How To Make a Simple Lava Lamp At Home

Want to try this project at home?
Food Color:
Natural Vegetable Oil - 128 oz:
Alka-seltzer Original Effervescent Tablets:
Craft Sequins, Mixed Colors and Sizes:
Headlamp Flashlight:
Watch more How to Do Fun Tech & Science Projects videos:
Lava lamps are as easy to make as they are fun to look at.
Step 1: Rinse soda bottle
Empty and thoroughly rinse a large plastic soda bottle.
Step 2: Add oil
Pour vegetable or mineral oil into the bottle until it is three-quarters full.
Step 3: Fill with water
Fill the rest of the bottle with water.
Step 4: Add food coloring
Add several drops of the food color of your choice.
Tip
To make things more interesting, add sequins or glitter to the mixture.
Step 5: Break a tablet
Break an effervescent tablet (like Alka-Seltzer) into several small pieces.
Step 6: Drop one piece
Drop a piece into the bottle. Watch the oil begin to fall to the bottom and then rise in small droplets.
Step 7: Add the rest of the pieces
Continue adding the tablet pieces until they have all dissolved.
Tip
Don't have an effervescent tablet? Slowly pour table salt into the mixture to create the same effect.
Step 8: Move the bottle back and forth
Put the cap back on the bottle. Begin slowly moving the bottle back and forth in your hands until the oil droplets begin to form one big glob.
Step 9: Enjoy the show
Enjoy the show! To really bring out the colors of the blob, illuminate the bottle with a flashlight.
Did You Know?
In 2006, the town of Soap Lake, Washington, agreed to spend $100,000 to install the world’s largest lava lamp, which is 50 feet tall and had been on a billboard in New York City’s Times Square for several years.