..................................................................................................................................................................................

Simple, fun, and outrageously cliched (for me at least, since Im in a dorm and all) project to decorate for Halloween using a blacklight.

Step 1: Parts

All that is needed is a blacklight and some uv paint. A cheap substitution for the paint is liquid laundry detergent; I used tide with bleach alternative, but almost any kind will do. Laundry detergent glows under UV light because phosphors are added so that when the clothes are in sunlight they appear brighter. A pretty clever/sneaky (depends on how you look at it) trick by the detergent companies.

The black light I used is a 30 in. Phillips 20W bulb stuck in a plastic holder that used to hold the light for my fish tank.

Step 2: Paint It On

I just poured some detergent in a cup and started painting the skull on the outside of the plastic blind for my window. It is good to work with the UV light on so you know where you are painting. I didnt have any brushes so I just painted it on with paper towels. I was dissapointed when I went outside and saw that it was hard to notice, maybe the blue just does not stand out enough.

I ordered some green UV paint on e-bay. Ill probably have it sometime next week, and hopefully it will stand out more.

Step 3: Update: Instructional Video

The folks over at howcast.com have created an instructional video based on this project.

4 People Made This Project!

SHOE0007 made it!
SHOE0007 made it!
SHOE0007 made it!
SHOE0007 made it!

Recommendations

World's Fastest Can Opener by sirjason132 in Kitchen

2 716

Mini Fogging Cauldron - No Dry Ice, No Fog Fluid by wannabemadsci in Halloween

283 34K

DIY Paper Maché Jack-O'Lantern by Cyndal in Halloween

88 4.3K

Cryptex - 10 Steps for 110 Possibles Designs by Tony Vanpoucke in Toys & Games

168 12K

Big and Small Contest
For the Home Contest
Game Design: Student Design Challenge

48 Comments

secretary5

Question 5 months ago on Introduction

Can you dilute the Tide to use in a spray bottle to “spray” on t-shirts?

JacobB167

4 years ago

If it's ok to ask, has anyone checked to see how long this effect lasts?

SHOE0007

6 years ago

Has anyone attempted to convert tide dish detergents from UV into purple color then try to cause a blue or green glow stick to glow? Becareful since Phenol oxalate is toxic the active chemical in some glowsticks.

SHOE0007

6 years ago

The laser is at 405 nm 100 mw laser line. Absorption 405 nm.

SHOE0007

6 years ago

You should do a instructable on perhaps Dye lasers that can be easily done with a Nitrogen laser.

SHOE0007

6 years ago

Some how the acetone water mixture changes the solubility of the dye and changes the light output.

John Smith

16 years ago

What if you mixed that(detergent) with fake blood?

sharlston

13 years ago on Introduction

nice ible its really cool and well written :)

thetech101

13 years ago on Introduction

Oily handprints also glow well under a blacklight.

bfellner

16 years ago

The blothces on your clothes under a black can be a sign that your washer isn't rinsing out all of the detergent. Run another rinse cycle and then take a look :) And try using RIT Fabric Whitner & Brightner under a black light. It is the concentrated form of what they put in detergents. You can get powdered form or the concetrated liquid. Under normal light it is comepletely transparent but under UV it glows like it is radioactive! Even diluted with water a couple times over it glows. Word of caution... This stuff is hard to wash off. I didn't see it on my hands in normal light but even after scrubbing my hands with soap and hot water 5 TIMES my hands STILL Glowed. It wore off after a few days but I am glade you can only see it under UV! :)