Not every American household has a bathtub, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a good epsom salt soak. If you’re wondering how to pamper your feet, or how to soak your knee without a bathtub, there are a couple of different methods you can use.
Bathtub Alternatives For Bathtub-Free Homes
There are a couple of different alternatives you may use to replace the full bathtub experience while epsom salt soaking. If you plan to enjoy a comforting sitz bath, there are special basins designed purely to maximize the sitz bath experience. These basins fit right to your toilet bowl, and they feature a hole in the back of the basin to allow any excess water to drain right into the bowl in order to avoid making a mess.
When using a sitz bath basin, use a bucket, a pot, or another vessel to pour comfortably hot water into the sitz basin. Once you have the basin filled to your desired depth, add in around 1 to 2 tablespoons per gallon of your favorite sitz soak into the water. Allow the soak to dissolve, then take your seat and enjoy the soaking experience. The essential oils in the epsom salt soak will rise along with the steam, giving you a soothing aromatherapeutic experience alongside your soak.
Perhaps you’re not looking for a sitz soak, and you want to know how to soak your knee without a bathtub or how you can give your feet a pampering after a long and stressful day. Soaking basins come in a variety of shapes and sizes to allow those without a bathtub to enjoy soaking as frequently as they please. These washing or soaking basins may be small and shaped specifically for foot soaking, they can be a bit larger for soaking a knee, hip, or arm, they can be made from sturdy plastic, metal, or even inflatable materials. No matter your specific need, there is a soaking basin out there to suit it.
Using a soaking basin is simple and much like using a sitz bath basin. You may place the basin in your shower stall or elsewhere in your bathroom area. Fill the basin using a bucket or pots of comfortably hot water, add in your chosen epsom salt soak, around 2 tablespoons per gallon of water, and get ready to soak. Allow the epsom salt to dissolve before using your soaking basin in order to get the maximum aromatherapeutic effect from the all-natural essential oils.
Epsom Salt Blends Ideal For Soaking In A Soaking Basin
Anyone can use any sort of epsom salt soak in their soaking basin, but some soaks are targeted to relieve and soothe due to particular needs. Athletes and runners soaking away their soreness after a great workout might have something different in mind from a person who wishes to relax their lower leg muscles after a long day at work. Some epsom salt blends ideal for soaking in your standalone basin are:
- Detox Bath Salt – With essential oils of ginger and lemon, alongside USP grade epsom salt, Detox Bath Salt is a perfect way to soak away the stresses of any given day. It has an uplifting aromatherapy effect while the epsom salt soothes and revives a tired body. This is an excellent choice for an end-of-day soak of the knees to the feet.
- Athlete Bath Soak – Fresh, cooling, and comforting, this soak combines essential oils of pine, eucalyptus, peppermint, and lavender. For athletes, it’s a soak excellent for winding down muscles after you’ve spent a productive session in the gym.
- Circulation Foot Soak – Foot soaks are a popular way to use a soaking or washing basin, and the Circulation Foot Soak has everything you need. Essential oils of ginger, cypress, eucalyptus, and lavender are combined with USP grade epsom salts for an effective and soothing soak. For those who travel frequently for work or leisure, it’s an excellent way to end a long travel day.
- Runner’s – Runner’s bath salt is specifically designed to unwind and relax after an invigorating run. Cool peppermint, fresh lemon, herbal cypress, warm frankincense, refreshing lemongrass, and powerful tea tree oils combine to create an epsom salt soak that uplifts while soothing all at the same time. This is an ideal soak to enjoy in a wash basin as you sit, rest, and enjoy the aromatherapy experience.
After you’re finished with your soak, have a warm and soft towel within an arm’s reach ready to dry off. Slowly remove your body from the basin, careful not to make yourself lightheaded if you’ve spent the last 20 to 25 minutes in a relaxed state. Have your towel ready, and gently pat the skin dry instead of rubbing or wiping.
Cleaning Your Soaking Tub Or Wash Basin
Once you’ve used your soaking basin or sitz bath basin, it’s time to clean out the basin in order to have it ready to enjoy the next soak. Using a gentle or mild dish soap, wash all crevices and surfaces of the basin with warm water, and then towel dry. For some basins, you may even choose to use a diluted bleach solution to more thoroughly wash the basin after every few uses.
Epsom salts soaks aren’t something limited to those with full standard-sized tubs, and everyone can enjoy the many benefits a good soak has to offer. By using a soaking tub or wash basin, you may enjoy the revitalizing, soothing, and uplifting benefits of a soak any time you please.
