Bubble Bars!!

I'm on a roll today... after making the bathbomb cupcakes work I moved onto testing new recipes for bubble bars that cut down on the cream of tartar, because while I love my bubble bars, I hate spending so much on one ingredient. Sure helps when hubby is home to watch the kids, I can actually get some testing done!

Original recipe found here http://www.pvsoap.com/recipe_bubble_bath_drop.htm

Attempt one:

1 cup corn starch

1 cup Baking Soda

1/4 cup powdered SLSA

1/3 cup glycerin

1/2 oz FO

few drops color

results: too crumbly, it didnt want to hold together very well.

Attempt two:

same as above, but 2 cups baking soda

results: way too crumbly, took 1/4oz more glycerin just to make it stick together.

Attempt three: WINNER!

1/2 cup cream of tartar

1/2 cup corn starch

1 cup baking soda

1/4 cup SLSA

1/3 cup glycerin (or hydrovance)

1/2=3/4 oz FO (depends on strength)

few drops color (I separated it into two batches and then mixed in my mold)

results: WAY better! stuck together really well, was really nice texture. bubbles like crazy. Win!! WIN!! WIN!!! I really think SOME cream of tartar helps it stick together, at least in my testing.. so I am going to continue using the half amount, but I am happy with that because I can make twice as many batches with the same amount of tartar. YAY!

I used a 1/2 cup measuring cup to press these into, and it made 3. The first two were shaky, I need to pack them better. But the last one came out perfect! I usually make them in a loaf but I'm loving this hockey puck shape my measuring cup made.. so I might stick with it!

Scented Love Spell for my valentines

Those are really cool looking!! Stupid question for you; are they like soap or bath bombs or what? I am new to B&B and am always looking for new ideas.

Thanks for sharing!!

like bath bombs, they mostly just make a bunch of bubbles

those look really nice...

i have heard of some type of bubble bars, that the bubbles will last for 20 min.. or so...

my grankids would love that...

let us know when you test, how long the bubbles last...

like bath bombs, they mostly just make a bunch of bubbles

So a bath bomb/bubble bath hybrid huh!!

Where do you get glycerin?

took a bath with one, couldnt wait.. I wanted to see if it affected the bubbles at all, and it didnt! at least 20 min of bubbles. They bubble better than bath bombs IMO

glycerin- anywhere you can get B&B sage has it

Good to know the bubbles last. Everything I have ever made used FCO so now I have to buy some glycerin. Just one more thing to get!! Won't be at sage for a month or so though. Will have to look elsewhere I guess.

i like the sound of all the bubbles...

my gran kids lov them...

i will have to try this...thanks for the recipe...

glycerin works with the SLSa and helps create the large, long lasting bubbles. Thanks much for the recipe, I'll have to try it too.

One questions though...last time I made these, within a few days they were growing mold all over. I attributed it to the glycerine content and no preservative. Have you ever found a need to use a preservative with this recipe?

EEEEWWWW. Beasties. Can't have those. I thought you had to have water to the formula for those problems? (like I said, new to this stuff)

nope... I've stored them for up to 3 months before without a problem... thats odd. I know Glycerine is humectant, so it must have drawn a bunch of moisture into your bubble bars, myabe humidity or something and then it grew into mold. Its not very humid here, that could be the difference. I dont really know! I know none of the recipes I've ever seen have a preservative mentioned.

That's true, Luminous. The humidity is low here. Will have to make some and then let them sit to see what happens.

That's true, Luminous. The humidity is low here. Will have to make some and then let them sit to see what happens.

Yeah I'll let this batch sit for a month (aside from the one I already used, hehe) and see what they do... but I've made lots in the past with the old recipe and never had a problem, so I dont know! I dont think adding a preservative would hurt though

nope... I've stored them for up to 3 months before without a problem... thats odd. I know Glycerine is humectant, so it must have drawn a bunch of moisture into your bubble bars, myabe humidity or something and then it grew into mold. Its not very humid here, that could be the difference. I dont really know! I know none of the recipes I've ever seen have a preservative mentioned.

i wonder...i accedently bought 1 gal of dimethicone1000....do you think that it would work like hydrovance or glycerine?

i need something to use it up on...

i know it is for lotions, shampoos..and such...

what do you think?

i wonder...i accedently bought 1 gal of dimethicone1000....do you think that it would work like hydrovance or glycerine?

i need something to use it up on...

i know it is for lotions, shampoos..and such...

what do you think?

I dont know what I was thinking above when I posted hydrovance, my hydrovance is too thin to use as a sub for glycerin in this particular recipe.. but dimethicone might just work... I havent had any around for a long time but the 1000 is medium thick right?

Oh, I should have added that I of course didn't use your recipe...it was from somewhere else and I may have goofed it up somehow and caused the beasties to grow...sure didn't mean to imply that!

lol no I got that! I do wonder though if it was the glycerin that caused the problem with yours.. because I know it can cause problems in bath bombs by absorbing moisture and causing them to activate

I dont know what I was thinking above when I posted hydrovance, my hydrovance is too thin to use as a sub for glycerin in this particular recipe.. but dimethicone might just work... I havent had any around for a long time but the 1000 is medium thick right?

yes it is pretty thick...

hey never hurts to try... you could half the recipe or even fourth it, since its all in cups it wouldnt be too terrible.

i will try it...

do these have to be pounded to make them real compact.?..

nope... not nearly as bad as bath bombs, I just press them into the mold with the palm of my hands. It still needs to be compacted really well but not the struggle the bombs are

I am looking at glycerin and wanted to make sure I am looking at the right stuff. Is it the glycerin, vegetable USP?

yep thats the stuff

Thanks!!

those look great.... I really need to get the stuff to make this.