Joy or Dawn detergent (the other kinds just don't work for some reason)
cold clear water
frying pan
coat hanger
glycerine (optional) (available at drug stores)

Getting Ready: The hardest part - bend a coat hanger into a loop (probably a job for your grown-up assistant). Mix 1/2 cup Joy or Dawn detergent with 5 cups water. Measure carefully, it makes a big difference. Stir. Add two tablespoons glycerine if you have any (comes from your pharmacy). It tends to make more durable bubbles. Now dip your coat-hanger loop into the solution, then wave it in the air!

Big-time bubble making is a bit like fishing, you'll have much better luck in cool, wet weather, early evenings, nighttime, and early mornings are often good. Just after a rain is ideal. Don't throw any leftovers away either. The longer your solution sits, the better it gets.

String and soda straw variation: Instead of bending a coat hanger, you can tie a 2 1/2 foot length of string through 2 straws and unleash square bubbles. The trick is to dip your string and straw thing into the solution, then wave it through the air. Break the bubbles off by flipping the apparatus up a little bit.