How to Inflate a Balloon
We all miss one or two life lessons. Some people, like the reader Lifehacker from izzysanime , never learned how to inflate a balloon. It’s actually difficult until you learn it! So, we will teach you.
1. First stretch
By blowing air into the balloon, you are stretching the rubber. The balloon resists this, especially during the first few puffs. To make it easier, first pull the balloon out with your hands.
2. Position it correctly
There is a ring at the end of the balloon’s neck. Use this to form a seal right inside the lips, in front of the teeth. Hold the bar lightly between your index and thumb tight enough to remain stationary, but loose enough to allow air to pass through.
3. Blow hard, then softly.
You will need a strong, constant force to start inflating the balloon. After that, it becomes easier, and you should slow down so that you don’t get dizzy. (If you inflate more than one or two balloons, it starts to matter.)
Do not rush. If you need to rest and catch your breath, pinch the neck of the balloon with your fingers and take it out of your mouth. A tiny piece of air can escape; this is normal.
4. Blow until the balloon stops growing.
Don’t stop blowing too early or you will end up with a sad balloon. As long as the balloon grows without much resistance, you are not finished.
At some point, the balloon will stop growing, and instead, its skin will begin to tighten. Stop there. You can release some air if you’re afraid to burst.
5. Tie it up
On a good balloon, the neck will still stretch a lot, so you can tie your fingers around it like a string or trash bag handles.
It is important to make a loop and fully stretch the end. Hold on to this end. As long as you hold this grip, even if you struggle to pull your fingers out of the loop, the balloon will not fly out of your hand, sending fart sounds around the room.
Congratulations! You inflated the balloon! And those who will not swim away and kill the sea turtle. Tie it to a strip of candy and place it in a vase. You now have a nice chunk of future trash.
This story was originally published on September 26, 2019, and updated on November 25, 2019.