Learn how to make shower steamers for sinus relief, congestion, or cough. These sinus shower bombs are easy to make, so make a batch and store them until you need them. This shower steamers recipe without citric acid dissolves in water and turns your shower into an aromatherapy spa.
When I'm sick with sinus trouble, whether it be from allergies, a sinus infection, or a cold, I am miserable. I turn on the cool mist humidifier and take my meds, but the thing that brings me the most relief is using essential oils in a diffuser or in sinus shower steamers.
At the first sign of sinus trouble, I put Breathe Easy in my essential oil diffuser. This works well, but using the oils in steam seems to help better.
This shower melts recipe is for when you have a cold, cough, or congestion. I make these sinus shower bombs and keep them on the shelf so I have them when I need them.
How to Make Homemade Shower Steamers for Congestion
Sometimes I use my bath salts for cold and flu, which works great when I'm achy and want to take a bath. But I don't always want to take a bath. Sometimes I'd rather take a shower.
These sinus shower steamers turn your shower into one big diffuser. The vapors from the essential oils meet the steam to really work to loosen congestion.
I also take my elderberry syrup recipe and drink honey and lemon tea. This menthol chest rub is also useful when I have congestion.
Keep track of your favorite recipes with my printable essential oil recipe cards or add them to this printable essential oil journal.
What is the Purpose of Shower Steamers?
Sinus shower bombs look like bath bombs and are made similar to bath bombs. You place them in the shower, and they melt. This releases the essential oils and creates a diffuser.
Try one of my other shower steamer recipes:
What are the Benefits of Shower Steamers?
I like to use sinus shower steamers to release essential oils for congestion into the shower. The combination of the steam from the shower and the oils helps loosen congestion.
For more ways to use oils in the shower, check out my post on how to use essential oils in the shower.
Are Shower Steamers the Same as Bath Bombs?
This DIY shower steamers recipe is similar to a bath bomb, but they can’t be used in the bath. Homemade shower steamers for congestion have a higher concentration of essential oils since you aren’t bathing in them. Therefore, you can not use a shower melts recipe as a bath bomb.
How Do You Make a Shower Melt?
This shower steamers recipe has baking soda and arrowroot powder as the base. Some recipes also have citric acid or kaolin clay. Citric acid creates fizz, and kaolin clay hardens the sinus shower bombs.
However, I made this an easy recipe for those learning how to make shower steamers. It does not have citric acid or kaolin clay in it.
To make DIY shower steamers recipes, combine the dry ingredients and essential oils. Then add water or witch hazel so it becomes workable and pack into a mold and let dry.
How Can I Make my Shower Melts Smell Stronger?
This shower melts DIY has more essential oils than a bath bomb, so it should be strong. Be careful adding too many essential oils because it can make your whole house smell like essential oils.
Why Use Citric Acid in Shower Steamers?
Most sinus shower steamers have citric acid. When baking soda and citric acid combine and get wet, it releases a gas that creates bubbles. This is fun for a bath bomb, but you really don’t need it for sinus shower steamers.
Do you Need Citric Acid for Shower Steamers?
No, you don’t need citric acid to make sinus shower bombs. This recipe is for shower melts without citric acid.
How Do You Make a Shower Melts Recipe Without Cornstarch?
This homemade shower melts recipe uses arrowroot powder instead of cornstarch. You can use either one, but I use arrowroot powder. They work the same though.
How Much Essential Oil Do I Put in a Shower Steamer?
Since you use homemade shower steamers for congestion in the shower, you aren’t bathing in the water and essential oils. Therefore, you can add more essential oils than you would for a bath bomb.
I used 1 tablespoon of essential oils for my shower melts recipe.
Best Essential Oils for Homemade Shower Steamers for Congestion
I used an essential oil blend from Crafty Bubbles called Breathe Easy. You can also use the Breathe Easy blend from Simply Earth or the Breathe blend from Mountain Rose Herbs.
