How to make your own Sparkel water Carbonator

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Note: Sparkel does not approve of making your own carbonator as this may void the warranty or cause problems. Learn more here:
Have you purchased a Sparkel seltzer or sparkling water machine? This machine carbonates your beverages without CO tanks, like Sodastream uses. Instead it used special sachets to create carbon dioxide for your beverage naturally. I’m Erin TGC.com and One advantage of the Sparkel machine is that if you don’t want to pay for and deal with the waste associated with pre-portioned plastic sachets of carbonator, you can make your own. I’m going to show you exactly how to do it. Early heads up if you Like &SUB...
If you’re not familiar with Sparkel and how it works, check out my full review or my head to head comparison to sodastream here on the channel.
First off, What is Sparkel carbonator?
Sparkel carbonator is just two things: citric acid and sodium bicarbonate, each in its own little packet. Sparkel says this combination mixes with the water and generates CO2 gas naturally when mixed with water.
Citric acid is Citric acid is found naturally in citrus fruits, especially lemons and limes. It’s what gives them their tart, sour taste. A powdered form of citric acid is commonly used as an additive in food, cleaning products, and it’s used as a preservative. It’s largely odorless and colorless. You can get it at soapmaking or natural health stores or find it on Amazon.
You’ll be familiar with sodium bicarbonate under another name… baking soda. This powder gives lift to baked goods and creates those lovely air pockets in things like cakes and muffins. You can get it in grocery stores in boxes or pick it up in bulk to save money.
Here’s how to make Sparkel carbonator powder.
I measured out Sparkel’s sachets with measuring spoons so this isn’t super precise, but it works for me: To make your own Sparkel carbonator powder, measure 1 tablespoon of citric acid and just under 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Pour them into your Sparkel and close the lid.
Go through the carbonation process as you normally would.
This hack works just as well as the company’s own branded sachets. It’s less expensive and creates less waste.
That’s how to DIY your Sparkel. Of course you can also keep it simple and order the sachets right from Sparkel or pick them up at the store where you got your machine.
If you want to read more TCG.com I’ve also got blogs about sparkel vs sodastream and how they compare plus a detailed review of the Sparkel.

[@Amy-ej2px]

Did anyone feel like they were listening to a newscast? Great voice.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

😃😃😃🙏

[@Taric25]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@msahkoo]

Really it's she is a good NEWS Anchor..

[@isaacbaron8409]

Haha your right, and she sounds better than most news casters.

[@thew1678]

Yes

[@ritchiedee6210]

I LOVE that she doesn't waste time and sounds professional. great job.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Very much appreciated, thank you!

[@joannek9169]

I weighed the carbonator for accuracy, it's 10g citric acid and 12g baking soda. I honestly can't tell the difference between the two. I ordered this a few days ago based on your recommendation and it's held up great!

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Nice! Thanks for sharing.

[@McJc09]

I have another question.. can I mix these into packets together and just pour one in ??

[@McJc09]

Joanne K I did this and it didnt make enough fizz, so I increase the citric acid by 1/2 tsp. And it seems to be pretty much the same as the packets.

[@sylvielamoureux6972]

@@Jtzkb I did and well it clumbs up a little bit so I prefer to do it daily or use two different set of tiny topperwears (I use different colour lids to know which is which). Or I make it when I use it, I found that using large typical eating spoon (soup) makes for a better taste than the premade sachets; fill spoon flat. So either way it isnt more steps than preparing a coffee.

[@nickpadgen2490]

@@McJc09 You should be weighing your dry chemicals, the difference in mass to volume of dry chemicals varies heavily. For me to get 10 grams of citric and 12 grams of sodium bicarbonate I use 2 teaspoons of each, yours will probably be different.

[@arodisatool]

I bought this after watching your videos and it arrived today- pretty quickly. The family is very excited. Thx!

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Let us know how you like it.

