Epsom salts are a type of pure mineral that comes from a compound consisting of sulfate and magnesium. Epsom salts have a variety of health benefits, household and garden uses, and beauty uses. Read on to find out the best Epsom salt uses in the garden so your fruits and veggies will flourish.
The skin readily absorbs both sulfate and magnesium, according to various studies, making Epsom salts an efficient remedy for many things.
When it comes to health, the magnesium in Epsom salts works to regulate more than 325 enzymes, promotes optimal nerve and muscle function, reduces inflammation, and prevents hardening of the arteries. The sulfate component flushes toxins from the body, improves nutrient absorption, and eases migraine headaches.
Epsom Salt for Health and Beauty
Athlete’s Foot and Foot Odor
Athlete’s foot is itchy and can cause significant discomfort. Foot odor commonly comes along with this fungal condition, but can also occur alone. You can solve both problems at the same time by making a foot soak with this salt.
Combine one cup of Epsom salt with one gallon of water, some drops of castor oil and add this to a pan that is large enough for your feet. Soak your feet for 20 minutes each day. If you need more water, add more Epsom salt using the one cup per one-gallon ration.
Remove Splinters
If you get a splinter, use this salt to help remove it. You can use the same ratio you use for athlete’s foot and soak the area for 20 minutes. Once you remove your limb from the soak, take a pair of clean tweezers to carefully remove the splinter.
Toenail Fungus
Yellowing toenails is not attractive, and Epsom salt can help to eliminate it in mild cases. Use warm water and mix one cup of Epsom salt with one gallon of water, mix this well in a pan that fits your feet and soakfor 20 minutes.
You can do this three times daily to get rid of the foot fungus and then once a day as a preventative method.
Bruises and Sprains
If you have a bruise or a sprain, you can reduce the swelling and pain by soaking in an Epsom salt bath. Fill your bathtub with lukewarm water, dissolve two cups of Epsom salts in the bath, and then soak for 15 to 20 minutes.
Ease Gout Discomfort
Gout can be incredibly painful and something that few things help to alleviate. You can soak the affected foot in Epsom salts to ease pain and inflammation.
Take a pan of warm water and dissolve three teaspoons of Epsom salts into this. Place the affected foot in the pan and soak for 30 minutes once a day.
Facial Cleaner
You can add Epsom salts to your favorite facial cleanser to add more cleaning power and to exfoliate your skin.
Two to three times each week, mix your favorite cleanser with a half teaspoon of Epsom salts and gently massage this into your skin. Rinse with warm water and complete the rest of your facial routine.
Skin Mask
Epsom salts are a prime ingredient in an effective and natural face mask.
Mix the ingredients into a paste and then allow it to sit on your skin for 15 minutes before rinsing away. Use this two to three times per week to exfoliate your skin, dry up blemishes and sop up excess oil.
Remove Hair Oils and Hairspray
Combine one cup of lemon juice, one-half cup of apple cider vinegar, one gallon of warm water, and one cup of Epsom salt.
Add all of this to a plastic bottle, shake well, and allow this to sit for a full day so that everything blends together. Pour this over dry hair, let it sit for 10 minutes, and then wash and condition your hair as usual.
Eliminate Blackheads
Mix your favorite cleanser with a half teaspoon of Epsom salts to create a blackhead scrub. Use a cotton ball to gently scrub your skin, using a circular motion. Once you are done, rinse this away and apply your favorite moisturizer.
Volumize the Hair
Flat hair is difficult to style, and it just looks bad, but you can add volume with Epsom salts. Take Epsom salt and deep conditioner and combine equal parts.
Warm this up and work it through the hair from root to tip, allow it to sit for 20 minutes and then hop in the shower and rinse away the mixture.
Full Body Exfoliation
All areas of your skin need to be exfoliated at least once a week to eliminate dryness and remove dead skin cells. Mix three tablespoons of Epsom salts with a half cup to a full cup of hair conditioner and gently scrub the bottom of your feet and body to eliminate dry, flaky skin.
Softening Hand Wash
There are times when your hands are either very dirty, very rough, or both, and Epsom salts can help. Mix one teaspoon of this salt with three teaspoons of baby oil to remove dirt, exfoliate your hands and soften them. You can use this once or twice a day for soft, clean hands.
Stress-Busting Bath
Run a bath at the temperature that you prefer and add two cups of Epsom salts and ten drops of your favorite relaxing essential oil. Soak in this bath for 20 minutes to alleviate stress and relax sore, tight muscles after a long day. You can do this once a day to keep stress under control.
