25+ Ways to Use Epsom Salts

Epsom salts are a useful addition to any home. These versatile salt crystals have so many uses from the medicine cabinet to the garden. Better still, a bag of Epsom salt is inexpensive, making it easy to get your money’s worth when purchasing. Here are some great uses for Epsom salts.

Epsom Salts

Also known as Magnesium Sulfate, Epsom Salt is made of magnesium and sulfate. It is a naturally occurring mineral that has hundreds of uses around the home and in the garden.

When this miracle ingredient is absorbed through your skin, it can help with drawing toxins from the body removing splinters, reducing swelling of sprains and bruises, deterring pests, as well as relaxing your body after a long, hard day.

Epsom Salt in the Garden

Tomatoes

A small amount of Epsom salt (1 Tablespoon for every 31cm) sprinkled around the base of your tomato plants is a great way to help increase the yield of your tomato plants. It provides them with enough magnesium to properly absorb the calcium in the soil. It may also help with insect control too. You could also water the plants with 1 tablespoon of salts dissolved in 4 ½ litres of water. Acid loving plants such as roses, hydrangea, blueberry and hibiscus will also enjoy a dose of this salty water.

Deter Pests from the Garden

For a natural way to keep pests away from your garden, use Epsom salts. Mix 240ml of Epsom Salt with 19 L of water, mix well before applying to foliage with a pump sprayer. Or, try sprinkling a small amount of dry salts around the plants to help deter slugs.

Yellowing Plants

If plants are starting to turn yellow, they may have a magnesium deficiency. Try adding 1 teaspoon of Epsom Salt to 4 ½ litres of water and water as usual. 

Deter Pests from the Trash

Apparently, raccoons and foxes don’t like the smell of this stuff, so sprinkle a few tablespoons around your trash cans, remembering to reapply after wet weather.

Greener Grass

By mixing 2 tablespoons of Epsom salts with 4 ½ litres of water and sprinkling it on your lawn with a garden sprayer, you are adding magnesium and iron to your soil, which may help with greening up your grass. Just make sure that this mixture soaks into the grass. 

Better Foliage and Produce

Capsicum, tomatoes and blooms increase in production when 1 teaspoon of salts is mixed with 4 ½ litres of water and sprayed on your plants every few weeks.

Root Shock

Next time you are transplanting some plants, try mixing 1 tablespoon of Epsom Salt for every 4 ½ litres of water. Apply to the roots of newly potted plants to help prevent root shock.

Epsom Salt For the Body

Laxative

Mix a teaspoon of Epsom salt (Plain – no fragrances) into your water (250ml) for a simple and effective laxative. This is a great way to use what you have on hand instead of running to the store when you do not feel well. You can repeat this every few hours but be mindful to not take too much as the side effects can be rather unpleasant. As always, consult a doctor before taking anything internally.

Muscle Soreness, Sprains and Bruises

A soak in a hot bath with Epsom salt is a great way to feel better after a long day or a tough workout leaving your body feeling tired and sore. Simply add 1 cup of Epsom salt to your warm bath and soak. 

Pulling out Infections

Soaking infected skin in Epsom salt or using an Epsom salt compress can help pull out infections, like those from bug bites or an ingrown hair or nail, that have begun to swell due to a reaction. Just be mindful that some staph infections can be made worse by soaking in hot water.

Splinters

Epsom salt is good at drawing things out and therefore is great for helping to draw out a splinter. As you soak the splinter area in the salts, the inflammation will decrease and the splinter will be pushed to the surface, making it easier to grab the splinter with tweezers for quick removal.

Encourage Sleep

The magnesium in Epsom salt helps encourage sleep. For those with sleep troubles, you can use Epsom salt in the bath for a nice long soak to help relax the body and encourage better sleep.

Soothing Bath for Stress Relief

For a soothing bath that helps relax muscles, reduce redness, and encourage sleep, add Epsom salt to your bath. This will help your body relax and recover from a long day. Why not try these Lavender and Sweet Orange Bath Salts, or these Calendula Bath Bombs, Lavender Bath Bombs or maybe these Coconut Bath Bombs.