[@benfaust]

It's 14 or 15 grams of sodium bicarbonate and 12 grams of citric acid. I weighed out 13 and 11 of the pre-measured packets, but adding those weights of ingredients caused the Sparkel unit to stop carbonating before the cycle was complete, terminating with a double beep. Adding 14 / 15 and 12 causes it to complete the cycle.

[@skamithi]

your recipe works! Thx. Really like the sparkel system. Ditching sodastream as soon as my last tank is done.

[@soulandsoleandsoforth7054]

Just got a Sparkel and tried this and it tasted lovely! Just as good if not "fresher" (according to my husband) than the Sparkel packets. I also used the Millard Citric Acid and Arm and Hammer baking soda. Did the Tbsp thing and it seemed to work perfectly for me. Thanks so much!

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Glad it helped you

[@joannek9169]

Hi Erin and everyone, just writing to say, almost after a year my Sparkel has held up great. A tip to keep it clean is to carbonate some water after each carbonation of something else (whether it's juice, wine, tea, etc.) and to make sure you tidy up as much powder spillage as possible near the opening. A kg of Citric acid and Arm&Hammer baking soda has saved me easily $100 so far, and i'm still not finished either packs! Hope this helps any viewers passing by!

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thanks for the tips!

[@swordman2000]

Hi Joanne! I dont know if you will ever read this. But just wanna see if you can answer a few question: 1. If I increase the porportion of citric acid, does it makes the drink a bit more citric/sour? 2. Can the two powder be stored together? I was thinking of mass-measuring and bag each portion into sachets so I dont have to do it everytime. thanks!

[@joannek9169]

​@@swordman2000 Hi swordman, I can try to answer the best I can! 1. I haven't tried this yet, but I have accidentally poured baking soda in twice instead of with citric acid and it definitely tasted like such. Just a note if you DO decide to try this, I wouldn't suggest putting the same amounts of the CA & BS and then adding more CA on top. Try playing around with the ratios. I've had it happen where I've accidentally put too much powder in the machine and the pressure pops the top, it's really startling! 2. I wouldn't suggest mixing them as they may react with the humidity around it and clump up, and the clumping of the powders may make them react inefficiently when put into the machine so you might not have as strong of a reaction or, given enough time, much of a reaction at all. I just put a table spoon next to my machine and keep the bags close by. Cheers!

[@mothershelper1981]

@@swordman2000 I was wondering the exact same thing! It seems like it would be a Time saver if they could be premixed together.

[@mothershelper1981]

@@joannek9169 thank you for the information! I understand what you are saying but I was thinking maybe a person could mix a smaller amount together so they wouldn't have a lot to last a long time but would still have the convenience of having it premixed. I guess I won't know until I try it.

[@jeanwilson6564]

Review and DIY for powders was why I bought my Sparkel.

[@erinsjourney315]

This hack sold me! Thanks a bunch 👍

[@dskgc]

Girl, they should be paying you to make your videos about Sparkel! You are AWESOME

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Haha. Thanks!

[@realMartinHamilton]

This is a great video for educating us on how to make very cost effective sodas. Thank You.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thank you!

[@joannek9169]

Hi again everyone! It's been about 2 years and I still have my sparkel! Nowadays the bottle is having trouble being seated into the machine, thus not carbonating. It needs to be wiggled a bit in order to work. I've also noticed some "gunk" building up in the reservoir where the two powders mix. Cleaning that area is really annoying. I think this is the last you'll hear of me since I'll be retiring the sparkel for a new appliance. Thanks again for your review, I got a lot of joy from this thing :)

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience!

[@indefinitely33]

What appliance are you getting this time?

[@headerahelix]

I'm also interested in hearing what you replaced the Sparkel with.

[@annesfavourites1562]

I bought this machine based on your video and we love it and everyone we show it to loves it also. Just tried my first bottle with bulk ingredients. Thanks for the weights Joanne K. Will see which is easiest to use.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Great feedback! Thanks!

