Making a message in a bottle can be part of a fun experiment, an entertaining craft or just something you'd like to try. You can add a fun message and send the bottle on its way to wherever it may end up. Who knows? Maybe some day you'll even get a reply!
Part 1 of 3: Preparing the bottle
1Find a bottle. It can be plastic or glass. If you'd like to make it look like a real message in a bottle, use a beer or wine bottle. Green is the most common colour for the bottles, but you can get creative and use any colour you'd like.Ad
2Wash the bottle. Fill the bottle with warm water. Squeeze in some dish soap, and cover the bottle with your hand. Proceed with shaking the bottle up and down until it is full of suds. Roll a piece of towel into a rod, and stick it in. Try to absorb as much water as possible. Once you've finished, stick it upside down in the strainer, so the excess can pour out overnight.
Part 2 of 3: Writing the message
1Write your message. This is good to do while the bottle is drying. If you are an adult doing this with your child, make sure they do not reveal anything too personal. Instead of using your address, put in your PO Box number. This way, the stranger who receives your message won't be able to track you down. Don't include your age if you're under eighteen, and don't mention your phone number. You can add things that you enjoy, such as your favourite sport or favourite food. Once you've finished, read it over to determine if this is really what you'd want a stranger reading about you.
2Roll up your message. Roll it as tightly as possible, and put a piece of tape to keep it from unravelling. Drop it in your bottle once it's dry, and make sure it fits completely in the bottle. Write something on the outside of the bottle in permanent marker such as: "DO NOT THROW OUT! MESSAGE INSIDE." Make sure that the text is big enough for someone to read before throwing it in the recycling.
Part 3 of 3: Sending the message in a bottle
1Put the bottle in a clear bag. This will prevent it from getting wet. You can either put it in a plastic bag, or layer it with plastic. Just make sure that no paper is exposed, and that your message won't get ruined.
- You might like to put duct tape around the edges of the bag, for added strength.
2Make sure it floats. Just in case, drop your bottle in the bathtub before you do anything big. If it doesn't float, get another bottle. No one will see your bottle if it sinks down to the sea floor!
3Drop it in the water. Preferably do this in a river. Rivers flow easily, and do not collect much litter because of the flow. Check the litter rules in your county, and make sure what you're doing isn't illegal. Don't put your bottle in an ocean or sea because it will most likely never make it across the water. Put it in a flowing water source so you won't see it again. Make sure the river doesn't flow into an ocean.
4Wait. This is the hardest part. Many people will expect a letter on their first day; don't do this. It could take from a few weeks to a year to receive a reply. Don't assume that just because you haven't gotten a reply within a few weeks that someone threw it out. If you don't receive an answer, it probably hasn't been read, and is still casually surfing the water, waiting for someone to read it. Have patience while waiting for for a reply.Ad
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- Different colours will make your bottle look nice and unique!
- Decorate the bottle to make it look old and unique .
- Different colors will also make your bottle stand out in the water.
- Putting wax at the top of the bottle helps with the water proofing.
- Make sure you know your county's laws about littering
- Don't include any personal information.
- Be careful of where you put the bottle.
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