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Build a DIY Toy Car with an Empty PURELL Hand Sanitizer Bottle

December 10, 2015 By Kim
Tagged With: DIY, family fun, how to, maker projects, projects, sponsored

Learn how to make a DIY toy car from a plastic bottle on www.TheMakerMom.com.I’m pleased to bring you a fifth activity, a DIY toy car from a plastic bottle, as part of my relationship with GOJO Industries, the makers of PURELL® Advanced Hand Sanitizer. In the previous sponsored posts, I’ve shared how to make seed balls, craft dazzling sun catchers, create a candy construction challenge, and mix up a batch of oozy slime.

GOJO and I believe in the power of creative experiences that put hands first. PURELL® Hand Sanitizing Wipes clean away the illness-causing germs, but not the fun. In this activity, we’ve turned our empty bottle of hand sanitizer into a car. It’s easy to do. When the bottle is empty, the car can serve as a toy until you decide it’s time to remove the pump mechanism and recycle the bottle.

Making the car provides an opportunity to explore simple machines, namely, the combination of wheels and axles. An axle and wheel is one of six fundamental simple machines that make it easier to move, push, or pull objects over a distance. An axle is a rod, fixed in position or able to rotate, that is inserted in the center of a wheel. If you have a toy car, you can look at the bottom and locate two axles and four wheels. Perhaps you can even take it apart and get a better look (be sure to put it back together).

Learn how to make a DIY car from a plastic bottle on www.TheMakerMom.com.

 

Make a DIY Toy Car out of an Empty Plastic Bottle of PURELL® Advanced Hand Sanitizer

Please note that there is one step that requires adult involvement and the use of an electric drill. But other than that, kids can run (or roll) with this on their own.

Learn how to make a DIY toy car from a plastic bottle on www.TheMakerMom.com.

Supplies

  • An empty bottle of PURELL® Hand Sanitizer (8 oz.)
  • 2 drinking straws
  • 2 wooden skewers
  • 4 identical plastic caps (such as from water bottles)
  • Scissors
  • Drill with a set of drill bits
  • Duct tape
  • Air-dry modeling clay
  • Stickers, glitter glue, paint pens (optional)

Prepare the Materials

Have an adult carefully drill small holes in the center of each of the caps so that a skewer can be snugly inserted inside of it. The skewer should not be able to rotate freely inside the hole.

Learn how to make a DIY toy car from a plastic bottle on www.TheMakerMom.com.

Cut each straw so that there is about 2 cm of straw sticking out on either side of the empty PURELL® Hand Sanitizer bottle.

Learn how to make a DIY toy car from a plastic bottle on www.TheMakerMom.com.

Cut the skewers so that they are both about 4 cm longer than the straw.

Build a Toy Car

Tape one of the cut straws parallel to the top of the empty PURELL® Hand Sanitizer bottle, but about 2 cm below it.

Learn how to make a DIY car from a plastic bottle on www.TheMakerMom.com.

Place a bottle cap on one end of a skewer

Learn how to make a DIY car from a plastic bottle on www.TheMakerMom.com.

If you don’t get just the right snug fit when you place the skewer (axle) in the wheel (alas, we didn’t), use a bit of air-dry clay on both sides of the wheel to plug up the empty space.

Learn how to make a DIY car from a plastic bottle on www.TheMakerMom.com.

Slide the empty end of the skewer through the straw.

Attach the second wheel, using clay as needed.

Learn how to make a DIY toy car from a plastic bottle on www.TheMakerMom.com.

Insert the other skewer/axle through the second straw.

Let the clay dry for 24 hours before moving the car.

That final step may be the most challenging part, but I speak from experience when I tell you that it’s important to let the clay dry before spinning the wheels of the car.

Learn how to make a DIY car from a plastic bottle on www.TheMakerMom.com.

You are now ready to roll, but first make sure you clean and sanitize your hands with PURELL® Hand Sanitizing Wipes.

Learn more about simple machines from COSI or in greater detail here.

Learn how to make a DIY toy car from a plastic bottle on www.TheMakerMom.com.

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About Kim

Kim headshot Summer 2012 I’m a Chicago-area mom / empty-nester who is passionate about sharing ideas and resources to raise kids who love Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). I’m a published author, blogger, vlogger, baker and maker. I love to travel, especially on trips that involve hiking and other active endeavors, farm tours, and learning new things in general.[Read More...]

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