[@Amy-ej2px]

Are you still using the DIY hack? If so, have you had any issues with your machine? Does it taste the same as it does when you use the Sparkel ingredients?

[@wh731]

I recently bought one before seeing the videos - I love my machine now I love it more - I ordered the citric acid once I use it I will post a comparison 🤪

[@evshrug]

How did it go in comparison?

[@fishingtacklechannel]

Your videos convinced me to buy sparkel vice soda stream. Great job!

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

That's great, thanks so much!

[@swim610]

Bought this machine after watching this video. Thank you!

[@garsua3141]

This helps and saves a lot of $😍Thanks a lot😍 I just purchased my Sparkel 3 weeks ago

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

You're welcome!

[@mmmodem]

Thank you, Erin. I tried to get a canister of CO2 yesterday and they were out. Going online, they were out. I kept looking and found your channel. Sodastream has more customers than they can handle. Putting in an order now.

[@cortezforever]

Did you have the Sparkel now? I tried to email them and they don't respond.

[@Amy-ej2px]

I was debating getting the SodaStream bc of the refill costs and finally decided to see how much the refills would cost. But, they're sold out. That was the dealbreaker.

[@modalities]

I know, 3 years after making this video, it still is applicable, and great advice. Thank you so much for making this video. I love carbonated Sparkel water @$0.03 per container. The cost of a 20oz bottle of Schweppes is $1.79 (locally), and the savings per container makes an awesome, and quick Return on Investment (ROI).

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@thomdarling]

Very helpful Erin. After watching this video I placed an order buying the Sparkle

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@delrosario7453]

Me too

[@JeezyFizzleGaming1337]

just tried this and it worked

[@mrsaudazhar]

Great voice and presentation, subbed

[@UniQueLyEviL]

I got the Milliard citric acid and I actually think it tasted better than the kind that came with it

[@pjaypender1009]

Since none of the citric acid gets into the drink, that is very weird...

[@aleft]

Great video! Thank you

[@mitchellmiller6509]

You are a nice lady!!! Thank you so much for this great suggestion!! I can do anything now.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

You are so welcome!

[@SM-sy5cd]

You should be on Marketplace! Great professional voice. I think making your own is the way to go.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Wow, thank you!

[@brohemian]

@@ErinLawrenceTV Sound just like a TV talking head. Imo video could have shorter or got to point sooner for the younger crowd, otherwise great !

[@Taric25]

I actually have a Sparkel and measured this more accurately, first using a scale and then measuring spoons. I repeated the measurement several times with several sachets for accuracy. I found that it's actually 2⅝ teaspoons of each, not a whole tablespoon. If you prefer to weigh instead, it's 13 grams of baking soda and 11 grams of citric acid. By the way, I found citric acid in at my local grocery store, since people use them for canning and jarring tomatoes and strawberries.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thanks for sharing!

[@GenevieveJ]

Weight does really a better job! Thanks!

[@RetroRose]

This is excellent, thank you!

[@robertlavigne28]

Your voice is beautiful for this kind of videos. Loved it.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thank you so much!

[@The_Story_Channel]

I just purchased one, made sparkling apple juice and it worked great.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Mmmm

[@kathic1234]

Wow that’s effin awesome!!!

[@wowtv101]

THANK YOU SO MUCH !!!!

[@maggiereagh970]

Thank you! So helpful as I want to decrease my use of soft plastics

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Wonderful!

[@emmambaba2331]

How long have you been doing this method and have you had any issues with your machine?

[@delrosario7453]

Thanks

[@MsHellas21]

I live in the UK where can I buy the sparkle from i tried the 2 main selling sites I have no joy can you help me please thanks

[@sparkleskye5209]

Is your machine still working well? I am very intrigued by it, but the reviews on Amazon are so mixed.

[@rebeccalaws3991]

This is very informative!!

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

😊😊😊🙏

[@mrman1536]

Besides the CO2 you have also made sodium citrate "congratulations " if you add another 3-4gm of citric acid you will have made a refreshing lemony drink . ps check the ph of your concoction, most commercial sodas are around ph 3-4 and the small amount of citric acid added extra was around 6 . Cheers

[@lazmotron]

Great video

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thanks!

[@dperez911]

Wow awsome video!

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Glad you think so!

[@burhanzahrai3970]

How many grams of sodium bicarbonate is in a sparkel sachet and how many grams of citric acid is in a sparkel sachet.

[@ericajoystyle]

Thank you!!!

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

My pleasure!

[@JD-un2zv]

.20 cents tablespoon citric using amazon price 7.50/pound. Maybe half cost of the premade.

[@mothershelper1981]

Walmart carries citric acid in the pickling and canning section.

[@sylvielamoureux6972]

Thank you. I did find their sachets a tad pricey.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Glad to help!

[@sylvielamoureux6972]

@@ErinLawrenceTV I just tried it and I actually found it better than the ones Sparkles makes! :)

[@ambiorixking4136]

Hi, Sorry, my english is not my first language. I don't understand: You put 1 cup of citric acid and 1 cup baking soda ? OR 1 cup of citric acid and baking soda (50/50) ? Regards

[@gslrider]

Sparkel claims that they use “specific” measurements and grind for their carbonator packets. That if you use your own, it will damage the machine. Has anyone had issues using your own carbonation? How long have you been using non-Sparkel carbonators? Thanks.l

[@jeffsmith5787]

After two, maybe three years, of making our own carbonation packets and perhaps 175 uses, ours started making a higher pitched noise, then filling with water. So that would have been about $100 in Sparkel sachets over it's lifetime...

[@Shamiterrific]

I wish i saw this before i decided i needed to purchase a machine that uses the co2 cannistera because "it's readily available". This would be even easier and produce less waste!

[@pjaypender1009]

This actually produces more waste. CO2 tanks are reused.

[@lighthousefd8122]

Your review here gave me the confidence to get one. It arrived this week. As there are two types of citric acid being sold in the market. anhydrous and monohydrate. which is the better of the two for this purpose. Thank you and or anyone with an answer.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

I wasn’t aware there was a difference Maybe someone here knows...

[@lighthousefd8122]

@@ErinLawrenceTV It's okay. Today, I bought ARM & HAMMER pure baking soda from a grocery store and Citric Acid powder from a baking ware store and it works like magic!

[@McJc09]

Thomas Chia can I ask.. do you know if I can mix these in the same packet.

[@thecatalyst78]

@@ErinLawrenceTV I know this is an old comment but in case others are looking... It just means there is or isn't a water molecule present in its molecular makeup. The anhydrous will be easier to mix and less clumpy but that's it. It might(?), mix better in the machine slightly but either would be ok.

[@msg5352]

@Zulu Voodoo No. Not safely, anyway. If you just put the chemicals in the liquid and mix it you will be ingesting the chemicals, not a good idea with these. The machine combines the chemicals which then generate CO2 that then carbonates the water. The chemicals have no contact with what you drink, which is the way it should be, unless you want to be taking in massively excessive amounts of sodium, and, as Wikipedia puts it, "High sodium consumption is associated with chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke."

[@ismzaxxon]

What is a shatchet...never heard that term before

[@glennlewman4186]

I am using my Sparkle carburetor. I purchased the power in bulk and have had great results. I also tried adding a smaller amount directly into my drink. Works great. No machine needed. Has anyone else tried it?

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thanks for sharing

[@GregDoncaster01]

Hi Erin. How many bottles of carbonated water does each satchel or DIY mixture make, using the Sparkle Machine, please. Is it just 1 bottle per sachet or several? Thanks for any reply

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Yes. One bottle per sachet.

[@mirek4740]

Where can i buy with delivery to Poland

[@irynakundys9227]

Erin great video! Did you try to measure pH of the mix?

[@f.d.6667]

My thoughts exactly! I suppose it will be slightly acidic to mimic the taste of carbonic acid ... however, citric acid has a stronger effect on tooth enamel - a known problem with commercial sodas.

[@itsstefans9334]

@@f.d.6667 The citric acid doesn't make it into the drink, it's combined with the baking soda and water from the reservoir in a separate tank, then only the gas gets pumped through the bottle for carbonation. There shouldn't be any change in acidity of the drink due to the citric acid.

[@22psalms]

@@itsstefans9334 That is good information. I love this idea but didn’t want to drink baking soda. Thank you

[@lukasmoller3533]

Could I mix the citric acid and baking soda together in bulk ahead of time and keep it in a sealed container or do they need to be kept separate until it's time to use them?

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Hmmmmm. Good question. I don't know....

[@joannek9169]

I would keep them separate, if there's any moisture, even humidity, it could cause a reaction within your container holding them both eventually. This just means that the chemical reaction that causes carbon dioxide will have already occurred and become useless.

[@pjaypender1009]

No. All you will do doing that is make a giant bath bomb. It will solidify and you will not be able to get it out of the container. Ask me how I know.

[@Fauxchem]

You should of been in the news. You sound like a news lady. Not a bad thing. Great cadence.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thank you. I was a news lady once 😀😀

[@devonmccarty5585]

Doesn't using your own carbonater or a different one void the warranty? But if its been a year not much to worry about i suppose

[@notorious3602]

why not use alkaseltzer?

[@michaelmartello6202]

So 1 tablespoon for each correct?.

[@aedean]

How is your machine holding up. I want to buy one but concerned with the build quality based on reviews on amazon.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

So far so good. I heard they had some issues with bum units earlier this year. Seems like it's been dealt with.

[@aedean]

@@ErinLawrenceTV Thanks Erin, I order one based on your review and plan to make my own Carbonation mix.

[@RetroRose]

Satchets and Hatchets do not rhyme... 😆 Teasing aside, this was an excellent video and very helpful! Sparkel could have you as a rep!

[@pradeepjain2798]

Hlo and good evening madam Mam please tell me the exactly citric acid and sodium by carbonate measurement in gram please please and please I will be very thankful to you and also tell how many water

[@thedjisin]

Someone commented their weights months ago, but someone else said they found a more accurate amount. Try to take a look. Wish I could tag you :(

[@johannecrego996]

I am new to that machine. Is the acid citrique and the soda goes in the drink or just the gaz goes in the drink? Thanks

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Just the gas goes into the drink.

[@tomodugan8456]

@@ErinLawrenceTV Does the machine ever need to be cleaned out or is there no waste from the powders?

[@pjaypender1009]

@@tomodugan8456 Yes it needs to be cleaned and every 4 or 5 bottles you need to empty the waste container or it will overflow. The powders mix with water from the hopper in the back in a pressure chamber inside the machine. This forms CO2 gas in the chamber which is pumped into the bottle through the valve in the bottom. The water and waste chemicals are drained into the waste container at the front of the machine. This needs emptying every 4 to 5 bottles made. None of the chemicals go into the bottle. To clean it add two tablespoons citric acid and about a quarter cup warm water to the hopper and close the latch quickly. Let it sit about half an hour then open the latch and wipe out the hopper. I do this about once a week.

[@smurfiennes]

Why not just mix both with a spoon instead?

[@jesterof84]

Sachet Sounds like sa·shay Almost as cute as Nigella Lawson’s funny Pronunciation of Microwave

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

LOL!

[@randyndawna]

Can someone tell me the benefit of using the machine? I've just been mixing a scant teaspoon of the baking soda and a full teaspoon of citric acid to a glass of water and creating soda water that way . I love seltzer water anyway, but sometimes I use it as an antacid like the Alka Seltzer from back in the day, before they started adding sweetener to it.

[@frazzledglispa]

Dawna, if you are drinking quite a bit of carbonated water you are getting a lot of sodium that way. With the Sparkel the baking soda doesn't go into the water, so you aren't ingesting the sodium. One teaspoon of baking soda has 1232 milligrams of sodium. I believe the recommendation is to not exceed 2500 milligrams, sp that is about half of the daily maximum.

[@Krondalf]

The machine just adds the bubbles to your drink. The baking soda and citric acid do not go in to the bottle. So you won’t get the same antacid effect that you’re used to. The Sparkel machine is great at infusing flavors in to water though. It builds pressure in the bottle to bind the carbon dioxide to the liquid in the bottle, and that pressure helps make lemon water (for instance) really fast. It’s like fancy spa water for a few minutes wait.

[@mothershelper1981]

That was exactly my next question! Wondering if you could just add the ingredients in a glass or a bottle with your water or juice or whatever you are wanting to fizz up.

[@tcanada17]

Has anyone tried absorbic acid (vitamin c) instead of citric acid? I just realized I already have a bulk supply of absorbic acid not citric

[@reneeledoux7859]

From what I read, it might not give you the same taste or fizz. Citric acid is more acidic and has one more oxygen molecule... You could probably try it though...

[@louisegiguere1725]

Thank you for your videos on sparkel. I guess you can’t pre mix you citric acid and baking soda in a jar and just take 2 table spoonful. when needed. I wonder why you can’t pre mix.

[@TannerCLynn]

They will react when together because there is humidity in the air.

[@pjaypender1009]

Because it will solidify and be stuck in the container. Ask me how I know.

[@Amadeus_A]

So if I only fill the bottle halfway up, do I only use half the amount of citric acid and baking soda or do I just use the same amount?

[@pjaypender1009]

No. That will not work. You are making CO2 in a pressure chamber inside the machine and it needs the same amount of chemicals to produce the pressure no matter how much liquid is in the bottle. NONE of the baking soda and citric acid goes into the drink.

[@MrEverlast316]

I got one yesterday , pleasantly surprised withe the result the 1st time.... but when I went to get another glass 2 hours later after sitting it in the fridge there was no more sizzle , pretty disapointing . I thought it would at least be good 24 hours , any advice on that ? thanks .

[@oleeotv]

I had this at first. I have had a machine for a month. It makes all the difference if the water is cold first. It's not as strong, but I can still have decent fizz the next afternoon if I make a bottle the evening before.

[@evshrug]

Storage is just like those 2L commercial bottles. Carbonation leaks fast, it’s best preserved when kept very cool, minimal “air gap” in the bottle (like for 2L Pepsi bottles, it’s best to squeeze the bottle so the inside is just carbonated liquid and no air space above the liquid), and of course a good, tight seal.

[@dianacariaga1432]

How much carbonation does it make at highest level? Would you say light , medium or high?

[@MEKCreations]

Tongue scarring, lol. Its very, very bubbly, I love it but my brother says it hurts his mouth.

[@pjaypender1009]

Very, very, VERY bubbly. I LOVE IT.

[@eatonjb]

I ordered one of these, and I am curious that after a year or so, have you continued to do this, and did it cause any issues with the machine?

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

I only used it for a few weeks just to try it out.

[@simondaniel4028]

@@ErinLawrenceTV oof.

[@cvkealey]

out of curiosity, does anyone know if it's possible to pre-mix the two components? For example, to make things easier, pre-measure them into a small container (quick tip: a 35 mm film canister holds just about 2 tablespoons of most powers like spices, flour, instant coffee, etc.). My wife wants a sodastream, but I'm leaning toward the Sparkle. The hassle of measuring things out could be a blocker, and I don't like creating all that small plastic waste of using the packets.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Good question. I didn’t try premixing the solution. But the fact that the company packages them separately tells me that perhaps they lose their effectiveness if combined too soon.

[@cvkealey]

@@ErinLawrenceTV good point. I'll have to do some testing.

