If you like to recycle to lower your carbon footprint, then here are a few tips to use recycled soda bottles to create your Tornado In A Bottle!
PLEASE HAVE ADULT SUPERVISION
TIP # 1: you need two recycled soda bottles (any size is fine, the larger the bottle the bigger and more long lasting Vortex you will create. However some large bottles are made of a thinner plastic these days so the suction can create the bottles to dent in slightly and be flimsy, but still do the job. Also the same 2 size bottles works best.)
TIP # 2: MOST IMPORTANT STEP to prevent leaking, safely cut off the plastic soda rings around the bottle necks so you can acquire a tighter fit for your Tornado Tube. You can use wire cutters or anything that can safely cut these tight thick rings off. Please be careful not cut yourself or anyone else in the process!!! FYI- I find that craft scissors do not work well, the blades are too long preventing the proper kind of leverage to grab and cut these thick rings.
TIP # 3: Don’t like the big sticker labels on your recycled bottles blocking your view? Some labels are easier to remove than others. The easier bottles have wrap around labels that are only glued onto soda bottles at one or two sections. In this case you simply cut off the labels. Then I recommend using GOO GONE to remove the sticky glue residue by dripping a small amount of GOO GONE on the sticky glue residue and rub it in with your thumbs. I’ve also heard that baking soda mixed with hot water can work as well. (However I have not experimented with this theory yet.) This process will require some rubbing with your thumbs to remove the glue and possibly follow this process a couple times until all glue is gone. Make sure you do not have cuts or scrapes on your thumbs because GOO GONE is citrus based and it will burn a little!!! (I speak from personal experience.) 🙂
TIP # 3 continued…. Some labels are full on stickers!!! Therefore, another way is to fill soda bottles with hot water and then put the bottles in a bucket of hot water (not boiling). Let them soak until sticker labels become soft enough to begin to rub off with your thumbs little by little. Once again the GOO GONE would come in handy, just put a small amount on stickiness and rub it in a bit. You will probably have to use your thumb nail to help scrape off the glue residue. Repeat as needed.
And PRESTO!!! You can now have a clean clear view of your vortex that you created!
Bonus Tip: Forget about TIP #3 and rip most of the label off as easy as possible and deal with the rest! LOL