Giant Bubble Mix (NightHawkInLight Variant of “Mike’s Gooey Mix”)

Ingredients (about 4.25 gal / 16 L)

Dawn Platinum dish detergent: 4 cups (~950 mL)
J-Lube powder: 8 g
Baking powder (not baking soda): 14 g
Hot water: 4.25 gal (16 L)

Equipment

Clean ≥5-gallon bucket or tub
Digital scale (grams)
Long spoon/whisk or large fork for mixing
pH test strips (range ~6–9)
Optional: 1 fresh strawberry + 1 white plate (fun pH side quest)

Bubble Blowing Materials (The Wand)

[cite_start]*Based on the NightHawkInLight video recommendations *

Two sticks: 3–4 ft long (wooden dowels, PVC pipe, or fishing poles)
Cotton clothesline: must be 100% cotton (synthetic ropes don’t hold enough liquid)
Key modification: remove the synthetic inner core, leaving only the hollow cotton outer shell
Weight: small metal washer or nut tied to the center of the bottom string to prevent tangling

Batch targets

Total yield: ~4.25 gal (16 L)
pH target: 7.0–7.5 (near neutral)
Rest time: 4+ hours, overnight preferred
Mixing style: low-foam, slow pours, stir under the surface

Scaling ratios (per 1 L)

Dawn Platinum: ~59 mL
J-Lube: 0.50 g
Baking powder: ~0.88 g, then adjust to hit pH

Improved mixing instructions (low-foam)

Prepare the dry mix. Measure the J-Lube (8 g) and baking powder (14 g) in a small dry cup, then stir them together so the baking powder separates the polymer.
Prepare the water. Pour hot water into a clean bucket/tub.
Create a vortex. Stir briskly to make a swirling center.
Add powders. While maintaining the swirl, sprinkle in the dry mix and stir to dissolve.
Add detergent. Gently pour in Dawn Platinum and stir slowly to combine, avoiding foam.
Balance pH. Test and adjust to pH 7.0–7.5 using the steps below before letting the mix sit.
Rest (recommended). Cover and let sit at least 4 hours (overnight is best) to let foam dissipate and the polymer fully hydrate.

pH target and adjustment (critical step)

Goal: pH 7.0–7.5 (near neutral).

Test your mix. Dip a pH strip into the solution and compare to the chart.
If pH is above 7.5 (too alkaline):
- Add small increments of baking powder (about 1 g at a time for this batch).
- Stir gently, wait 5–10 minutes, then re-test.
If pH is below 7.0 (too acidic):
- For your next batch, reduce the baking powder slightly and re-test after mixing.
- It is hard to remove baking powder once added—creep up slowly in future batches.
Write it down. Once you dial in the right baking-powder amount for your water + detergent, save that as your local baseline recipe.

Fun side quest: Use a strawberry-on-plate stain as a visual indicator. Dip your finger in the mix and smear into the juice—blue/purple means too alkaline; red/pink is neutral.

Blowing technique

Dip. Submerge the entire string loop into the bucket and let it soak briefly to saturate the cotton.
Lift. Raise the sticks high with the tips touching so the film stays closed against the wind.
Open. Slowly separate the stick tips to open the loop; the top string pulls taut and the bottom hangs in a deep “U.”
Release.
- With wind: stand with your back to the wind and let it fill the bubble.
- No wind: walk backward slowly to force air through the loop.
Close. Bring the stick tips back together to seal and release the bubble into the air.

Notes & safety

The mix is very slippery. [cite_start]Use outdoors, avoid slick floors, and rinse spills promptly[cite: 51].
Avoid inhaling powders; consider a dust mask when measuring J-Lube.
Store covered. If it separates, gently roll/rock the container to remix (avoid making foam).
Label clearly as NOT FOOD and keep away from children or pets.

Attribution

This variant and pH target are from NightHawkInLight’s video: Strawberries make surprisingly GIANT Bubbles (Best DIY Bubble Recipes) . Baseline inspiration: Soap Bubble Wiki’s “Mike’s Gooey Mix”.