Reduce Inflammation

A cool Epsom salt bath is a great way to help soothe sunburnt or irritated skin. Keep the water cool and add fresh aloe, rose water, and/or lavender to help with the skin-soothing effects. If a cool bath is not an option you can make a mist of Epsom salt mix with water by mixing 2 tablespoons of salts in 1 cup of water and spraying on the affected areas.

Bites, Stings and More

For mosquito bites, bees stings and even poison ivy, soak a cotton washcloth in a mixture of cold water and Epsom Salt – 2 tablespoons of salts to one cup of water. Apply gently to the affected area.

Foot Soak

Soothe your aching feet, soften your rough skin or with help in removing odours, try adding ½ cup of Epsom salts to a large bowl of warm water. Soak your feet before rinsing and drying. This Peppermint Foot Soak is a wonderful, easy way to pamper and soothe tired feet. This treatment may also help to treat athlete’s feet and toenail fungus.

Hair Volumiser

To add some volume to your hair, combine equal parts of conditioner and Epsom Salt. Warm the mixture in a pan and gently work it through your hair. Leave on for 20 minutes before rinsing.

Exfoliator

To help ride your face of dead skin and remove impurities, add a pinch of these salts to your normal face wash and gently rub in a circular motion. Rinse well. You could also massage the salts over the rest of your body. Just wet your skin and start at your feet. Rinse off in the shower or bath.

Help with Colds

Epsom salts can help detoxify the body, while increasing your white blood cell count. Next time you feel a cold coming on, try an Epsom Salt bath. If you prefer, you can try these Lemongrass Shower Melts or these Eucalyptus and Peppermint Shower Melts instead.

Cleanse Pores

As it contains antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral properties, Epsom Salt is a great product to use for treating acne and cleansing pores. Mix one teaspoon of salts with 3 drops of iodine in ½ cup of boiling water. When the mixture is cool enough to put your finger in, apply with a cotton ball. Let it dry before washing with warm water and pat dry.

Oily Hair

Epsom Salt can be used to soak up excess oil from your hair. Add 9 tablespoons of salts to ½ cup of oily hair shampoo. Apply 1 tablespoon of the liquid to your hair when dry and rinse with cold water. Then apply apple cider vinegar or lemon juice through your hair. Leave on for 5 minutes before rinsing.

Hair Spray

To create the gorgeous peachy-waves, try combining one cup of hot water with 2 tablespoons of Epsom salts, 1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel and ½ teaspoon of conditioner. Mix well and pour into a spray bottle. Spray this mixture into your hair, scrunching with your hands.

Puppy Bath

If your dog has dry, itchy skin or sore muscles, swelling or a wound, try mixing one cup of salts with 4 ½ litres of warm water. Once the salts have dissolved, soak the affected area for up to 10 minutes before rinsing off with clean water.

Epsom Salt for the Home

Cleaning Tiles and Grout

Mix equal parts of Epsom Salt with liquid dish soap. Dab onto the grubby areas and scrub to remove and dissolve any grime on your bathroom tiles.

Remove Burnt Food

Ever burnt food in your pots and pans and can’t get it off? Try scrubbing the pan with ¼ tablespoon of the salts with some warm water before rinsing.

Frosted Windows

To add that frost look to your windows, especially during the festive season, try mixing 1 ½ cups of boiling water with 1 cup of Epsom Salt and 3 tablespoons of liquid dish soap. Carefully apply the mixture to your windows with a sponge and let dry.

Fabric Softener

Instead of purchasing expensive fabric softeners, try adding 2 tablespoons of Epsom salts to your laundry instead.

Washing Machine Cleaner

Fill the tub of your machine up with hot water and add 1 quart (950ml) of white vinegar and 1 cup of Epsom Salt. Let the machine agitate for one minute before stopping the cycle. Allow the solution to sit in the machine for around an hour before continuing the cycle. Run a rinse cycle in the machine before doing a load of clothes.

 

While Epsom Salt has a lot of uses and benefits, it also has a few side effects that you need to take note of.

Some people may be allergic to it, so be careful before using for the first time.  An overload of magnesium can also cause nausea, headaches, heart problems and even death.

So even though it works has amazing benefits and works wonders in the garden, your home and body, be mindful when using.

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Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on this website.