So if you've been following the blog for a while now you probably saw the "It Burst My Glowing Bubbles" post about bursting the glow in the dark bubble myth. I found that the glow in the dark solution diluted the bubble solution too much so that bubbles couldn't even form. Well, since that post I've been wondering about using a larger quantity of bubble solution and seeing if that would work and I finally tested it out.
Just as a refresher, here's The Original Pin
I finally remembered to grab a big ol' bottle of bubbles this time. Last time I tested an 8 oz. bottle of bubbles. I could have gone to a 33 oz bottle, but why do that when you could go big and do a 100 oz. bottle?! I figured if it didn't work with the 100 oz. it wouldn't work with the 33 oz.
The Pinstrosity
Remember the size comparison last time?
Here's the size comparison this time:
We tested this out last night so that I didn't have to hide in my closet with towels stuffed under the door to block the light. Like the first time, I tested the bubbles first to see if the bubbles were good just on its own (because sometimes you do get crappy bubbles), and it worked great. So I broke the glow stick to make it glow, cut it open and poured it in the bubbles. It just kinda sank to the bottom and didn't want to mix in, so bubbles still formed, but there was no glow on them. So I put the cap back on the bottle and shook it up until the glow solution was all throughout the bubbles.
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| Ooh, 100 oz. of glowing bubble solution. |
And the results...didn't work. With the glow solution mixed through the bubble solution, bubbles would not form at all, the consistency had been changed enough. I was disappointed, I thought this might work. So yet again, the glowing bubble pin is popped.
This morning I was curious to see if bubbles still wouldn't form and pulled the bubble wand out...bubbles! Sitting over night something happened and the bubble solution is again working. They aren't glowing of course, but we do have workable bubble solution again.
So then I got wondering, maybe the original picture just meant to have a glowing glow stick in the area of the bubbles and it would reflect of the surface of the bubbles. So I retreated to my closet and stuffed the bottom of the door with towels and tested this out. Nope, still doesn't work.
This pin is officially popped.
I certainly appreciate your valiant effort to make this work! I'm still so disappointed...
ReplyDeleteIf you are inclined to try just one more time :-)...maybe try it with a home made bubble solution?
ReplyDeleteHmmm...I've never made bubbles before. This could be a double test! Great idea.
DeleteTried it........fail :/
DeleteI wanted to try this for my sons sleepover birthday party tonight. Thank goodness I did a test run because I got the same results as you! I thought for sure I was doing something wrong so I decided to google information about "glowing bubbles". While doing research I came across your hilarious website and so glad I did because I sure had some good laughs! Will definitely be re-visiting soon.
ReplyDeleteGlad I'm not the only one who can't make this work, but that's a bummer too. Glad you found us! Come visit again soon (and send any pin mishaps our way).
DeleteWas going to try the "glowing bubbles" for a large family cookout. (Glowing bubbles to entertain the kids instead of the firepit.) Sooo.... back to the drawing board.
ReplyDeleteWe tried this tonight. We had no trouble mixing the solution and we were able to blow bubbles fine but while the solution in the bottles glowed, the bubbles themselves did not. We were bummed but still had fun. I did find a few other recipes; one for blacklight glowing bubbles and one other for true glowing bubbles. For the blacklight you use the ink from highlighters. For glowing you use glow in the dark paint. Think I'll try to find some glow in the dark paint and give it another shot.
ReplyDeleteI tried this as well and had 3 kids so excited to see glowing bubbles. What a disappointment. They ended up running around the yard with mini 'lightsabers' while the grown ups played with bubbles. Fail.
ReplyDeleteI saw the original pin, and then remembered that the stuff in those glow sticks (or atleast I'm pretty sure) is toxic.... so it was not something I was going to try, and while it isn't "homemade" Miracle Bubbles now makes GLOW IN THE DARK BUBBLES.... I was so excited to find these, but will warn you, they make MUCH better glow body paint, than bubbles, the bubbles do glow (provided you follow the package instructions, and do NOT shake the solution) but so lightly that it is much more fun to use as body paint! Just thought I'd share for all of those whose kids were excited (as mine) about the glow in the dark bubbles! :)
ReplyDeleteExactly! I have no idea what started this craze with breaking glow sticks open but there is a reason is comes encased in plastic and in glass!!!! I would never break one of these open much less for something that my child is going to touch!!!
