How to Get the Perfect Spa Bath at Home Because You Deserve It
You don’t have to go to an expensive spa to relax and achieve momentary bliss. The same luxurious bath can be experienced in your own home on your terms, without spending a fortune or going out in public to get it.
First things first: clean the tub
Before plunging into the bath, clean it thoroughly . I know you want to move on to the relaxing part, but you won’t feel that kind of relaxation if you see some weird stuff floating in your water as you try to relax.
A quick scrub with citrus and salt will refresh your bath, but if some time has passed since the last deep clean, the most natural or store-bought detergents may not be enough. An oven cleaner can make your old ceramic tub look brand new , and an electric drill can make cleaning a lot easier .
The bathtub is the most important thing to wash, but it’s not a bad idea to clean the entire bathroom. After all, you are trying to create a relaxing environment, and it’s much easier when things look their best.
Keep everything you need for relaxation close at hand with a homemade bathtub.
When you take a bath, the last thing you need to do is jump out right away to grab the book you are reading or change the music. And you’re probably better off not putting a glass of water (or cocktail) on the edge of the tub. A bathtub stand or bathtub tray lies across the bathtub and allows you to keep drinks, books, magazines, or even gadgets nearby. You can place everything on the tray before you even start pouring water, so by the time you climb into it, you can immediately go into relaxation mode.
If you buy it from a store or online, it can range from $ 20 for an inexpensive model to $ 60 for a beautiful wooden one . Or, as Anne Le’s YouTube channel shows inthis video , you can make a beautiful wood structure cheaper than an inexpensive model:
YouTuber Jessica Lee also has a video with instructions on how to turnthree smaller wooden planks into a similar basket . It takes a little effort, but you can buy cheap wood planks and a small can of stain from a home improvement store for a few dollars. Plus, you don’t need so many tools because most home improvement stores will cut wood to size for you. You can even decorate your caddies with candles or plants to make your bathroom even more serene.
Create a mood with lighting and music
When you walk into a spa, the first thing you notice is the atmosphere. You can easily create this at home by simply changing the lighting and adding the desired sounds to your bathroom.
We know light wakes us up and keeps us on our toes , so dim your bathroom a little so you can relax. With dimmable LEDs, mood adjustments can be made as easy as flipping a switch or turning a dial, and some color-changing light bulbs like HitLights BlueWind multi-color LED lamp or Supernight 16-color dimmable LED lamp can change the whole color of your bathroom by pressing a button on the supplied remote controls. Of course, the easiest way is to close the curtains or blinds, light candles (scented, if you like) and turn off the bathroom light.
Different music can relax different people, but some music is designed specifically for this . This song from YouTube channel in59seconds is based on research on musical relaxation by psychologist Dave Elliot of the University of Cumbria:
Elliot suggests that you look for songs that are slower (about 90 bpm or less), with a 4/4 beat, piano and strings, and narrow note sequences in which notes move from low to high. Dr. David Lewis , a leading British stress specialist, came to similar conclusions in his research and even compiled a list of 10 of the most relaxing tunes . Ambient sounds are great for relaxing too, and there are so many apps to choose from these days that you’re sure to find the perfect match.
A Bluetooth speaker is the best choice for bathing tunes, but if you’d rather listen through the speakers of your phone or tablet, that’s fine too. Just put it in a Ziploc bag of the right size to make it more waterproof and place it on your bathroom. Better yet, turn on a music playlist you trust and place your phone or tablet in a place where the bath water won’t kill it. It won’t sound as good as a dedicated speaker system, but you will still hear the music well.
Set your ideal water temperature
In a good bath, it all depends on the temperature. Too cool bath water will shorten your relaxation time, and too hot water will just make you sweat. Generally, you want the temperature to be somewhere between 90 ° F and 105 ° F by the time you step inside . Some people will advise you to shoot at temperatures slightly above your normal body temperature of 98.6 ° F. and some recommend a lower limit of 92. ° F , but that depends on your personal preference. It should be warm when you go inside, but not too hot.
Some bath surfaces take a long time to warm up, especially in winter. To work around this problem, boil a large pot of water on the stove before turning on the tap. When it gets hot, slowly pour water into the tub to warm up the surface a little. Thus, your cold bath will not be able to instantly cool the water you fill it with.
Don’t let the warm bath cool down
A full bath should last at least 20 minutes, but hot water loses heat much faster. You can always drain some of the bath water and pour hot tap water, but there are other, more effective ways.
Mark Sisson of Mark’s Daily Apple suggests starting the bath harder than you think. In general, it’s better to mistake your bathtub too hot than too cold. If it’s too cold, you need to add a ton of hot water to heat up the entire tub, but if it’s too hot, you can simply sprinkle the hot water with cold water.
The ambient temperature is also important. After you start using the bathroom, it is important to keep the bathroom door closed. As Dr Piliang explains to the Wall Street Journal , this allows steam to build up and heat up the room so the water doesn’t lose heat to the cold air too quickly. If you can’t heat the room too much, consider placing a small heater away from the tub to keep things nice and hot, before running the water, gently keep it out of the way while you soak.
A thick layer of bubbles on the surface of the bath water will also help keep the water warm for longer, says Professor Evgeny Terentyev of the University of Cambridge . The bubbles insulate the top surface of the water and reduce heat loss through direct diffusion into the ambient air and in relation to water evaporation. If you’re still having trouble keeping the bath water warm, commentator Haidikwan at Apartment Therapy suggests you follow the old-fashioned route and bake a few stones in the oven at 350 ° F for 15 minutes, then place them in the bath with you. … if you were cooking stone soup.
While you are taking a hot bath, keep two things close at hand: a glass of ice water to keep you hydrated, and a cold compress rag that you can place on your forehead or neck. Both will help you cool down and lower your body temperature if you get too hot without interrupting your bath. You can also wash down your bath with a glass of wine or cocktail, but make sure this is in addition to a glass of cold water.
Dampen your own soothing bath bombs, salt, and other luxury additives.
What experience of a spa-like bath would be complete without something good? There are tons of bath products that you can buy there, but you can easily create your own for a lot less money.
Bath salts are crystals that dissolve in bath water, soften and flavor the water, and relieve muscle pain and tension . Hello Glow’s Lindsey Johnson shares six different bath salt mixtures you can make at home with several inexpensive ingredients: Mix two parts Epsom salt, two parts kosher salt, and one part baking soda with a few drops of your favorite essential oils. Johnson has a few pairing recommendations if you’re not sure where to start, such as 10 drops of eucalyptus and 10 drops of peppermint to clear your sinuses, and 10 drops of lavender and 10 drops of bergamot to help relax.
If you’re looking for something a little more revitalizing, One Good Thing’s Jillee recommends making an eucalyptus mint bath oil. Mix 20 drops of eucalyptus oil with 10 drops of peppermint oil, then add two to three ounces of a carrier oil (such as almond, coconut, or even olive). Bath oil, combined with a small amount of Epsom salts, can help soothe a sore body after a long day. Just take your time to get out of the bath – the bath oil will turn it into a slip.
For a more versatile approach, you can make some homemade bath bombs . These tablets sizzle as soon as they enter the water and fill your bath with aromatic essential oils and Epsom salts that cause a tingling sensation in the water. For the ultimate bathing experience, you can even add a little food coloring to transform the bath water into whatever color you like.
This article was originally published in February 2016 and has been updated on May 13, 2021 with new links and adherence to Lifehacker’s style guidelines.