Shower streamers are the ideal substitute for bath bombs. Not only are they easy to make but also cheap. However, one widespread problem when making shower streamers a lot of people face is cracks. Today, we will discuss why this happens and what we can do about it.
Shower stream cracks are a direct result of a lack of moisture. At times, the mixture of essential oils and water lacking appropriate proportions can also cause cracks. Another cause could be an unbalanced concentration of essential oils incorporated in the steamers.
Discover the ‘secrets’ Professional Bath Bomb Makers use to create luscious bath bombs with this step-by-step guide. You’ll have a priceless reference collection of product recipes with natural ingredients designed to create a relaxing spa atmosphere in your own home.
When your clogs need a break, switching from
to streamers is the perfect solution. If you want to take a shower with the same perfume strength, you are so used to having. Shower streamers fit the bill perfectly.
But when we talk about the DIY kind, you might find that they have cracks or are even broken in many cases. Undoubtedly, this might not be a biggy on a personal level since nobody will ever see them. But when you have a business, this can be a huge problem.
What are the causes of the cracking of shower steamers?
If we look at the basic recipe for making a shower steamer, it includes a set 2:1 ratio for baking soda and citric acid. After that, you’d introduce additional ingredients such as essential oils and water, along with Witch Hazel.
Unless you are a pro at making DIY shower steamers, just like many, your first few steamer creation attempts will most likely fail in some aspects. Just like with anything, it takes time and practice to get the right balance.
However, making shower streamers is actually not that hard at all. This is especially the case If you are already familiar with making bath bombs, then the process should be a piece of cake. Unless you are experimenting with new oils and fragrances, cracks should rarely occur.
If you are reading this, you probably struggle with cracks and don’t know why this is happening. To help you with this, I have made a shortlist of probable causes.
Here are a few ways how it could go wrong:
Inclusion of Essential oils
Every shower steamer recipe differs in the proportions and types of essential oils you incorporate. What works for one recipe might not work for another. The chances are that you are over-adding (or under-adding) your oils.
Additionally, the concentration of the oils itself is another factor we should keep in mind. Unfortunately, you’ll only be able to find out is by going through many trials-and-errors to get the proportions right.
Addition of corn starch
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Many people think they need to use corn starch in their recipe; however, this is not a necessity. You’d only need corn starch if you want them to be more buoyancy and get a better reaction between baking soda and citric acid.
In fact, you can avoid using corn starch altogether by merely controlling the essential oil and water ratio. Thus, the unnecessary addition of corn starch is most likely the factor that causes the cracking during the drying and setting process.
Rubbing alcohol as a substitute
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There are many scenarios where you may run out of Witch Hazel in setting the texture of the mixture. A quick fix to this problem is substituting rubbing alcohol either in sizable amounts or higher concentrations. However, adding this ingredient is not really recommended as it causes the steamer to crack.
How do you avoid your shower steamers from cracking?
After going through the causes, the simple answer to this would be to avoid all of the above. In addition to that, there are other things you can do to avoid having this problem.
Refining your recipe for the shower steamer is one sure-fire way to avoid cracking the shower steamer prematurely. However, starting with small and work your way up gives you more certainty.
Here are a few suggestions to help you avoid cracks in your effort-laden shower steamer making endeavor.
- The use of Kaolin Clay aids the steamer’s proper setting in the molds, thereby reducing the chances of cracks.
- While rubbing alcohol is not recommended in a steamer recipe, if needed, use it cautiously.
- Avoid adding more water to the mixture during preparation. While moisture retention in small amounts is needed, excess water impedes the general process of steamer creation.
- Watch the amounts of essential oils you add to the streamer mix and their compatibility to some extent.
- Ensure to strike a balance between the number of essential oils and water in the steamer mixture.
Is it possible to fix a cracked shower steamer?
Unfortunately, once the mixture gets made and, the shower steamers get set, it’s impossible to redo or reuse the steamer mixture. So, while you cannot fix a cracked shower steamer, you can utilize it without any issues.
How can I make my steam shower last longer?
Shower steamers are essentially blocks of refreshment that merely need a splash of water or steam to activate. An average-sized steamer tablet can last you a complete shower and extend into the next one too.
If you want to make your shower steamer last longer than two showers, you only need to increase the mold’s overall size. A big-sized shower steamer can get broken into pieces, with the other part stored in an airtight container.
The average shelf-life of a shower stream is around 6 months with an airtight enclosure.
Ensure not to place the steamer in a spot where there is a constant water flow, or you’ll have an entire block of shower steamer to dissolve in one go. Just place the tablet on a window ledge and let the steam from the shower release the essential oils.
There are shower steamer recipes that involve popping the molds into an oven for a quick setting. Often, the high heat serves as a drawback in prematurely draining the essential oils’ fragrance.
If you do utilize an oven for the drying process, merely drip on the essential oils after the steamer blocks have set.
Are shower steamers the same as bath bombs?
Although from the same family of shower accompaniments, shower steamers and shower bombs have distinct differences.
Bath bombs have the privilege of including moisturizing-fragrant oils that come in direct contact with the skin.
Also, bath bombs incorporate carrier oils that make them greasier, allowing the fragrance oils to mix with the ingredients.
Shower steamers have a greater concentration of essential oils to create an effervescent spa-like shower experience. The steamer does not come in direct contact with the skin, which is the reason for a higher essential-oil inclusion.
Also, bath bombs are usually tossed into a bath to release their skin-moisturizing oils, where they dissolve within 6-8 minutes. A shower steamer merely requires heat to discharge the essential oils packed within its composition.
You can use a bath bomb in the shower, but I would not recommend using a shower streamer in the bath.
Summing Up
One crucial point of interest when making your shower steamers is climatic consideration. Living in humid temperatures is detrimental to the shelf-life of your shower steamers. Ensure adequate dehumidifying in your home or at least in the vicinity of their storage.
Shower steamer recipes are all about mixing and matching. One recipe idea can inspire a wide range of recipes, including all sorts of essential oils for various purposes.
From citrus, fresh oranges to lavender and even coffee, your shower steamer is as versatile as your creative urges. Go ahead and make a batch with the most refreshing fragrance for your personal aromatherapy session at home!