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How to Do the Magic Milk Science Experiment

by Jean Van't Hul
May 3, 2023
556 Shares
rainbow milk featured

This magic milk science experiment is awesome. Super simple to try with materials you already have, and it has amazing results!

Updated June 2023

This is very possibly both the easiest and most beautiful science experiment out there.

It’s also called milky fireworks, erupting colors, magic milk, and tie-dyed milk. But whatever the name, the results are awesome, and kids LOVE it!

We did the milky fireworks on top of our simple DIY light table (a clear plastic storage bin with a string of white lights inside) which added an extra level of beauty to the experiment.

It was lovely to see the light shining through the milk, the colors, and the magic!

magic milk_pin
Photo by Rachel Withers

Magic Milk Science Experiment

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MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Pour milk in dish


    Assemble food coloring, a small bowl of liquid dish soap, and some Q-tips. Then pour a thin layer of the whole milk in a shallow dish.

    magic milk set up

  2. Squeeze drops of food coloring on milk

    Begin by squeezing droplets of the food coloring on the surface of the milk. You can do one color or several colors.

    magic milk marbling

  3. Dip cotton swab in soap, then milk

    Next, dip a cotton swab in the dish soap and then in the milk, preferably in the center of a spot of food coloring.

    milk marbling

    Watch the colors explode all over as the detergent interacts with the fat molecules in the whole milk!

  4. Repeat!

    Repeat steps 2 and 3 as often as you like until you end up with muddy milk.

    If you’d like to keep going, discard the muddy milk then add another thin layer of milk and begin again.

magic milk science experiment tray
Photo by Rachel Withers

This is so fun and so cool to watch!

Have you tried this magic milk science experiment with your kids yet?

More Science Experiments for Kids

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How to Do the Magic Milk Science Experiment

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