How to deal with bath bombs that do not dissolve in water

How Does it Work?

The “bomb” aspect of a bath bomb is the fizziness. But what’s going on in those spheres that make them so fizzy? Two of the key ingredients to a bath bomb are citric acid and sodium bicarbonate. You might also know sodium bicarbonate by its more common name, baking soda. These two ingredients are what cause the impressive and delightful fizz when the bath bomb enters the water.

When sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) comes in contact with water, the sodium (Na) molecules break off from the bicarbonate (HCO3). At the same time, the citric acid is dissolving, with a single hydrogen ion (H+) separating from the rest of the molecule. When the released hydrogen ion from the citric acid encounters the bicarbonate from the baking soda another reaction happens! This time, carbon dioxide (CO2) gas is released as one of the end products. The carbon dioxide forms bubbles in the soap and bath water, and rushes to the surface with a delightful fizz.

Signs your bath bomb has expired

If you can’t quite remember how old your bath bombs are, here are some telltale signs that they’re past the Use-by date.
Little to no fragrance, or an “off” smell: Usually the scents fade first. Fragrance oils tend to last longer than essential oils, so the longevity of a bath bomb’s scent really depends on the FOs or EOs used. Or, sometimes an expired bath bomb develops an unpleasant or “off” odor.
Physical appearance: An older bath bomb may look visibly different. The spherical shape looks more porous, more crumbly. The once vibrant colors may look faded. Watch for signs of mold.
If anything looks or smells bad, or if it’s long past the expiry date, play it safe and toss it.

Why do bath bombs not dissolve well in water

If the bath bomb does not dissolve well in water, you should first look at the label to see if the bath bomb is still in the shelf life, and the expired bath bomb will affect the dissolution effect because some ingredients are invalid. If you have purchased a bath bomb that is still past its sell-by date, you can contact the business to inform it of the existence of this condition. The bath bomb that has not expired will have a good dissolution effect in water, only the inferior product will have the problem of slow dissolution, at this time you can contact the business to replace the bath bomb or return.

How to deal with bath bombs that do not dissolve in water

1. Break the bath bomb apart: If the bath bomb is too large or dense, it may struggle to dissolve in the water. To help it dissolve more easily, try breaking it apart into smaller pieces. This will increase the surface area and help the water penetrate the bath bomb more effectively.

2. Use warm water: Warm water can help dissolve the bath bomb more quickly than cold water. If you're having trouble getting the bath bomb to dissolve, try running warmer water and letting it fill the tub before adding the bath bomb.

3. Stir the water: Once you've added the bath bomb to the water, try stirring it with your hand or a bath wand to help break it apart and dissolve it. This can help speed up the process and ensure that the bath bomb is fully dissolved before you get in.

4. Wait it out: If all else fails, you can simply wait for the bath bomb to dissolve on its own. This may take some time, but eventually the bath bomb will dissolve and you'll be able to enjoy your bath without any residue.

5. Use a mesh bag: If you want to prevent any residue from sticking to your tub in the first place, try using a mesh bag to hold the bath bomb while it dissolves. This will allow the water to circulate around the bath bomb more effectively and prevent any bits from getting stuck to the tub.