Experiments

Science can be full of fun reactions in the kitchen, or in this case in the bathtub! We all love relaxing in the tub, or in the case of my younger children, playing in the tub. What could be more fun that fizzing color in the bath tub that smell good too?

DIY Bath Bombs Without Citric Acid

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We spent some time last week making bath bombs without citric acid, just using what we had in the house already.

We tried out four different bath bombs recipes, all four are without citric acid because trying to find it in our small town lead to very high prices that I didn’t want to pay.

The internet was full of ideas that we took and ran with, making our own. There are four of us that made bath bombs, each of us using and making a different recipe to test and enjoy.

The first two recipes used cream of tartar, which is suppose to be a good substitute for citric acid, but at least in Canada, can be a little more pricey than you might want to spend, and not everyone has it in their cupboard.

Coconut Bath Bombs

• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 cup epsom salt – we used coconut scented
• 1 cup baking soda
• 4 tbsp cream of tartar
• 2 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
• water (in a spray bottle)
• essential oil – optional

Mix together the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix in coconut oil. Spritz with the water, making sure to mix well in between sprays.

Pack as tightly as possible, and let sit for at least 5 hours before removing from your mold or mini muffin tins. 

Let sit for a few days before putting into a jar for storage or before wrapping to gift.

This recipe was the only one that didn’t fizz a lot, it dissolved nicely in the water, and I enjoyed it. This one might be more for the moms.

Small Batch Bath Bombs

• 2 tbsp baking soda
• 1/2 tbsp cream of tartar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp lavender epsom salts
• 1/2 tsp almond oil
• 3/4 tsp water
• food color – optional

Mix dry ingredients together in one bowl, mix wet ingredients together in another bowl.

Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry, making sure to continuously whisk to prevent a reaction in the bowl. 

Pack as tightly as possible, and let sit for at least 5 hours before removing from your mold or mini muffin tins. 

Let sit for a few days before putting into a jar for storage or before wrapping to gift.

Lemon Juice Bath Bombs

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• food color – optional
• essential oils – optional

Mix together the baking soda and coconut oil, if adding essential oils, do so now. 

Put your lemon juice into a small spray bottle.

Spray the baking soda mixture once, stir, spray once, stir until you get a clumpy mixture that is slightly wet. 

Pack as tightly as possible, and let sit for at least 5 hours before removing from your mold or mini muffin tins. 

Let sit for a few days before putting into a jar for storage or before wrapping to gift.

Epsom Salt Bath Bombs

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup epsom salt – we used coconut scented
• equal parts water and lemon juice
• food color – optional

Mix together your Epsom salt and baking soda, and spray equal parts lemon juice and (colored) water into your mixture, making sure to mix well in between each spray.

Stirring while we sprayed the liquid in helped to prevent a reaction. 

Pack as tightly as possible, and let sit for at least 5 hours before removing from your mold or mini muffin tins. 

Let sit for a few days before putting into a jar for storage or before wrapping to gift.

Amazon Moms Bath Bomb Options

I know that we aren’t all into making things such as bath bombs, and normally I’m not, I want to be, but I tend to worry about the mess, about the cost and such. I tried, and we all had fun doing it, and enjoying the end product.

There is the option to buy them premade:

Or maybe you want to try making them, but want to have everything need in one kit:

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