DeleteJust to be sure I asked me pediatrician and he was upset that this is such a craze, he said if you get it on your hands the chemicals take days to wash off, even if the glow is gone.
I thought I was the only one to think this! Also, when you bend the plastic, it is to break the inner glass vile so the two chemicals can mix. Wouldn't opening the plastic and pouring the "glow" into your bubbles also put shards of glass into your bubbles? Not something I'd want to be putting up to my lips. So glad they now make glowing bubbles, I'll have to go check them out.
DeleteThank for for testing this pin out. I was hoping to try this with my sons on an upcoming camping trip, but I think we'll find some other nighttime activity instead. And, I had been wondering whether the glow stick solution would be toxic--thanks to Milfcari (above) for noting this as well.
ReplyDeleteThey sell glow in the dark bubbles at Walmart, so there isn't a need to ruin regular bubbles and a perfectly good glow stick. The bubbles themselves don't glow all that much, but it does pretty bright when it's in the bottle. It's a lot of fun to put on yourself though...makes you feel like a lightning bug!
ReplyDeletedidn't work for me either... the grandson and I had a good laugh at anticipating thousands of glowing bubbles, only to have a mess... there was glow... on the dog, the house, the deck, etc. love this site, lmao.
ReplyDeleteGlow in the Dark Bubbles:
ReplyDeleteTake the filter out of a NON-TOXIC highlighter
Put filter in quart sized container
Shake for 10 min or until filter has released all ink into water
Put in some dish soap (enough to make bubbles)
Turn on black light
Turn off lights and enjoy
Thank you :)
DeleteWe tried this too. FAILED. We ended up playing with bubbles for about 10 minutes and then played a game with the left over glow sticks we didn't ruin. That lasted almost an hour! WIN! LOL
ReplyDeleteThere's glass in the glow sticks. That's why it doesn't work
ReplyDeleteWhile there is glass in the glow sticks, it sinks to the bottom of the bubble bottle when the two liquids are mixed. Glass is not picked up by the bubble wand when it is dipped into the bubble solution. The solution is strong enough to still form a layer of bubble solution in the hole of the bubble wand, it is just not strong enough to form into a bubble.
DeleteThe hubs and I attempted this one to entertain the little ones at a family gathering, and the only thing we accomplished was squirting the glow stuff in his eye. Although we bought glow sticks of the non-toxic variety, I have been eagerly awaiting his development of a super power to accompany his day-glo corneas. (I joke because he's fine. The eye stopped glowing after rinsing with a bottle of water and no super human capabilities have been expressed. Yet.)
ReplyDeleteI too have tried this, and I was so very disappointed that it didn't work. But I did find glow in the dark bubbles in my local Wal-Mart and I snatched them up quickly.
ReplyDeleteHOWEVER, the bubbles did not glow as one would expect them to. We were very un-impressed with them, but decided to use the solution as glow-sidewalk paint instead. Here's a link to the pictures I took that evening:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/leigh49137/7225157352/in/set-72157629800676736
I tried this with my boys and my niece and nephew this summer. My porch glowed their clothing glowed I had glowing foot prints all over my house carpet included. The bubbles did not glow they on the other hand had a great time when they discovered they were glowing. lol But we did get bubbles to blow. :)
ReplyDeleteYou can make your own bubble solution with dishwashing liquid, vegetable glycerin and water. Soak a highlighter in the water before mixing it into the solution, then you'll have bubbles that glow under black light.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I tried this pin tonight, totally did not work! I had one unhappy 3 year old. Thanks for clearing up that it wasn't just me doing it wrong!
ReplyDeleteThe picture came from this blog:
ReplyDeletehttp://blog.kriegsman.org/2012/03/14/glowing-bubbles-yes-but-no/
The author didn't use a glow stick, he used special glow in the dark bubbles
I've heard that tonic water also glows under black light, and you can add that to the bubble solution. Much safer (and cleaner) than highlighter ink or glow sticks! (Though I haven't tried this myself.)
ReplyDelete