Carbonating: the Cheap and Easy Way

Have you ever wanted to make your own carbonated beverages such as soda and carbonated water? Well, I have. However, after doing a lot of research I realized that the carbonation machines you can buy cost hundreds of dollars. But then I found this way of doing it. It costs very little and can be made with stuff found around the house. It's great for making homemade sodas, seltzer water, and even re-carbonating flat beverages. I even tried carbonating chocolate milk... it was pretty interesting but not bad. :D

WARNING: BE CAREFUL! If you use too much vinegar and baking soda, it could blow up and make a huge mess in your kitchen, or worse... injure you. It happened to me (not the injury, but the explosion). I can assure you, it is not fun to clean up. This is high pressure stuff you are working with. So, please consider safety glasses and doing this outside on your first couple tries. Please don't hold me responsible for the mess in your kitchen if it does explode.

Sorry about the crappy video.

See The Video Here

Step 1: Collect Your Materials

You Will Need:

2 PLASTIC Bottles (preferably 20oz) With Caps
3 ft. (aprox.) of tubing, fish aquarium size
Drill
Drill Bit a little bit smaller than the tubing
Scissors
Funnel (forgot to put it in the pic)
Toilet Paper... Yes Toilet Paper
Vinegar
Baking Soda
Liquid You Want Carbonated

Note: Don't Use Glass Bottles, They Could Explode.

Step 2: Drill Hole in Caps

Take the caps off of the bottles. Grab the drill and drill a hole in the middle of each bottle cap.

Step 3: Cut the Ends of the Tubing

Grab the tube and cut each end at an angle so it is easy to stick through the holes in the caps.

Step 4: Stick Tube Through the Bottle Cap

Now stick each end of the tune into a bottle cap. Screw the caps on. One end of the tube should be in the bottle about an inch. The other end should reach all the way to the bottom of the bottle.

Step 5: Find Something to Carbonate

Find something you want to carbonate. You can carbonate basically any liquid. There are many great recipes for sodas on the internet. Make the beverage and then pour it into the bottle that has the tube going to the bottom. (I just used water for the Instructable). Leave about an Inch and a Half space at the top for air. Screw the cover back on.

Step 6: Fill the Other Bottle With Vinegar

Unscrew the cover on the other bottle. Grab a funnel and fill the bottle about 1/3 full with vinegar. Leave the cover off.

Step 7: Baking Soda

Grab one square of toilet paper. Put about a tablespoon of baking soda on it. Then fold the toilet paper up as indicated in the pictures.

Step 8: Adding the Baking Soda

First, make sure the cover on the to-be carbonated beverage is tight. Hold the Cover to the bottle with the vinegar in one hand and the toilet paper wrapped baking soda in the other hand. Drop the toilet paper baking soda roll into the vinegar. Screw the cap on as quickly as possible. Shake the bottle.

Step 9: Shake Your Drink

Grab the bottle with your drink and shake it vigorously. You will notice bubbles coming out of the tube. Thats the CO2 that will carbonate your drink. Keep shaking to disperse the CO2. Shake until there are no more bubbles coming out of the tube. Shake one more time and let sit for a minute or two.

Step 10: Opening the Beverage

It is time to open the drink! First pinch the tube above the bottle. THIS IS IMPORTANT. Pinching the tube will prevent a ton of CO2 form coming out of the other pressurized bottle. If you don't do it, your drink will spray everywhere and probably lose its fizz. While pinching the tube, slowly open the bottle with your drink. Now bring the other bottle with the tube still pinched to the sink and release it. You will notice a ton of CO2 escaping, sometimes the vinegar, baking soda, toilet paper mixture will come out too. Thats why you should do it over the sink.

Step 11: Enjoy

You can drink your now carbonated beverage. Enjoy!

Use the byproduct for making sodium acetate. Click Here