what do i need to make bath bombs

Making bath bombs is a great indoor activity to keep kids busy on a rainy afternoon - they also make lovely gifts for friends and family.

Experiment with a variety of colors, add flowers from your garden and use different shapes. Once you have the main ingredients, it's easy to adapt this recipe to what you already have at home.

These ingredients are safe to use in the bath, but it is important to note that bath bombs are not edible. We recommend this craft for children eight years old or older.

How to Make Bath Bombs
Bath Bomb Recipe
Make 4 hemispheres
30 minutes to prepare, plus 2-4 hours to set up

100 grams of sodium bicarbonate
50 grams of citric acid
25 g cornstarch
25 grams of laxative salt (optional)
2 tablespoons oil - such as sunflower, coconut or olive oil
¼ teaspoon of essential oil, such as orange, lavender, or chamomile
A few drops of liquid food coloring
Orange peel, lavender or rose petals, for decoration (optional)
You will also need

Mixing bowl
a whisk
Plastic molds (see below for ideas)
Method

1. Place the baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch and laxative salt in a bowl and whisk until well combined.

2. Pour the carrier oil, essential oils and food coloring into a small bowl. Mix well, mixing the oils with the coloring as much as possible.

3. Very slowly add the oil mixture to the dry ingredients a little at a time, stirring between each addition. When all the oil has been added, add a few drops of water and stir again (adding water makes a hissing sound, so mix quickly). You are looking for a mixture that will clump together slightly and hold its shape when pressed with your hands - it should not be too wet.

4. If you are adding peels or petals for decoration, place them in the bottom of the mold of your choice. Place your mixture firmly on top, pressing down with a teaspoon and smoothing the top.

5. Leave the bath bombs in the molds to dry for 2-4 hours, then carefully remove them. Now it's ready to go into the tub - watch it fizz!

What can I use as a bath bomb mold?
You can use anything stretchy as a bath bomb mold, so have fun looking around your home for things you can use. Here are some ideas to help you get started.

Yogurt or pudding jars
Christmas tree ornaments (we used a star)
Plastic wrapping for toys
Easter egg wrapping
Silicone ice cube trays
Silicone cupcake boxes
Plastic cookie cutters (place them on a tray)
For children, we recommend making half shapes, as making a sphere that sticks together can be tricky. If you want to make a full sphere, you'll need a double-sided mold. Fill each side slightly with the mixture, then press firmly together and secure with an elastic band as they dry. Be very gentle when removing them from the mold.

Where can I buy citric acid?
Citric acid is commonly used in homemade liqueurs and brews - you'll find it as an ingredient in store-bought body washes. The reaction with the bicarbonate of soda water will make your body wash foamy.

You can buy citric acid online or from some of the larger drugstores. For our recipe, we used Wilko citric acid.

Important tips for making bath bombs
Always use liquid food coloring, not gel. When you add the gel to the bicarbonate, the gels clump together and it is difficult to mix them together.
After adding the liquid to the mixture, you need to quickly mix everything together and push it into the mold as soon as possible.
To allow your bath bombs to dry, leave them bare in a cool, dry place (away from faucets and moisture). They will take longer to set in humid weather.
If you have more than one color, why not make a Rainbow Bath Bomb? Layer different colors and they will blend together perfectly.