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How to Boil Water in a Plastic Bottle

How to Boil Water in a Plastic Bottle

All photos by the author

Campers and hikers usually carry plenty of water or equipment for boiling their drinking water, but situations arise when the plan goes south. You could be in a lightplane crash in the outback or fall out of your canoe, losing your equipment in the river. The good news is, boiling water in a plastic bottle works, and unfortunately, you can find a plastic bottle almost anywhere along a river or trail. Follow these directions, and you'll have drinking water until you can get to a more desirable location.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Boiling Water in a Plastic Bottle

Things You’ll Need:
  • Discarded plastic bottle String or vine Water Fire or heat source
  • Discarded plastic bottle
  • String or vine
  • Water
  • Fire or heat source
Step 1
Disgarded bottle
Disgarded bottle
Be on the lookout for a plastic bottle when you're hiking. It doesn't matter what brand of soft drink; a regular pop bottle works just fine. Stick it in your pack or pocket for later use. The old saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure" is true---especially on the trail.
Step 2
Small campfire
Small campfire
Gather some small sticks and build a fire when it's time to camp or eat, or light up that can of Sterno you brought for just such an occasion. Either way, you're going to need a heat source for boiling water. Make sure you have a tree nearby to run your string or vine up for hanging your plastic bottle over the fire.
Step 3
Starting height
Starting height
Fill the bottle about three-quarters full of water. It can be most any water found in a creek or pond, as you will be boiling it to remove any germs and make it safe for drinking. Tie the string or vine around the neck of the bottle, and run it up over a limb and back down so you can tie it off and adjust the height of the bottle over the fire. Start warming the water 6 inches or so above the heat. Put your hand under the bottle to feel the temperature. It should be just hot enough so you have to move your hand but not too hot. You have to start slowly.
Step 4
Heating up
Heating up
Keep the fire about 6 inches below the bottom of the bottle by adding small sticks. Do not let the fire get high enough to touch the bottle. At this point, the bottle will start discoloring, and a small drip may show up on the bottom, but don't worry about it. The bottle may even start to swell and look baglike on the bottom, but it's natural for this to happen.
Step 5
Almost there
Almost there
The fire will start to get white and hot at this point if done correctly, and you can let the bottle down until it is just off the coals by an inch or two. Small bubbles will start to rise, and it will be just a few minutes before you have a full boil. If the water is just slowly bubbling and will not boil, build the fire up on the sides with very small sticks to adjust the heat. If you are using Sterno or another heat source, just turn up the heat until you get the boil you desire. After the water boils for a short time, you can raise the string and let it cool. The water when cooled will now be safer to drink.

Tips & Warnings

 
Do not set the bottle on a heater or grill. This method will only work if you hang the bottle.
 
Anytime you use fire in the outdoors, be very careful not to start a forest fire. When you are done, extinguish the fire with water and dirt if possible.

Article Written By Dennis Seabright

Denny Seabright has been writing for Trails.com since Nov. of 2008 with most articles being in the "How to" category. Graduating from James Wood High school in 1976 and going straight into the work force left little room for formal education but writing has always been dear to his heart.

Write for Trails.com

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