Sometimes all you need is a nice, warm bath. It’s funny that a tub of hot water can solve so many of life’s problems, or at least feel like it! Lucky for us, there’s a bunch of different ways of taking a relaxing bath, and you probably have most of this stuff anyway!

Epsom Salt

Epsom salt comes in different scents that claim to do different things. While it’s not clear that the magnesium sulfate actually ‘detoxes’ you, some people think that the magnesium and sulfate enter into your bloodstream, which can be beneficial for managing stress. There aren’t enough studies to prove that epsom salt actually works like this, but they smell really nice and a hot bath will help you relax.

Baking Soda

So you don’t have epsom salts? No problem. You probably have baking soda in your kitchen, and that’s all this bath needs! Baking soda baths are generally used to soothe different inflammations of the skin. So if your skin is acting up with a rash, putting some baking soda into your bath might be the cure you’re looking for!

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is another soothing bath made possible by ordinary cooking ingredients. Oatmeal really packs a punch, too: according to this article, “Avena sativa, the oat plant, is high in calcium, chromium, magnesium, Vitamin A, and various parts of the Vitamin B complex.”  Your skin can reap those benefits by putting a cup or two of plain oatmeal oats in a sock or hose and letting it soak in the bath, and voila!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Weirdly, apple cider vinegar is a good thing to add to a bath. It’s actually quite the multi-tasker! According to this article, adding ACV to your bath can have several different health benefits, such as: fighting fungus, soothing sunburns, getting rid of body odor, making your hair shiny, reduce feet odor and athlete’s foot, and relieving joint pain.