How to Create Your Own Fire Extinguisher With Household Items

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Have you ever been worried about a small fire starting in your house? This will tell you how to easily make your own fire extinguisher with regular household items!

Ingredients

  • Baking Soda
  • Vinegar
  • Bottle, 1 Pint or larger
  • Cap
  • Toilet paper
  • Water

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. Fill the plastic bottle with 1/3 cups vinegar. [1]
  2. Advertisement
  3. [2]
  5. [3]
    6. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Can I use a napkin instead of toilet paper?
    Community Answer
    Yes, anything that will allow the vinegar access to the baking soda would work.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 13 Helpful 69
  • Question
    How can I make sure only water shoots out?
    Community Answer
    It's supposed to shoot out Co2 because Co2 is what puts out the fire, not just the water.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 34
  • Question
    How can I better understand the last step?
    Community Answer
    By pushing the bag of baking soda into the bottle, it will cause a chemical reaction with the vinegar, releasing carbon dioxide and water. All you have to do is push the bag into the bottle.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 21 Helpful 64
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • Make sure the vinegar touches the baking soda when using.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • You can also use a larger bottle maybe, fill it only 3/4 full with liquid (2/3 water, 1/3 vinegar). Tie the baking soda in the toilet paper with string, leaving several inches of string and constructing the toilet paper/baking soda packet so it will still fit inside the opening of the bottle, but obviously high enough so it hangs from the string above the liquid. Insert a plastic drinking straw that bends at the top, making sure it is above the bottom of the bottle. Keep the straw and string in place by mashing chewed up chewing gum or caulking on a rope. When ready to use the fire extinguisher, shake it so the vinegar water engages the baking soda and you can aim the direction with your straw. (From Boy's Life Magazine circa 1970s.)
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Do not let the vinegar touch the baking soda when in storage. If it does, open the cap.
        Thanks
        Helpful 38 Not Helpful 13
      • Please be careful when using the fire extinguisher. Don't get too close to the fire, and if you can't put it out, leave.
        Thanks
        Helpful 39 Not Helpful 15
      • Don't use this fire extinguisher or pour water on an electrical or grease fire. You could make matters worse. It is better to keep on hand a fire extinguisher rated for these types of fires.
        Thanks
        Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      An Easy Guide for Operating a Fire Extinguisher
      How to
      Put Out a Grease Fire
      How to
      Extinguish Electrical Fires
      Simple Ways to Extinguish a Fire in a Fireplace
      8 Ways to Put Out a Fire
      How to
      Clean and Refill a Fire Extinguisher
      How to
      Operate an Elevator in Fire Service Mode
      How to
      Clean Smoke Damage
      How to
      Act During a Fire Drill
      How to
      Use a Fire Blanket
      How to
      Safely Escape a House Fire or Wildfire
      How to
      Put Out a Toaster Fire
      How to
      Put Out a Gas Fire
      How to
      Keep Safe During a House Fire
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX7HTEVeM9E
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6Er2om0WgM
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJFyI2iGWxs
      4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUIpyNK9Q7w

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 152,240 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement