By Mwesigwa Edison P.4 Vibrant.

A Tippy-Tap is a simple, inexpensive, and easy-to-make handwashing station. It’s designed to help you wash your hands without touching anything, which helps keep germs away. It’s perfect for places with limited access to clean water, like schools or homes. Here’s how you can build one!

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🛠️ Materials You’ll Need:

• 2 clean plastic bottles (with caps)
• 1 piece of string or rope (about 1 meter long)
• A wooden or metal stick (about 1 meter long, like a branch or a rod)
• A nail or sharp object to make a small hole in the bottles
• A basin or container to catch water
• A stand or frame (you can use a tree branch or make a simple stand from wood or sticks)
• Water (of course!)

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🧑‍🏫 Step-by-Step Instructions:

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Step 1: Prepare the Bottles

• Take the plastic bottles and make a small hole near the top of each bottle, big enough for water to pour out but small enough so it doesn’t spill too fast. The hole should be about 2 cm from the top of the bottle.
• Use a nail or sharp object to carefully poke the hole in each bottle. Make sure the hole is clean so no sharp pieces fall into the water.

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Step 2: Attach the Bottles to the Stand

• Take the string or rope and tie the bottles to the stand you’ve made.
• Make sure the bottles are suspended upside down, with the hole facing downwards, and hang them about 1 meter off the ground.
• You can tie the bottles to a tree branch, a metal rod, or build a frame from sticks or bamboo.

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Step 3: Fill the Bottles with Water

• Fill each bottle with clean water. If you have soap, add a small amount of soap to the water, or you can have a separate soap dish nearby for people to use while washing their hands.
• Ensure that the water flows out slowly from the hole so you don’t waste it too quickly.

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Step 4: Set Up the Basin

• Place a basin or container under the bottles to catch the water when you wash your hands. The water that falls into the basin can be used for cleaning, or you can let it soak into the ground if needed.

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Step 5: Test Your Tippy-Tap

• Once everything is set up, test it out by pulling the string or rope attached to the bottle. The water should flow slowly from the bottle and into your hands.
• Make sure it’s easy to use without having to touch the bottle. The string will act as a “tippy” mechanism, where you pull the rope to release the water.

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Step 6: Handwashing with the Tippy-Tap

• To wash your hands, pull the string gently to let the water flow out.
• Use the water to wash your hands and then rub them with soap.
• When you’re done, let the water fall into the basin or ground.

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💡 Why Is the Tippy-Tap Great?

• Easy to use: No need to touch the bottle or tap!
• Saves water: The water only flows when you pull the string, so it doesn’t waste much.
• Great for schools and villages: It works with limited water sources.
• Inexpensive: You don’t need expensive materials to make it.