off — it just pops or collapses.
• Closing the wands snaps the film shut, turning the long soap tunnel into a complete bubble.

Think of it like tying the end of a balloon — the air stays inside the bubble because you’ve sealed it off just in time.

🌟 Final Bubble Thoughts

Making giant bubbles isn’t just magical — it’s science in motion! From stretchy bubble walls to floating spheres of shimmering colour, every bubble you blow is an experiment in surface tension, evaporation, and elasticity.

Now that you’ve tested your bubble potions…

• 💥 Which recipe gave the best bounces?
• 🌬️ Which one created the longest bubbles?
• ⏱️ Which floated the longest before popping?

You used both glycerine and baking powder in your recipes — but what if you changed the quantities?

🧪 Try adding more glycerine. Will your bubbles bounce even more?
🧪 What happens if you leave out the baking powder? Does it affect how long your bubbles last?

💡 What other bubble questions can you investigate? Can you design your own experiments to test them?

Whether you’re a budding Bubbleologists or a full-time fizz fanatic, there’s always more to discover.

📸 Don’t forget to share your experiments and bubble-tastic photos — tag @scientificsue and join the bubbly adventure!

Keep exploring… and keep bubbling! 🫧✨

You can buy your trip-string wand here!