Simple Shower Steamer Recipe
Mix all of the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Measure out 1 cup (221 g) of baking soda, ½ cup (125 g) of citric acid, and ¼ cup (40 g) of cornstarch into a large glass bowl. Stir all these ingredients together until they form a consistent, powdery mixture. Don’t have any cornstarch on hand? No worries—just substitute ¼ cup (40.5 g) of cream of tartar instead. Citric acid is sold in powder form. You can buy it online or at your local grocery store.
Add color with mica powder (optional). Unscrew the top of your mica powder jar and tap a few dashes of powder into the other dry ingredients. The exact amount you use depends on how light or how dark you’d like your shower steamers look. Mix the mica powder in with a whisk to see what shade your shower steamer becomes. Not sure how to color your shower steamers? Start with 1-2 dashes of mica powder. You can always add more if the color is too light! You can also use water soluble food coloring. Use 4-6 drops of your desired color for every 1 cup (221 g) of baking soda you’re working with. You don’t have to color your shower steamers if you don’t want to. It all comes down to personal preference!
Choose an essential oil for your shower steamers. Essential oils are what make your steamers smell so good; plus, a lot of them offer extra benefits, like relaxation and stress relief. Here’s a breakdown of some popular essential oils and the benefits they can add to your shower steamer: Lavender Calming Peppermint: Cough and cold relief Chamomile: Stress relief Clary sage: Relaxation Lemon: Happiness and focus Sweet orange: Anxiety relief Ginger: Nausea relief You can also use a combination of essential oils in your shower steamers, too!
Add 12-24 drops of your chosen essential oil into the bowl. Sprinkle the oil drops over the surface of your dry ingredient mixture while wearing a pair of disposable gloves. You can also use a pipette to help measure out the oil. Essential oils are extremely concentrated and can burn your bare skin. Always wear a pair of disposable gloves so you stay protected. Only use 12-24 total drops of essential oil. If you’re using more than one oil, divide them into smaller ratios, like 12 and 12, or 12, 6 and 6.
Spritz witch hazel into the mixture until it feels like wet, sticky sand. Fill an empty spray bottle with witch hazel and spritz the surface of the powder. Start with just a couple of sprays and mix everything together with your gloved hands. Add more spritzes of witch hazel as needed—you want the mixture to feel like wet, clumping sand, but it shouldn’t be sopping wet. If the mixture is too wet, it won’t be able to hold its shape.
Fill a silicone mold with the mixture and let it air-dry for 24 hours. Scoop out a small handful of the shower steamer mixture and press it into an open section of the mold. Firmly press the wet powder down until the surface is completely flat. Then, set your filled mold in a dry, open area where your steamers can receive even amounts of air. In around 24 hours, they’ll be hardened and ready to use! This process is really similar to packing brown sugar for a baking recipe. You can find all kinds of silicone molds online. Some come in simple dome shapes, while others come in fun patterns and designs, like leaves and hearts.
Pop the steamers out of the mold and store them in an airtight container. Flip the mold over so the bottom side is facing up. Gently peel and unroll the silicone away from the edges of the shower steamer—they’ll separate pretty easily. Repeat this process until you’ve pulled out all the shower steamers from your mold. Then, stick them in an airtight container until you’re ready to use them. Some DIY experts suggest refrigerating and using your steamers within 2 weeks for maximum freshness. You can also stick the steamers in the freezer for 2 months if you don’t plan on using them right away.
Place a shower steamer on the floor while you shower. Shower steamers are super easy to use—just place them on the floor of your shower, switch on the water, and you’re good to go! The shower bomb will “sizzle” as it melts in your shower, creating a lovely scent for you to enjoy.
Shower Steamers for Specific Purposes
Sore throat and cough relief: Stir 1 cup (221 g) of baking soda and ½ cup (120 g) of Epsom salt in a large bowl. While wearing gloves, stir in 8-10 drops of eucalyptus oil, 4 drops of lavender essential oil, and 4 drops of rosemary oil. Add water to the mixture 1 US tbsp (15 mL) at a time until it clumps together. Then, press the mixture into a silicone mold and leave it out to dry for at least 12 hours. Add some color to your shower steamer by stirring in 2-3 drops of traditional food coloring. Always store any unused shower steamers in a dry, airtight container. Some shower steamer DIY experts advise either refrigerating them for up to 2 weeks, or freezing them for up to 2 months. This shower steamer can also help with congestion.
Sinus relief: Combine 1 cup of baking soda (221 g), ¼ cup (40 g) of cornstarch, and ½ cup (125 g) of citric acid in a large bowl. Then, mix in 1 tsp (4.9 mL) of menthol oil, along with 20 drops of eucalyptus oil and 2 US tbsp (30 mL) of coconut oil. Press the mixture into a mold, letting it dry for 1 day.
Sleep and relaxation: Stir 1 cup (221 g) of baking soda and ⁄4 c (59 mL) of water together in a bowl. Then, add in 10 drops of lavender essential oil, 6 drops of marjoram essential oil, and 6 drops of vetiver essential oil. Press the mixture into a silicone mold, and give the steamers at least 8 hours to dry.
Energy and focus: Create your base mixture by stirring 1 cup (221 g) of baking soda and ⁄4 c (59 mL) of water together. Then, add in 10 drops of peppermint essential oil, 10 drops of wild orange oil, and 5 drops of frankincense essential oil. Fill and pack each silicone mold with the mixture and wait at least 8 hours for the steamers to dry.
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