Detox Bath {supercharge your Epsom salt bath!}
Supercharge your Epsom salt bath with this natural detox bath recipe featuring charcoal infused sea salt, baking soda, and bentonite clay.
A natural detox bath is an amazing way to cleanse your skin and refreshen your body.
While there are many different recipes that you can follow, this is my favorite one – adapted from the book Earthly Bodies & Heavenly Hair by Dina Falconi.
These types of baths work well if taken right before bed. Once you’re done soaking, towel off, hop into your jammies and then curl up in your warm cozy bed for a good night’s sleep!
Because a long hot bath can be pretty intensive, it’s suggested you only use this once a week or two. If you’re pregnant, have blood pressure problems or other medical conditions that makes bathing unsafe, you should most definitely consult with your health care provider before taking therapeutic baths.
Benefits of the Ingredients
- Magnesium rich Epsom salt helps you relax, and it’s often used for easing sore muscles.
- Baking soda softens the bath water and makes it more alkaline.
- Bentonite clay is sourced from natural volcanic ash sediments and is deeply cleansing for your skin.
- Black lava sea salt is infused with activated charcoal and is used to help the body remove impurities.
- Sea salt or Himalyan salt can soothe various skin conditions and add extra minerals to your bath water.
Check your local grocery or health food store for these ingredients.
If you can’t find them locally, Mountain Rose Herbs is an excellent source for high quality bentonite clay and black lava sea salt.
The bail top jar shown was purchased at my local Michael’s craft store, but you can also find a variety of shapes and sizes at Specialty Bottle.
Detox Bath Recipe
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup sea salt or Himalayan salt
- 1/4 cup Epsom salt
- 1/8 to 1/4 cup bentonite clay
- 3 to 4 tablespoons of black lava sea salt
Add all of the ingredients to a glass jar or container.
Here I added everything in layers for an attractive presentation, using the black lava sea salt as an accent between each ingredient.
How to Take a Detox Bath
Mix the ingredients in the jar together and use about 1/3 of the contents per bath. If using the black lava sea salt, your water will turn a dark gray color. This is normal.
Soak for twenty to thirty minutes. If you’re new to detox baths, you may want to start with a ten or fifteen minute soak, then work your way up.
Drink plenty of water before, during, and after your soak to stay hydrated during hot baths.
After soaking, rinse off with fresh water and gently towel dry. Rinse the tub immediately after use, for easiest cleanup.
To customize this recipe, you can change out the types/colors of clay, add a few drops of essential oil, and/or add some finely ground herbs such as lavender, rose, or chamomile.
I’ve also included some printable labels in various colors for you to download! I like to print mine out on Repositional Sticker Paper; it makes cleaning off the old labels a breeze!
I have a ready made sheet of mixed colored labels HERE:
You may also like:
Sore Muscles Soak | Cucumber Mint Soak | Sinus & Headache Balm
Detox Bath {supercharge your Epsom salt bath!} was originally published January, 2014; updated for October 2018.
Hello, I’m not sure if you know about the benefits of Magnesium. But it is wonderful for detox and for general health. Especially for those with chronic illness. The majority of people are Magnesium deficient and don’t know it. I use it along with Himalayan Salt instead of Sea salt. It has less environmental contaminates. And that is essential now since Fukashima.
Hi Zubaida! Yes, magnesium is great stuff! Thanks for the reminder about the Himalayan salt – that would be a great option for those that are able to buy it. I’ll go add a little note to the recipe now! Thanks!
Here in Germany you can get Himalayan salt on Ebay for 9€ for 5 kgs. Which is wonderful. I use it in everything from cooking to my kefier water and of course in my bath. I think going to Ebay would be the best thing instead of going to some local health food store that ups the price more. Plus you can baking soda and magnesium in large quantities as well at a good price. Have a great day!
That’s wonderful! I found some good prices at Amazon.com too; I have a tiny jar here that I paid a small fortune for locally, so I’m really happy I’ll be able to buy larger quantities now. Thank you! :)
Thanks for this wonderful recipe. I love your blog and so appreciate all the wonderful natural ingredient products you share with us.
Thank you so much for the kind words Kristin! I’m happy to hear that you find the blog useful! :)
I love epsom salts baths; this will be even better (if I can find the clay). Thanks.
I hope you’re able to find some! :)
Thank you for this! I have been looking for an easy detox. I can’t wait to make a batch of these for Mother’s Day! Stopping by from the farm link party.
Hi Chrystal, Thanks for stopping by! I’m glad you like the recipe!
thank you for all the beautiful important work you do and share! if we do decide to add essential oils to this formula, will it have any shelf life or does it need to be used right away? wondering if it can be used as gifts etc
Hi Jade! Essential oils won’t shorten the shelf life. As long as all of the ingredients are dried, you can mix it up and give it for gifts later. I like to mix things like this up just a day or two ahead of time though, so it will be at its peak freshness when gifted.
Oh, Jan! You are so kind to offer even printable labels, even in few different colours! Bless you! Thank you for your job!
Hi Krasi! I’m happy that you found the labels useful! :)
I like this recipe and can’t wait to try it. I would like clarification with the bath instructions. In the article you state to use 1/3 of the jar, but on the labels you provide it states the entire contents. I read it twice so I hope I didn’t miss something. Your answer is appreciated.
Hi Patti, That’s a great catch! Thank you for letting me know! When I first made this several years ago, I liked using the whole thing at once. Now though, I use less per bath. I’m not really sure why/when I changed it up, but either way will work, so feel free to use the amount you’d like best. :)