24 uses for Epsom Salts

 

1. Get rid of Racoons (or Drop Bears!) – If the masked marauders are hanging around your rubbish bins you can take a few tablespoons of Epsom salts and spread it around your bins. It will deter the pesky intruders as they don’t like the smell. Remember to reapply after it rains.

2. Deter Slugs - Sprinkle Epsom salt where they slide and say goodbye!

3. Make your grass greener - Epsom salt which adds needed magnesium and iron to your soil, may be the answer to your green lawn. Add 2 tablespoons to 4 litres of water. Spread to your lawn with a garden sprayer and make sure it soaks into the grass.

4. Bigger, better and more produce - Studies have shown that Epsom salt increases production of capsicum, tomatoes and blooms. I teaspoon per 4 litres of water sprayed on plants every 1-2 weeks will create showstoppers!

5. Soil Prep - 1 cup per 35 metres will create the perfect gardening mix for this summer’s bounty. Use a fertilizer spreader and mix into soil.

6. Clean bathroom Tiles - Epsom salt will get rid of that grungy look. Mix it in equal parts with liquid dish soap, then dab it onto the offending area and start scrubbing. Epsom salts work with the detergent to scrub and dissolve the grime.

7. Remove burnt food from pots and pans - Scrub pan with about ¼ tablespoon Epsom saline some warm water. Voila!

8. Regenerate a car battery - give your battery a little more life with this Potion-Dissolve an ounce of Epsom salt in warm water to make a paste and add to each battery cell.

9. Frost your windows for Christmas - Mix 1 cup boiling water with 1 cup Epsom salt and 3 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid. Apply the mixture to your windows with a sponge- for a realistic look sweep the sponge in an arc at the bottom corners. When the mixture dries the windows will look frosted.

10. Face Cleaner - To clean your face at night mix half a teaspoon of Epsom salt with your regular cleansing cream. Just massage into skin and rinse with cold water.

11. Homemade skin mask - Puree 1 egg white, ½ teaspoon pantothenic acid powder (vitamin B5), 1 teaspoon aloe Vera gel, 1 teaspoon Epsom salt, 1 ripe tomato chopped and 2 drops of thyme oil. Apply to face for 15 minutes then rinse off. This is especially good for acne problems.

12. Foot soak - Sooth aches, remove odours and soften rough skin with a foot soak. Add ½ cup of Epsom salt to a large pan of warm water. Soak feet for as long as the water is warm. Rinse and dry. Also helps with toenail fungus, like athletes foot. Add marbles to the bottom of the pan for an added foot massage.

13. Skin Exfoliate - Massage handfuls of Epsom salt over your wet skin, starting with your feet and continuing towards your face. Have a bath to rinse.

14. Remove excess oil from hair - Epsom salt soaks up excess oil from your hair. Add 9 tablespoons of Epsom salts to ½ cup of oily hair shampoo. Apply 1 tablespoon of the liquid to your hair when dry. Rinse with cold water. Pour lemon juice or organic apple cider vinegar through the hair leave on for 5-10 minutes then rinse.

15. Hair Volumiser - Combine equal parts of deep conditioner and Epsom salt. Warm in a pan. Work the warm mixture onto your hair and leave for 20 minutes. Rinse.

16. Soak sprains and bruises - Epsom salt will reduce the swelling of sprains and bruises. Add 2 cups of Epsom salt to a warm bath and soak.

17. Splinter Remover - Soak in Epsom salt it will draw out the splinter.

18. Get rid of blackheads - Here’s a sure-fire way to dislodge blackheads. Mix 1 teaspoon of Epsom salt and 3 drops of Lugois solution liquid iodine in ½ cup boiling water. When the mixture cools enough to stick to your finger, apply it to the blackhead with a cotton ball.

19. General stress relief - nothing draws out stress like bath salts. As the magnesium soaks into your body it reverses the effects of stress on your body, replenishing magnesium levels, decreasing adrenaline and producing serotonin.

20. Relieve gout pain and inflammation - 2-3 teaspoons of Epsom salts into a basin of hot water (as hot as you can stand). Soak for about 30 minutes.

21. The new aloe Vera - Use on mosquito bites, bee stings, mild sunburn, and poison ivy by soaking a cotton washcloth in cold water Epsom salt solution (2 tablespoons per cup) for the affected area.

22. Eye health - Rinse your face with solution of Epsom salt and warm water can help heal conjunctivitis.

23. Detox (aka laxative) - Mix approximately 2 tsp of Epsom salts in 1 cup of warm water until it dissolves then drink. Do not repeat this cleanse more than once per day, and always drink extra water!

24. Grow more - add ¼ cup Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) to ½ cup boiling water stir until it dissolves. Pour over sponge in shallow dish and place in a warm sunny spot. As the water evaporates your crystals will grow. Just be sure to check crystals against the original before “harvesting”.