Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

DIY Shower Disks to Help Support the Lungs

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If you are struggling to make it through cold and flu season unscathed, take a moment to read through this great DIY shower steamer tutorial from my good friend (and blogger extraordinaire) Kayla. She and I share a love for essential oils. I can’t wait to tell you guys what they are doing for me! 

showersteamers_1 (2) (edit: I’ve had a ton of requests for where to buy a board like the one pictured above. This particular one was sold by DaySpring but is no longer for sale. Here’s a link to a beautiful dry erase board that is very similar!).

I am so not a fan of cold and flu season. This winter has been one for the record books and it’s certainly brought along it’s fair share of the sniffles. I’m currently on the lookout for products that can help support the lungs and sinuses, so when I saw a few tutorials online on how to make a DIY version of shower steamers I thought that would be a great place to start! After all, a steamy shower is my go-to weapon for supporting the immune system, and especially the lungs.

If you’ve never seen these, they are basically little pods that dissolve in the shower and they may help clear your head (and your nose!) You can totally whip these up quickly at home with ingredients you most likely already have on hand. I played around with the recipe a bit until I found one that worked well for us. The whole project only took 30 minutes, start to finish!

Here is what you will need:
  • A muffin tin + liners (or a silicone muffin pan if you have it, that would be super easy)
  • Baking soda
  • Cornstarch
  • Water
  • Essential Oils: Eucalyptus and Lavender (You can also add in Rosemary or Peppermint if you like)
  • (When working with essential oils, I recommend using a glass bowl)
Mix 1 cup of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and about 1/3 cup of water until it forms a thick but slightly pourable paste. You might have to add a little more water, just go slowly until you reach the consistency you want.
Mix with a fork and spoon in to muffin tins. I typically fill them about 1/4 full.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes. Let cool and then add about 3-4 drops of each essential oil to the top of each disk. I had peppermint oil on hand and added a drop of it to each because I really love the smell of it.

After a lot of research, I use Young Living Essential Oils for our family so those are what I recommend.
(You can check out my thoughts and routine and favorite oils here).

When dry, remove the shower disks from the tin and store in an airtight container. Like a mason jar. I’m southern. We put everything in mason jars, y’all. We drink sweet tea straight out of them. We just can’t help ourselves. But look how cute!

diy shower disks for lung support

At the first hint of the need for some nasal function support, pop one of the shower disks onto the floor of the shower when you get in. There is nothing like the scent of eucalyptus in a steamy shower when you aren’t feeling well!

I use the lavender essential oil in our diffuser every night to help promote a relaxed feeling so that was one I already had on hand and I plan on making some DIY chest rub with the eucalyptus oil so I should get some good use out of it! Packaged up in a pretty container, these all-natural shower steamer disks would make a great “Get Well Soon” gift to accompany a bowl of chicken soup to a sick friend!

-Tiffany, here. After reading Kayla’s tutorial I’ve actually added Eucalyptus to my list of oils that I’m going to order next month from Young Living. I’m a member there, which means I can order at wholesale pricing. If you would be interested in trying any of the oils listed here, I’d be happy to place an order for you so you can get a better-than-retail price. I got a membership so I could save, and it’s a joy for me to extend those savings to others! Just email me at stuffparentsneed@gmail.com with your interest and we’ll make it happen!

OR, if you hate saving money you can just order the oils retail here ;-).

If you are totally pumped up about the concept of essential oils and want to just go all in (which is what I did…I go big or go home, you guys) then you need to check out the premium starter kit, which offers $300 worth of oils and a diffuser for a smokin’ hot deal.

And of course, you can always leave a comment here with any questions you might have and I’ll try to get you an answer or follow up with you directly over email. I’m new to using essential oils myself, but so far, I’ve been quite impressed with what I’m able to do with them!

*I am not a medical professional, I’m just sharing a natural remedy that has worked for our family. As always, if you have any allergies or medical conditions, consult a physician before use.

** Eucalyptus is generally not recommended for children under the age of 10. Therefore, these shower disks are best for older children or adults. 

You might also want to give this homemade vapor rub a try for after the shower.

DIY vapor rub

Need another cheap and easy DIY gift idea? Try these gorgeous peppermint bath salts with candy cane stripes!