Alright, so I’ve been tinkering with this solarized water idea for a bit now. You hear things, people talk about all sorts of stuff, and I’m the kind of person who likes to get my hands dirty and see for myself. Figured it was a pretty straightforward thing – just water, some glass, and sunshine. Couldn’t be too complicated, right?
Getting Started with It
First off, I had to get my hands on some colored glass bottles. I didn’t go out and buy anything fancy. Just started saving them. You know, those blue ones some sparkling water comes in, or green ones from olive oil or wine. I made sure to give them a real good wash. Soap, hot water, rinsed them out a bunch of times. Didn’t want any old stuff floating around in there.
Then, it was just a matter of filling them up. I’ve read folks saying you should use spring water or heavily filtered water, but for my first few goes, I just used regular tap water. Figured I’d start simple and see how it went. I filled them up pretty close to the top, leaving a little bit of space.
My Process – Out in the Sun
So, with my bottles all filled, I’d take them outside. My back porch gets a good blast of sun pretty much all day, especially in the morning. I’d set them out there. What I did for covering them: some people use cheesecloth or a light fabric. I just used the original caps, but I didn’t screw them on tight. Just placed them on top to keep dust or any curious bugs out.
And then, I just let them sit. Usually, I’d put them out mid-morning, say around 9 or 10 AM. I’d leave them there for a good chunk of the day, maybe 5 to 8 hours, depending on how strong the sun was. I’d check on them now and then. The glass would get quite warm to the touch, which made sense. You could almost feel the sun working on them.
Here’s a little list of what I used, nothing fancy:
- Colored glass bottles (blue, green, I even tried amber)
- Water (started with tap, sometimes use filtered now)
- Bottle caps or a light cloth for covering
- A sunny spot!
What I Do With It Afterwards
Once they’d had their sunbath, I’d bring them inside. Let them cool down to room temperature on the counter. Then, I’d tighten the caps and pop them in the fridge if I wanted it cold, or just keep it on the side to drink at room temp.
So, what’s the deal with it? Well, I’ve been doing this for a while now. I usually make a bottle or two every few days, especially when it’s sunny. I just drink it like I would regular water. Sometimes I use it to make my morning tea.
I can’t sit here and tell you it’s made some massive, life-altering change. That wouldn’t be honest. But, there’s something nice about the ritual of it. Taking a moment to prepare it, using the natural energy of the sun. It feels… intentional. And the water tastes clean and fresh. Maybe it’s just in my head, but I enjoy it. It’s a simple little practice, and it costs next to nothing. Just a bit of time and sunshine.
That’s pretty much my journey with solarized water. Simple as that. Just me, some bottles, and the sun. It’s become a quiet little part of my routine.
