Keep it fresh & clean:

The most important thing to remember when making your own home spa recipes is to keep everything very clean and to always work with fresh ingredients.

Equipment to gather:

Some small bowls for mixing, a sharp knife for mincing and cheesecloth to hold ingredients together to create “sachets”. A large coffee filter secured with a rubber band also works well as a "sachet" if you don't have cheesecloth. I love using wooden spoons and spatulas, and glass or ceramic bowls for mixing, but use whatever you have. A plastic tub works great as a footbath, or if space is limited, try our Inflatable Footbath.

Prepping Ingredients:

Be sure to wash fresh ingredients very well and dry them gently. When a recipe calls for fresh herbs, usually they'll need mincing, which releases essential oils and scent. Flower blossoms can be used whole, and are often added just before soaking.

Using Herbs:

Some herbs and flowers can cause skin irritation. Be sure to check with your local county extension office if you're not sure. If you will be using herbs, teas or hardy flowers in a soak, you may need to steep them in hot water for a few minutes before adding them to your bath. A great way to do this is to tie them in a bundle using cheesecloth secured with a rubber band and letting them steep in a pan of hot water for few minutes. Then add the "tea" to footbath or bath, and use the cheesecloth bundle as a gentle scrubbing tool.

Be careful!

Always test the temperature of water with your hand - and avoid very hot water. Do a spot-test of your home spa treatment on a small patch of skin. If redness, swelling or itching occurs - wash it off immediately and do not use that mixture. Even completely natural ingredients can cause an allergic reaction. Better safe than sorry.

Enjoy!

Be "in the moment" when you are creating and enjoying your home spa treatment! Creating a great home spa treatment is like cooking a wonderful meal - sometimes the preparation is as therapeutic as the treatment itself!