[@eatonjb]

@@cvkealey what was the outcome if I may ask?

[@cvkealey]

@@eatonjb I made up 3 "mixed" carbonators each in a separate film canister. I used the first one day after packaging, another at 3 days and the last at 7 days. They all "carbonated" just fine. However, by 3 days, it had gotten a little clumpy, and by 7 days VERY clumpy (I had to break up the chunks with a spoon to get them to fit in the machine). So, if you know you're going to use it within a day or maybe two, pre-mixing is fine. Any longer than that, expect to work at it a bit to break up the clumps. I've just found it easier to make up separate canisters of each part. The 35mm film containers work great, but are a little large, so I'll be looking for something smaller.

[@evshrug]

@@cvkealey Wish it was still easy to get film canisters 😂 Maybe what you could do is get one of those AM/PM pill calendars, and put pre-measured portions of Citric Acid in the AM and Baking Soda in the PM cubbies? That way, you get 7 quick portions, separated?

[@olivergaag]

For some reason, my carbonater stopped bubbling at level 4 and stood still until the chime at level 5; the water was basically flat. Same thing twice. Then I added a tiny bit more citric acid and baking soda and it worked... has that happened to anyone? Or is my machine defective...

[@Cynna1065]

According to posts that I've seen, pushing down on the bottle while it is in the machine may help to realign the machine's valve with the bottle. Perhaps that will work for you? Good luck.

[@ThatGuy-zu2hi]

If you have a low level of carbonation, can you just put less baking soda and citric acid

[@nickpadgen2490]

Your problem probably stems from just eye balling a tablespoon based on volume rather than mass, the weight per tablespoon can vary greatly depending on what sodium bicarbonate and citric acid you have, for instance after weighing I figured out to get the 12 grams of sodium bicarbonate I just need 2 teaspoons and to get 10 grams of citric acid 2 teaspoons again. With their packets 12 and 10 grams is basically just 1 tablespoon.

[@reneeledoux7859]

I was wondering the same thing... Like use less, but press the number 5... Could be interesting to try!

[@Amy-ej2px]

Erin, how often have you been using your hack? I was going to purchase a Sparkel and use this hack, but the description on their Amazon page says that using other products WILL deteriorate the machine. I don't know if that's verbiage used to deter you from using DIY hacks. What has been your experience?

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Hi Amy, good question. I’m sure they say that because they would rather you purchase the satchets from them. It is literally exactly the same powders inside, so if they are saying a different brand of powder will ruin the machine, I have my doubts if that is actually true. I did not have any issues with mine.

[@andrearoth7349]

@@ErinLawrenceTV Do you have an update? My research indicates that the company uses a larger 'grain' of sodium bicarbonate that helps it to not 'cake'.

[@SunShine-fv8qo]

Cool

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thanks!

[@michaellong9799]

I’m hooked on energy drinks and would like to stop drinking them, both because of the cost and I know they can’t be good for me. Thinking about getting one of these machines and switching to citrus flavored carbonated water. Can anyone tell me what the cost of one drinks worth of these two ingredients would be? It would be really small compared to $2-$3 for an energy drink, right?

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Especially if you make your own carbonator it’s probably under a dollar.

[@MrArtVein]

You rock

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thanks! :)

[@BorisMiljkovic]

I buy vitamin c in bulk, cheap. It has the same effect when mixed with baking soda.

[@josie4peace]

Thank you!!

[@janicesings7852]

Is there a particular brand you recommend?

[@MM-ow2md]

@Boris Baconstein Can you give the accurate measurement of Vitamin C to use with the Baking Soda?

[@MrArtVein]

Yes, vitamin C is commonly cirtic acid

[@adbenjamin25]

Yes what is your measurements ?

[@dennisvillafuerte8989]

Sachet is pronounced as sa-shei

[@momanon8789]

I’m ready to turn into stone 😂😂😂

[@joseynoyb9467]

This is awesome thank you so much! I really don't like purchasing club soda to begin with because of all the plastic waste. This is a wonderful solution! No pun intended LOL

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

😆 Thank you for the kind words and glad the review helped you!

