8 Ways To Save Using Epsom Salts

Discover how you can replace expensive personal hygiene products, healing creams, and home cleaning agents with relatively cheap Epsom salts. Pick up a few tubs and start adding up the savings.

by Maura Grogan

The endless benefits of Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) have long been hailed by numerous subject-matter experts, doctors, and celebrities. These benefits include easing aches and pains, keeping the arteries and heart healthy, cleansing the body, and beautifying the face, as well as a number of surprising uses inside and outside the home.

It really is amazing how much money can be saved each week by buying a large tub or two (or three) of relatively cheap Epson salts (available for just a few dollars) instead of other expensive personal hygiene products, healing creams, and even home cleaning agents.

The following are eight ways you can save money with Epsom salts:

1. Use Epsom salts as bath salts.

Many households spend considerable amounts of money each week on bath and shower products.

It is possible to reduce or cut out all this expense by using two cups of Epsom salts in the bath instead.

While it is not the fanciest of products, experts say an Epsom salts bath is great for relaxing the body, relieving aching muscles, soothing joint inflammation, regulating the nervous system, and much more.

Those who want color and fragrance in their bath, but also want to keep costs down, can enhance the salt crystals by adding a coloring solution (e.g. food coloring products) and a few drops of fragrant oil such as lavender or rose.

2. Use Epsom salts as a skin exfoliator.

An excellent natural exfoliating and cleansing agent, Epsom salts can save on expensive exfoliation treatments at beauty clinics. It has all the properties required to remove dead cells, and when used on the face (mixed with normal cleansing cream), it can remove blackheads and the residue from day-to-day make-up/beauty products.

To exfoliate, the salt crystals should be rubbed all over the damp body after a shower or bath or a quantity can be rubbed into targeted areas (after these areas have been dampened).

Related: DIY Salt Scrubs for Silky Skin

3. Use Epsom salts as a hand wash.

Epsom salts can be used to cleanse and moisturize the hands, which are generally exposed to a lot of daily wear, tear, dirt, and germs.

Make a solution using equal parts of Epsom salts and baby oil (which is also quite inexpensive). Store in jars and use to replace other more costly hand-washing products.

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4. Use Epsom salts for cleansing and/or adding volume to the hair.

Epsom salts is an effective and economical way to clean hair and add volume. It is good for removing residue left by other styling products, such as gels, mousses, and hairspray.

Just make up a mixture with Epsom salts and deep conditioner (half and half), work into the hair, leave for 15 to 20 minutes, and rinse off.

5. Use Epsom salts to relieve inflammation from insect bites, bruises, rashes, sprains, and stings.

Because Epsom salts contain anti-inflammatory properties, it can be used to ease the discomfort caused by these inconveniences.

Mix some of the salt with warm water (roughly two tablespoons of salt per cup of hot water) and apply to the affected area or put two cups into a hot bath and have a long soak to alleviate any injured body parts.

This remedy is a lot less expensive than many healing creams!

6. Use Epsom salts for craftwork.

Epsom salt crystals, either plain and/or colored, are an innovative and cost-effective way for decorating greeting cards, glasses, paintings, and many other projects that can be enhanced with a little glitter. This is a great way to entertain children or add a little sparkle to party items, particularly if there isn’t time to go shopping.

7. Use Epsom salts for household chores.

The abrasive nature of Epsom salt crystals makes it suitable for removing stubborn food stains from crockery and cookware without damaging them. This is a great time saver if you are in a hurry and it saves a lot of effort. Just add a little of the salt to the individual dishes or to the washing-up water (along with detergent) before you start cleaning them.

Another chore that Epsom salts handles well is cleaning tiles and removing loose grout. Make a solution with the salt and washing-up liquid dish (equal amounts) and apply this to the indoor or outdoor target area. Leave the solution for a couple of minutes before washing the grime away.

8. Use Epsom salts to make the garden greener and keep slugs at bay.

Magnesium sulfate is a great garden aid, and when used as a natural plant fertilizer, it helps plants become greener and their blooms or crops more abundant.

It can also be used to get rid of pests, slugs, and other unwanted garden visitors. It is a lot less expensive and more environmentally-friendly than many commercially-available fertilizers and pest repellants!

Reviewed July 2024