Nothing is more relaxing than a warm bath… except a relaxing detox bath. These are a great option for anyone who struggles with skin issues or other signs of toxin overwhelm. It’s also an inexpensive way to boost health.
I’m always up for a warm bath, and these natural add-ons help improve health while you chill out. Don’t have time for a full soak? You can also do a foot bath with these and get some of the benefits.
I’ve found that detoxing usually makes me tired, so I like to do this as part of an evening/bedtime routine. They’re also good for kids to give their body’s natural defenses some natural support. If you have any health conditions or are pregnant or nursing, be sure to check with your healthcare professional first!
Natural Detox Bath Recipes
Over the years my opinions on what detox even is have changed. I now see detox as something our body innately knows how to do on its own. Our liver, kidneys, skin, and other organs all work to remove toxins on a regular basis.
However, with modern life, sometimes they need a little more targeted support.
You may have heard of an Epsom salt bath (and that is our base recipe here), but what about a clay bath, vinegar bath, or even a mustard bath?! You’ll find many of these ingredients already in your pantry, but they serve more than one purpose. Ingredients like salt, baking soda, essential oils, and vinegar boost circulation, aid detox and provide soothing relaxation. I also like using Epsom salts as a way to boost magnesium stores.
You only need a few simple ingredients to make some or all of these detox bath recipes:
- Epsom salt
- apple cider vinegar
- baking soda
- bentonite clay (it also has lots of other uses, so consider stocking up!)
- mustard powder or ginger powder
- essential oils (mix with powder or salt rather than directly to the bath)
These recipes are also safe and soothing for kids too! (But choose your essential oils wisely.)
Basic Epsom Salt Detox Bath Recipe
Here’s my basic detox bath recipe. Find the other variations below. Mix and match, or find your favorite!
Salt Detox Bath Recipe
Equipment
Materials
- 2 cups water
- ¼ cup sea salt (or Himalayan salt)
- ¼ cup Epsom salt
- ¼ cup baking soda
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- 10 drops essential oils (optional, I use lavender)
Instructions
- In a small pan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil.
- Add the sea salt, Epsom salt, and baking soda to a quart-size Mason jar.
- SLOWLY pour the hot water into the jar. The mixture will foam up, so be sure to do this slowly and do not hold the jar to avoid burning.
- Fill the bathtub with warm/hot water.
- Add the apple cider vinegar.
- Pour the salt mixture in and add essential oils if using.
- Soak in the bath for 30 minutes or as long as desired.
Notes
- With any detox bath, you may feel tired or lightheaded when you get out. I don’t recommend doing this while home alone or before going somewhere in case you are tired or need help.
- Avoid essential oils that are harsher on mucous membranes, like mint, cinnamon, oregano, or lemongrass. They can cause an unpleasant burning sensation.
Clay Detox Bath Recipe
Bentonite clay is an ingredient I use in a lot of different recipes, from face masks to toothpaste. It does a really good job of absorbing heavy metals that can accumulate in our body.
It’s recommended to use a drain filter or cloth filter in the drain when doing a clay bath. This helps prevent the bentonite from accumulating in the pipes and potentially causing a clog.
- ½ cup bentonite clay
- ½ cup Epsom salts
- essential oils if desired
Clay Detox Bath Instructions
Dissolve the Epsom salts in a warm/hot bath and add essential oils if desired. For the clay, there are two options:
- Vigorously mix the clay into a small amount of water until the clumps are mostly dissolved. Bentonite can react to metal, so I use plastic or wooden spoons to mix. Add the clay mix to the bath and soak for at least 20 minutes.
- Mix that clay with a small amount of water to make a paste. Stand in the tub full of water and rub the clay mix all over your body to create a skin mask and let it dry for 5 minutes before sitting down. This provides direct contact with the skin and effectively pulls toxins from the skin. Soak in the bath for at least 20 minutes or as long as desired. While soaking, use a washcloth to scrub any remaining clay off the skin.
This bath is great for removing a lot of toxins as the clay binds to heavy metals. The Epsom salts help pull a variety of toxins from the body while replenishing magnesium levels.
Oxygen Detox Bath Recipe
This bath is especially helpful during illness. Ginger helps clear congestion, alleviate body aches, and stimulate circulation for faster healing times. It can also be helpful for allergies or skin irritation. You can also make a strong tea with the ginger, strain after 15 minutes, then add the ginger tea to the bath.
- 2 cups (or more) hydrogen peroxide
- 1 TBSP dried ground ginger
Oxygen Detox Bath Instructions
- Fill the tub with warm/hot water and add the hydrogen peroxide and dried ginger.
- Soak in tub for 30 minutes or as long as desired.
Vinegar Detox Bath Recipe
This is an excellent bath for soothing skin problems since vinegar balances the skin’s pH. While I don’t love the smell of vinegar, if anyone in the family has sunburn, eczema, dandruff, or dry itchy skin, we take a vinegar bath.
Apple cider vinegar has a whole host of benefits, and I find it not only leaves me with soft skin, but shiny hair as well.
Vinegar Bath Instructions
- Once or twice a week, I fill a tub with warm to hot water and add 1-2 cups of apple cider vinegar.
- I soak for 20-30 minutes, using a washcloth to clean my face and making sure to get my hair wet as well.
After bathing, I rinse off in a cool shower, though some recommend letting the vinegar water dry on the skin.
Mustard Detox Bath Recipe
I know, I’ve lost my mind, right? If it helps, I’m talking about organic mustard powder, not the yellow stuff in a bottle! Ancient cultures often used this spice in preparations to soothe colds, flus, and sore muscles, thanks to its circulation-stimulating properties.
Magnesium and essential oils make this bath both detoxifying and aromatic.
Mustard Bath Instructions
I use this recipe which uses organic mustard powder, Epsom salts, and a mix of essential oils.
Additional Detox Bath Notes
- The warmer the water, the more powerful the detox effect will be.
- If you have chlorine and fluoride in your water, I recommend adding a few tablespoons of bentonite clay to any of these baths to help absorb the chemicals so they aren’t absorbed into the skin. A home filter or bath filter are good options too.
- Any of these natural ingredients can be used alone or in combination for a cleansing effect.
- All recipes can be doubled or tripled, but this will increase the detox effect.
More Bath Recipes for Natural Detoxification
I recommend starting slowly with these bath detox recipes or any health change. To help, I’ve compiled all of my ideas for detoxing your body and your home in my book The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.
If you need a high-quality bathtub filter for safer bath water, I use Canopy.
This article was medically reviewed by Madiha Saeed, MD, a board certified family physician. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
Ever taken a detox bath? Got a different recipe you use? Share below!
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