[@JuiceyJiggy]

You should join the news, you got the voice oh my gosh

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Ha, thanks!

[@JuiceyJiggy]

@@ErinLawrenceTV np🤗

[@Macros1971]

You're so scientific in this one Erin 😉

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Hahaha 🧪 🧬

[@anthonybaker529]

BTW Sachet is pronounced “sashay”. I laughed every time you said sacheT 😂 lol

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

LOL, thanks, and so I've heard a few times now, haha!

[@badr42]

I ordered the machine and had it ship half way around the world to Riyadh KSA (where i'm currently living) Tried the approach you demonstrated in the video however the result turned out to be more acidic tasing than what i get when i used the sparkel sachets, perhaps it has to do with the type of citric acid I'm using. any tips on that? anyway the machine is lovely however using locally sourced citric acid / sodium bicarbonate is essential as i dont want to keep shipping things all the way rom canada.

[@nickpadgen2490]

The mass to volume of dry chemicals can vary greatly. You can't just eyeball the specific mass that is needed for this 5:6 chemical reaction based on the volume that their citric acid and sodium bicarbonate takes up. To get the proper chemical reaction that this machine was built for the goal should be to reach the specific mass of chemicals they use, 10 grams citric and 12 grams sodium bicarbonate. For me that just happens to be 2 teaspoons of each.

[@heather1872]

I put a tablespoon of each but it tastes funny. Any advice? It tastes like salty

[@andrearoth7349]

The manual says that carbonating brings out the flavor of whatever is in the bottle. Maybe your tap water is salty?

[@user-ni5gx3pf5q]

This is the same way you make a DIY co2 diffuser for an aquarium 🤣🤣

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

LOL!

[@TannerCLynn]

You could get an even more accurate measurement using a scale and finding out how many grams each pouch is, instead of basing off volume which isn't as accurate.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thanks for the tip!

[@liamsmith1371]

You can replace the citric acid with lemon juice 👍

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thanks!

[@adbenjamin25]

How much lemon juice do you use as substitute for the citric acid in combination with 12 g of baking soda?

[@steveescalante]

This over pressurized my machine and blew the seals on the bottle.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Oh no!

[@sweetesthoneybee]

Since it uses baking soda, how much are we allowed to drink a day? Too much baking soda isn’t good for us.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

The baking soda does not go into your water. Only the CO2 gas it creates.

[@sweetesthoneybee]

Erin Lawrence thank you! I got one based on your review!

[@TheGalvannyVEVO]

Do you work for CNN or news channel? 😅 Thanks for the video

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

I used to be a news reporter on CTV. Thanks for watching!

[@scarletclown]

Hey there! Can someone tell me, if the water became alkaline after being infuse and carbonated, or, it became more acid like the carbonated water from the soda stream. Thank you!

[@kaufmanat1]

I imagine dissolving co2 into water will make it acidic no matter the source of the co2

[@drlindajoyepp1523]

Does Canadian tire sell these?

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Unfortunately not.

[@drlindajoyepp1523]

@@ErinLawrenceTV a reply . Any other

[@drlindajoyepp1523]

I much prefer going in person pay cash 💲

[@swamibeyond6382]

Can we not put sodium bicarb and citric acid in a sealed bottle of water and get these results?

[@MrEverlast316]

no its gonna taste bad , the machine uses the 2 products to produce the gas but the sodium bicarb and citric acid never ''touches'' your water

[@simonflack5467]

Sachets pronounced Sachey 😂😂

[@raffaelesilletti156]

Considered that there is bycarbonate of sodium how about the consumption for people with hypertension?

[@JulieTiger]

The baking soda doesn't go into the drink.. just the gas from the chemical mix. The byproduct of reaction is a white slurry you dispose of in separate bin.