How To Get Balloons To Float Without Helium: Solved

Last Updated on July 22, 2024 by Kimberlee Johnson

Looking for helium to add extra sparkle to your upcoming birthday party, baby shower, or unique occasion with vibrant balloons?

Don’t worry – it is still possible to have your balloons lift off the ground, even without helium. 

Today, we’ll show you how to get balloons to float without helium, providing an easy and cost-effective alternative. Read on to learn more.

6 Handy Tips To Make Balloons Float Without Helium

1. Baking Soda & Vinegar

Mix ⅓ cup of baking soda with 1 cup of vinegar. Pour the mixture into the balloon using a funnel. 

Quickly stretch the balloon’s opening over the mouth of a bottle filled with vinegar. 

With the help of the carbon dioxide gas produced by the combination of baking soda and vinegar, the balloon is blown to a suitable size.

2. Use A straw

Blow up the balloon to your desired size, then insert a straw into the balloon and let out the air. 

Leave the straw in the balloon and blow up the balloon again. When you remove the straw, the balloon will stay inflated.

But how can you blow up a long balloon?

3. Compressed Air

Flip the can of compressed air upside down and spray it into the balloon. The cold air will cause the balloon to shrink temporarily, but then it will expand and float.

Check out these steps in filling up foil balloons with helium here.

4. Hot Air

Hot air is one of the easiest ways to make balloons float. Blow up the balloon and hold it over a pot of boiling water. 

Since the steam will warm the air within the balloon, it will float upward.

5. Dry Ice

Another way to make balloons float is by using dry ice [1]. 

Place a few pieces of dry ice into a container of warm water, then place the balloon over the container to fill it with the carbon dioxide gas produced by the reaction. 

Be cautious when handling dry ice, as it can be dangerous.

6. Use Your Breath

Finally, you can also blow up balloons with your breath, but you will need to blow them up to a larger size than usual to make them float. 

This method may work better for larger balloons or for those who need help blowing up balloons, to begin with.

Related Posts:

• How Many Balloons Do I Need To Make A Balloon Garland?
• How Do You Decorate Balloons Without Using Helium?

How Long Will Balloons Remain Inflated Without Helium?

Balloons that are not filled with helium will remain inflated for several days to weeks, depending on the type of balloon and the conditions it is exposed to. 

The longevity of an uninflated balloon also depends on the amount of air that was used to fill it. 

Balloons overfilled with air will deflate more quickly than those filled with just the right amount of air.

“Hope is a helium balloon. It is a wish lantern set out into the dark sky of the night”

Sharon Weil, Television Producer

Aside from that, the quality of the balloon and the materials used to make it also affect how long a balloon remains inflated without helium. 

For instance, high-quality balloons usually last longer than cheaper, lower-quality balloons.

But how long do latex balloons last?

How Can You Keep A Balloon Up If You Don’t Have Helium?

Holding a balloon up without helium is simple and can be accomplished with minimal effort. 

The simplest way to do it is by attaching a string or ribbon to the bottom of the balloon and then tying the other end to a wall, ceiling, or another sturdy object. 

Plus, the weight of the object to which the string is attached should be enough to keep the balloon in place.

Is It Possible To Make Helium At Home?

Making helium at home is impossible for the average person. Helium is a rare gas found in nature in very small amounts and is expensive to extract from the atmosphere. 

It would require a lot of energy and specialized equipment to separate and purify helium from other gasses. 

The process would also be very time-consuming and require special knowledge to produce enough helium for a single use. 

Even if a person could make helium at home, the cost of producing it would be so high that it would be impractical. 

Besides, helium is a non-renewable resource and is becoming increasingly scarce. 

It is best left to the professionals to produce helium, as they have the specialized equipment and expertise to do it safely and efficiently.

Also Read: What’s The Most Popular Balloon In The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

FAQs

In Summary

Using non-helium methods to get your balloons to float can be a great way to save money [2] and still have beautiful decorations. 

With a few simple materials, creativity, and patience, you can create fun and unique balloon decorations without buying helium. 

Plus, with all these tips, you can create beautiful, floating decorations for any occasion.

References:

1. https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/beauty-with-ice-cubes/

2. https://hbr.org/2020/09/does-more-money-really-makes-us-more-happy