Cleaning Uses for Epsom Salt at Home
Clean Bathroom Tiles
It is common for mold and soap scum to build-up on your bathroom tiles, and while chemical cleaners are effective, they are not the safest option. Take liquid dish detergent and Epsom salt and mix these in equal parts. Simply use a scrubbing sponge to clean your tiles once a week.
Clean Washing Machine
Washing machines, especially front loaders, are prone to detergent buildup and this can transfer to your clothes when you put a load in. Take one cup of Epsom salt and put it in your machine, fill it with hot water, and then use the agitate and soak cycle to clean your machine.
Epsom Salt for Plants and in the Garden
Slug Prevention
Slugs can enter your home, and no one wants them slithering around. Head to your doorways and spread Epsom salt along the threshold to act as a natural slug repellent for your home. You should also pay attention to any cracks in your foundation and place this salt in these areas too.
Holiday Decorating
Kids can use Epsom salts as snow when creating holiday crafts because it sticks well to children’s glue sticks.
You can also frost your windows by mixing one cup of Epsom salts, one and a half cups of boiling water and three tablespoons of liquid dish soap. Mix this well and add it to your windows with a sponge.
Raccoon Deterrent
Raccoons can wreak havoc on your garden, and other deterrents are chock full of chemicals. Just use a few tablespoons of this salt and apply it to areas where raccoons will enter your garden. You can also place this around trash cans to keep them from knocking them over. Epsom salt is a great natural raccoon repellent.
Weed Control
Keeping weeds under control saves you a lot of time when it comes to maintaining your garden. For killing weed, mix vinegar and Epsom salt and put the solution in a spray bottle. Simply spray the areas that are prone to weeds to keep them from growing and for an effective natural dandelion killer.
An Epsom salt based homemade weed killer is safe to use around all plants and people, too. As a bonus, using Epsom salt to kill weeds is inexpensive and effective. Keep a batch handy to spritz those nasty weeds whenever you encounter them.
Plant Fertilizer
All plants love food, and it keeps them healthy and happy. Sulfur and magnesium are important nutrients that many plants, including perennial ornamental grasses, need. Both of these nutrients are found in Epsom salts, making Epsom salt for garden plants a smart idea, whether you add them to your herbs, squash, or cabbage.
Epsom salt also enhances the effects of plant foods so you can mix them. This is why Epsom salt works especially well for tomato plants and peppers or use Epsom salt for a potted plant, whether indoors or out.
Epsom salt is very good for cucumbers, too. Add this salt to your soil and continue to sprinkle it in every time you add plant food.
There are many uses for Epsom salt in the garden. You can also use Epsom salt for bell pepper plants to increase the yield and quality of the vegetable.
Green Grass
Grass needs the nutrients in Epsom salts to grow and maintain a bright green color. Take a gallon of water and mix in two tablespoons of Epsom salts to create a grass fertilizer. Once a week, spray this onto your lawn to keep it green and healthy.
Insecticide
Pests can destroy your lawn and plants so you want to do what you can to keep them at bay. There is no need to use expensive and chemical-filled commercial products when Epsom salt does the same job. Epsom salt is good for melons because it eliminates the insects that burrow into the thick melon skin. Sprinkle this salt in areas where you want to eliminate insects and refresh it once a week to ensure it keeps working.
Soil Prep
Before planting flowers, produce, or herbs, you need to get your soil ready to ensure optimal growth. When using Epsom salt for herbs you will need to use about half of this recipe, as they’re more delicate and don’t need as many nutrients. For every 100 feet of planting space, add one cup of Epsom salts and a fertilizer spreader to prep your soil for planting and growing.
This is a great idea for almost all plants. Epsom salt is good for potatoes, corn, beans, and more and it’s an ideal soil additive that costs just pennies.
Grow Better Roses
The sulfur and magnesium in Epsom salts are two nutrients that roses need to grow and thrive. To use Epsom salt for roses, take a half cup of this salt and sprinkle it on the soil around your roses to prevent pests and give them what they need for vibrant blooms and optimal growth. Use Epsom salt for peppers and a variety of other plants, as well.
When you use Epsom salts for health and beauty purposes, make sure that you follow the recommendations exactly when it comes to the right amount.
Using too little may render the treatment ineffective and too much could have adverse effects. If you are in doubt about the proper amount, talk to your doctor to ensure you are using the right dose,
When it comes to home and garden uses, the amount is variable, but stick to the prescribed amount to ensure it works as it is intended. This will save time, and it also helps your Epsom salts to last longer, so you get more for your money.
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