How to Make Frozen Bubbles
This guide on how to make frozen bubbles turns a simple craft into an outdoor science adventure. With a homemade bubble solution, it’s easy to see how cold air and patience create stunning frozen shapes and crystal textures.
Equipment
- Straws
- Glass Jar 8-Ounce with Lid
- Spoon
Ingredients
- ⅔ Cup tap water very warm
- 3 Tablespoons sugar
- 3 Tablespoons vegetable glycerin
- 4 Tablespoons dish soap Dawn works best
Instructions
Make the Bubble Solution
- In a small measuring cup, combine the warm tap water, the sugar, and the glycerin. Use a spoon to stir gently until fully dissolved.
- Add 4 tablespoons of dish soap. Stir just enough to mix the dish soap. Do not over mix so that you can save all the suds for the frozen bubbles!
- Transfer to a small jar.
Chill for Several Hours
- Place the solution in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight. The colder, the better! This will bring the bubble solution closer to the freezing temps outside, and they will be ready to freeze quickly.
Make the Frozen Bubbles
- After the chilling process, grab your solution and your straws and head outside. I like to use the rails of our deck, but a patio table or a soft patch of snow (if you have it!) works nicely too! You can have fun trying to blow bubbles into the air to see if they freeze before they land. We have had a few bubbles blow away, stick and freeze to poles. If it is closer to the 20-degrees mark, it can take up to a whole minute before the bubbles freeze. The colder it is, the faster the bubbles will freeze. Sunshine, even on a COLD day, can be enough to keep them from freezing. It needs to be COLD! (Hand warmers in your pockets are SUPER handy!)
- When we did this experiment, it was 4°F and the sun was shining. It took 1 to 2 minutes for the bubbles to fully freeze! We had great results. It's important to practice patience when freezing bubbles. With a little bit of practice, you'll be a bubble-freezing expert in no time! Have fun trying to stack them or maybe even create a bubble within a bubble. The patterns will amaze you.
Notes
Pick a cold day: Below 20°F with no wind works best. Even the slightest breeze can make the experiment much harder than it needs to be, so pick a sheltered spot with a cold surface for the bubbles.
Avoid sunshine: Soap bubbles don't freeze well on a sunny day. Even weak sunlight can stop bubbles from freezing.
Stay patient: Larger bubbles may take longer to freeze.
Pre-chill solution: Refrigerate bubble juice overnight so it’s closer to outdoor temperature.
Experiment: Try stacking bubbles or freezing one inside another.
Avoid sunshine: Soap bubbles don't freeze well on a sunny day. Even weak sunlight can stop bubbles from freezing.
Stay patient: Larger bubbles may take longer to freeze.
Pre-chill solution: Refrigerate bubble juice overnight so it’s closer to outdoor temperature.
Experiment: Try stacking bubbles or freezing one inside another.
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