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DIY: Homemade Vapour Shower Disks

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I’d personally like to thank Sarah of Frugal by Choice, Cheap by Necessity for clearing my head (and sinuses) of cold and flu-related junk.

You see, it’s just one of those things that kept popping up on Pinterest (to the tune of 1,000+ re-pins); blogged by keen DIY’ers eager to share the recipe; and tweeted like mad from believers all over the continent. And then, “Sarah’s Homemade Vapour Shower Disk Thingies” were featured on a popular television morning show. Hence, I reasoned that it was time to try the darned things out. Having suffered from back-to-back colds, tension headaches and sinus pain for most of the winter season, I needed all the help I could get.

Now I’m a believer. Not a trace of doubt in my mind. I’m in love…

(Did you just sing that? I love The Monkees.)

Here’s the deal: Sarah came up with a recipe for Vapour Shower Disks – you know, little thingies that you place in your shower which will release essential oils with the steam created from hot water. I made the disks last week and have since had the best shower experiences since cold and flu season began. Eucalyptus, rosemary, and lavender oils help ease my congestion and clear my sinuses. The strength of the vapours is just strong enough to help soothe the airways without causing irritation. An unexpected bonus? The baking soda made my shower tiles gleaming white. I’m a Domestic Genius!

And… they couldn’t be simpler to make.

– Baking soda
– Water
– Pure Essential oils: Eucalyptus, Rosemary and Lavender
– Muffin tin
– Muffin liners

Add 2.5 – 3 cups of baking soda to a bowl.  Slowly add water, a little at a time, until you’ve made a thick paste. You’ll want the mixture to feel like putty.

Spoon into a muffin tin lined with muffin liners, and bake them for 20 minutes at 350°F. Cool. Add 2-3 drops of each oil to the cooled disks. You can find essential oils at any health store or Whole Foods – if you are allergic to lavender (I know many people who are), try substituting peppermint or leaving it out altogether. When ready to use, pop them out of the liner and place anywhere at the bottom of your shower.

Et voila! The best companion to a hot shower that you’ll have this winter. I wouldn’t recommend these for use in the bath because pure, undiluted essential oils are rough on the skin. Each disk will last 1-2 showers, depending how long your showers are. Store in an airtight container and away from curious children. And there you have it – steam vapour therapy for pennies per use!

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Comments

  3. francine

    will have to try these next time i have a cold. there re sooo many medicines i cant take while I’m nursing.

    • Lena

      Oh, I feel your pain! I was sick a few times over both pregnancies and I clearly remember how much it sucked not to be able to reach for an OTC. Try this!

  4. Mandy

    Oooh! So easy! I am definitely going to try this out! Especially since I’m pregnant and can’t take any meds..this would definitely help if I catch a cold. Thanks for sharing! :)

  6. Lisa H

    What a neat practical twist to the homemade bath products idea. And can be made cheaper than drugstore alternatives (my kinda thing!)
    I had a huge crush on Davy Jones for years :o

  10. InezbyDesign

    Anything that is called a “Thingy” I want to know about!! Someone after my own heart :) This sounds like a great idea and I can’t wait to try it out..in fact just printed it and gave it to my courier who is suffering with a cold!

    • Lena

      You’re such a good person – passing cold solutions on your courier! I really thought it sounded like a good idea and that’s what motivated me to try it myself. Will be whipping up a new batch this week!

  11. Tania B

    I love this idea. I definitely have this pinned already but I am so glad to actually hear from someone I trust that these work. Good, now I have a DIY project for myself to do this weekend!

    • Lena

      Oh, so you’ve already got the right idea Diana! And now you can use the benefits of baking soda to clean your shower floor, too :)

  15. kelly

    I’ve also seen these on pinterest but wasn’t sure if they would actually work. I’m glad that they do and wll have to make some myself.

    • Lena

      Awesome! Sometimes it’s so easy to see things and want to try them out, but hold back for fear they just look good in pictures. I can vouch for these!

  16. Lee Pearson

    I have never seen these before but I’m glad you told us about them! These are incredible! I can see how they would clear any cold because it would mix with the steam of the shower. Amazing, thank you for this post and pics

  17. Michelle Chow

    Hello, Lena. Love this simple recipe – so easy. Who knew? I suffer from congested sinuses all winter and this sounds like the best and cheapest remedy. I will give this a try. P. S. I like that Monkeys song, too.

    • Lena

      It’s funny how some of the most popular bath and beauty products can be recreated for pennies! If you give these a try, please tell me what you think, Michelle!

    • Lena

      OH No! Don’t say that, LOL! But make them now, so you’ll have them on hand if/when you do get sick :)

  20. drpaskall

    Thanks, Lena! Super cool find DIY, and I can see not only making them for myself and my family (Eucalyptus -colds, Chamomile- bedtime, Lavender – migraines!), but using pretty little colored foil muffin cups, the food coloring, and making little gift jars of them ~ they are so cute!
    I recently bought a “bath bomb” that cost me more than $5.00 and wasn’t even my favorite scent. I like the shower bomb concept better, as my boys don’t bath, they shower, AND a much more affordable option. Awesome :)

    • Lena

      I love everything about your comment! Yes, they would make fantastic gifts – I can even see adding tiny crushed up petals for a rose shower disk or a lavender shower disk. And, I had no idea that lavender was good for migraines – I will definitely be trying that. Thank you!

  22. Jennifer

    Thanks for sharing! I suffer from chronic sinusitis off and on and although I use saline flushes which help a lot, this sounds like something even easier to use! On my to do list!

    • Lena

      That’s perfect Jennifer. I too was battling acute sinusitis, and that’s what motivated me to try them out. I really think you’ll find relief!

  24. Kim K

    I had pinned these awhile ago but never tried them, after seeing them here I gave them a try and they work really well. Thank you for posting this, gave me the shove I needed to try them.

    • Lena

      Oh that’s wonderful Kim! So happy they worked for you, and aren’t they just the easiest to make? Love it!

  26. Kat Vee

    Wow! These look so easy to make and I think I’d benefit from this. …I like HOT showers. I’m definitely trying this

    • Lena

      Me too – I can’t give up my hot showers! Both pregnancies were hard for me because I had to switch to moderately warm so I wouldn’t make the babies sweat, LOL! The shower disks will be your best friend :)

  27. Laurie B

    Oh WOW! this is so cool! I am going to make some and definitely give some out too :) thank you very much for the great idea!

    • Lena

      It’s great for kids of all ages because the vapours are so gentle :) I actually made a separate batch for my toddlers with slightly less oil – worked perfectly!

  33. Tammy Dalley

    Im a pinterest addict and Im always on pinterest looking for DIY pins. This is one of the best ones ive seen so far. Thanks for sharing, will definitely be trying this the next time I have a sick toddler

  35. Corina

    I am wanting to know if adding Peppermint would help with sinus issues. I have all the Essential oils listed and Peppermint. Just an idea….wanted to get some input.

    • Lena

      Hi Corina – it certainly wouldn’t hurt to try. Peppermint is great for the sinuses. Perhaps try peppermint on half the disks, and see how your body reacts to it?