Who doesn't remember them from childhood: the plastic bubble wands with a little game on the cap. Nowadays, bubble wands come in all shapes and sizes, but they usually have one thing in common: they are made of plastic. And what the bubble solution is made of often remains a mystery: this doesn't have to be stated on the packaging. That's why we took matters into our own hands and made our own bubble solution. That way, we know exactly what's in it and we reduce plastic waste. Win-win!
What is bubble mixture actually made of?
When you buy bubble mixture from a shop, you often don't know what the liquid is made of because it doesn't have to be stated on the packaging. Two ingredients that are almost always in bubble mixture are water and soap. To make the liquid last longer, preservatives are often added. In addition, bubble mixture usually contains glycerol (also called glycerine), which makes the bubbles firmer and prevents them from popping immediately. Glycerol is made from, among other things, petroleum, palm oil or animal fat. It is therefore often not the most sustainable ingredient. Furthermore, glycerol can cause stains on clothing when it comes into contact with detergent. We therefore preferred to avoid this ingredient and found an easy recipe that works just as well, in which we replaced glycerol with vegetable oil.
You can easily and quickly make your own wand for DIY bubble blowing from wire. Wrap some wool around it, and it will look colourful and have no sharp edges on the wand.
DIY: Make your own bubble mixture
Materials
For the bubble mixture:
- 250 ml Distilled water
- 4 el eco-friendly washing-up liquid for example this one from Sonett)
- 3 drops of vegetable oil (for example, olive, rapeseed, or sunflower oil)
For the baton:
- wire
- wire cutters
- wool
- scissors
Instructions
Bubble mixture
- Put the water in a bowl or pan and add the washing-up liquid, stirring as you go.
- Stir slowly until the washing-up liquid has dissolved.
- Add the oil and stir everything well again.
- Let the mixture stand for at least a few hours (preferably overnight): this will make the bubbles firmer.
- Keep the liquid in a sealed glass jar.
Stick
- Take a piece of wire about 40cm long and bend a loop in the middle. Twist the ends around each other to create a straight handle.
- Tie the yarn to the bottom of the circle and wrap the yarn first around the circle and then around the handle.
- Tie the wool securely at the bottom.
Notes
- Store the bubble mixture in a cool, dark place in a sealed pot or bottle. This will keep the mixture good for approximately two to three months. Do you see mould, flakes, or smell a strange odour? Then throw the mixture away and make a new one.
- Never let young children (under three years old) blow bubbles unsupervised. The liquid is not intended to be swallowed.
- Wash hands after use.
More sustainable DIY tips from thegreenlist.nl
- Great zero-waste craft tip: Making your own clay.
- Another fun DIY: lantern made of (vegetable) milk carton.
- Old T-shirts? Make a DIY plant hanger.
Sources: Utopia, Where is it?. Photo credits: Kirsten Schoner.
