Warm summer day + grassy area + bubble machine = tons of outdoor fun! Heard about bubble parties and wish you could host one but don’t want to pay the hundreds that it could cost? Make your own! My colleague heard about this idea & recipe from a local family childcare provider and shared it with me… so I could share it with you!Items needed: plastic garbage can, PVC pipe, shop-vac that blows air out, water (better if hot), dawn dish soap, towel, duct tape, rope or bungee cord, and an open area.

Step 1: Make sure shop-vac is blowing
Step 2: Duct tape PVC pipe to hose on shop-vac
Step 3: Fill bottom of garbage can with dawn dish soap. (Half a bottle? More or less depending on consistency of foam)
Step 4: Fill garbage can with water. Hot water works best, but using a garden hose works fine too.
Step 5: Place PVC pipe into garbage can- have it rest on bottom.
Step 6: Secure towel over top of garbage can using bungee cords. Have PVC pipe to the side or cut hole in middle of towel for it. You want it to be tight so it doesn’t blow all over the place.
Step 7: Turn on shop-vac and have fun.

This video tutorial is similar to the project above if you’d like more of a visual. Please note that the music is innapproriate. (Perhaps someone would like to try this project and create their own video -more professional & child-friendly. I could post that video instead!)

There are also many other videos on YouTube regarding this topic, including the two below. Because of their intensity, I would not recommend using those with young children. The slower, bubbling over kind is safer but still effective and fun.
Real foam machine video
DIY Pro foam machine video

*Disclaimer- Because soap is used, there could be sensitivity to eyes.