For single blends, I recommend:
- Peppermint essential oil
- Eucalyptus essential oil
- Lavender essential oil
- Oregano essential oil
- Rosemary essential oil
- Lemon essential oil
- Pine essential oil
- Clove essential oil
- Frankincense essential oil
Learn more about the best essential oils for sinus relief.
Why Use Witch Hazel for Shower Steamers?
Most shower melts DIY call for witch hazel. This is because water will activate the baking soda and citric acid. Since these sinus shower bombs don’t have citric acid, you can use water.
How Long Do Shower Melts Take to Dry?
Depending on humidity, these homemade shower steamers for congestion can take 24 to 48 hours to dry.
Why Do My Shower Steamers Crumble?
When you learn how to make shower melts, it can be frustrating when they crack or crumble. Citric acid and kaolin clay both make sinus shower steamers harder.
However, I wanted an easy homemade shower melts recipe. If you don’t have citric acid on the shelf, you can still make these.
Be sure to let your sinus shower bombs dry completely before unmolding. Then store in an airtight container to reduce breakage.
If they do break, simply add crumbles to the bottom of your shower.
Where Should a Steamer Be Placed in a Shower?
To use your shower steamers recipe, simply wet one in the running water. Then place on the bottom of the shower in a spot where it will not get hit by the water.
It will dissolve and release essential oils into the steam.
How Long do Shower Melts Last?
A homemade shower melts recipe will last about 5 minutes in the shower. However, the essential oils will linger in the air to create a big diffuser.
DIY Shower Steamers Recipe Ingredients
To learn how to make shower steamers, you will need:
- Baking soda
- Arrowroot powder or cornstarch
- Essential oils
- Water
- Mica or food coloring
- Silicone ice cube tray
Homemade Shower Steamers for Congestion Directions
Step #1
Combine the baking soda, arrowroot powder, essential oil, and soap colorant in a bowl. Wear a glove to mix it well with your hands.
The soap colorant is optional. I added it mainly for the photos, but you can leave it out.
If you do add it, really work it in and mix well. It can cause dark spots if it's not mixed well. These dark spots are perfectly fine and won't affect your final product.
Add the water a tablespoon at a time and try not to dump it in one place.
Step #2
Keep mixing until it holds its shape when you squeeze it.
Step #3
Spoon into the mold. Gently press the mixture down. It should be packed in tight enough to hold together, but not so tight that the sides of the mold flex.
If the mold flexes too much, they could break when you unmold them.
Let sit for at least 24 hours before unmolding.
Don't try to take these out of the mold early because they will break. Patience, grasshopper.
Once they are dry, they should slide right out of the mold. If a few break, it's okay. Just use two pieces of broken shower steamer instead of one whole one.
To use, place on the floor of the shower where the water won't hit it directly. It will melt slowly, releasing the scent and turning your shower into one huge diffuser.
You might be tempted to add a lot of these to your shower, especially if you can't smell. You shouldn't do this or you risk turning your entire house into a really big diffuser. The rest of your family probably won't be very happy if you do this.
Don't want to DIY these cold and flu sinus relief shower steamers? I get it! Try one of these shower bombs for congestion:
Cold and Flu Sinus Relief Shower Steamers
materials:
- 1 3/4 cup baking soda
- 1/2 cup arrowroot powder
- 1 tablespoon Breathe Easy essential oil blend
- 4 tablespoons water
tools:
steps:
- Combine the baking soda, arrowroot powder, essential oil, and soap colorant in a bowl. Wear a glove to mix it well with your hands.
- Add the water a tablespoon at a time and try not to dump it in one place.
- Keep mixing until it holds its shape when you squeeze it.
- Spoon into the mold. Gently press the mixture down. It should be packed in tight enough to hold together, but not so tight that the sides of the mold flex.
- Let sit for at least 24 hours before unmolding.
NOTES:
To use, place on the floor of the shower where the water won't hit it directly. It will melt slowly, releasing the scent and turning your shower into one huge diffuser. Do not use these at bath bombs. The amount of essential oils is too high for using in the bath.
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