If you enjoy taking relaxing baths, you will be in for a treat by learning how to make bath bombs. If you haven’t heard of bath bombs before, they are basically chalky little balls that fizz when added to water. Bath bombs contain fragrances that add a variety of amazing scents to the bathtub. They also have moisturizers in them, which soothe and relax the skin. These little bundles of joy are perfect to use after a long and tiring day.
Some people do not use bath bombs very often because they can be quite pricey when sold in stores. Fortunately, it is really easy to make bath bombs at home for next to nothing. You can make several bath bombs to use during bath time and make extras as DIY gifts for your friends and family. Making bath bombs is a lot of fun and can be done during craft time with the kids. It is a great way to keep kids occupied when they’re bored!
Homemade Bath Bomb Recipe
The homemade bath bomb recipe shown here is fairly simple, and the ingredients are easy to find. Most items can be purchased at a grocery store or convenience store. Fragrances and essential oils can be found in health food stores and several department stores.
To begin, you will need to gather the following ingredients:
- 2 cups of baking soda
- 1 cup of powdered citric acid
- 1 cup of corn starch
- 1 cup of mineral salts (or Dead Sea salts if you prefer)
- 2 tablespoons of distilled water
- 2 teaspoons of fragrance or essential oils
- 2-3 drops of food coloring
You will also need to gather the following pieces of equipment:
- A large bowl
- A small bowl or cup
- A whisk or mixer
- Several measuring cups and spoons
- A sifter
- A spoon for stirring
How to Make Bath Bombs
Begin by sifting the dry ingredients (the baking soda, powdered citric acid, corn starch and mineral salts) into the bowl and then mixing them together thoroughly.
In a smaller bowl or a tea cup, mix the distilled water, the food coloring and the fragrance or essential oils. Be sure to add the food coloring to the water before you add in the fragrance or essential oils.
Now it is time to mix the dry and wet ingredients together. It may help to put the wet mixture into a squirt bottle and then squirt the liquid onto the dry ingredient mix. The mixture should start to fizz. Immediately after you’ve added the liquid to the dry mix, begin mixing the ingredients together with a whisk.
Once you have mixed the wet and dry ingredients together, you should test the bath bomb mixture to see if it is ready to be molded. Take a handful of the mixture and try to squeeze it into a ball. If the mixture feels dry and begins to crumble, you will need to add another teaspoon of distilled water. If the mixture easily clumps into a ball and doesn’t fall apart, it is ready to be molded.
Preparing Bath Bombs
The final step in preparing your bath bombs is to mold them into shapes. The easiest shape to create is a simple ball. This can be done by squeezing a handful of mixture together, as you did when you were testing the mixture. Be sure that the mixture is packed in tightly so that it doesn’t fall apart.
Another easy shape to create is an egg. All you need to do is find a plastic Easter egg and pack the mixture into the two separate halves. Then press the Easter egg halves together firmly and let the mixture sit in there for a few minutes. To get the plastic Easter egg off, use a spoon to tap one side of the egg. The plastic halves should come off easily.
Molding Bath Bombs
One other way to mold the bath bombs is to use a seltzer press. This is a nice option because it allows you to vary the thickness of your bath bomb. All you need to do is add a few spoons of the mixture to the press and then use the plunger to compress the mixture several times. After you’ve compressed the bath bomb mixture, simply pop it out from the bottom of the seltzer press.
After molding the bath bombs, you’ll want to set them out on wax paper, freezer paper or paper towels. Leave them out to dry for several hours. Once they are finished drying, the bath bombs will be ready for you to use in your bath!
As you can see, bath bombs are really simple to make. You can add a lot of variety to the craft by using different shades of food coloring and a variety of bath bomb molds. Once you have finished making your bath bombs, you can use them for a soothing bath, or give them to a loved one as a thoughtful gift.
