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Men don’t take care of themselves like they should. I’m pretty convinced that 80% of the men in my life don’t do enough to just relax and pamper themselves.
The word “pamper” is consistently associated with women, but men need a little pampering too!
Perfect Inexpensive DIY Gift For Men
When any holiday comes up, we’re always looking for a way to take care of the guys in our lives that take care of us all year.
But, how do we do that without breaking the bank? There’s a post that shares 10 inexpensive Father’s Day gift ideas, but I had to take it to the next level.
Men tend to keep all of their stress in their shoulders (the world likes to rest there) and in their feet.
Also, most gentlemen don’t get pedicures on a regular basis, so you can imagine the last time they actually took care of their feet.
The Peppermint Soak Ingredients Are Key
Epsom salt is well known for its detoxify properties, as well as baking soda. Peppermint creates an exhilarating experience for the feet.
This recipe for peppermint foot soak uses 3 items right in your pantry, and would be a great last minute gift.
If you don’t have a small mason jar, use whatever you have at home. I ended up making this again and using an old salsa jar.
Peppermint Foot Soak
- 1 8oz mason jar (or whatever you have on hand)
- 2 peppermint tea bags
- 1/8 cup baking soda
- 1 cup epsom salt
Place the baking soda in your food processor.
Cut open your tea bags and poor into the processor.
Place 1 cup of epsom salts in the processor as well.
Blend on high for about 1 minute or until all the ingredients are turned to a powder. It’s that easy!
Take a trip to the dollar store and get a set of measuring cups to add to the peppermint foot soak.
A tablespoon added to very warm water is great, but you can also add 1/4th a cup to bath water for a heavenly experience.
I love this, awesome idea I am definitely making it! I pinned it too 🙂
Thanks Monica, and thanks for pinning it!
Oh, this looks divine and perfect for summer! I’m making it today!
Yay Jeannette! Let me know how it turns out for you.
This is great! Thanks!
You’re welcome, Mandee!
Oh my!!!So easy!! I have to try this out but it will have to be after Father’s Day as we travel out tomorrow and all day today and tom I’m playing chauffeur for the kiddos!
It’s great for Dad’s but it’s even better for Moms ;). You treat yourself to a foot soak after all that running around!
Great idea, forget Dad, I want to use this!
Ha! Well, I wanted to say the same thing but we are celebrating Father’s Day. Just make a double amount of it 😉
I’ll have to try this out – it looks a relaxing way to pamper myself at home!
Let me know how it works out for you, Kelly!
I can’t believe how easy this is! Actually…wondering if these might make good favors in my bridesmaids’ gift bags???
They certainly would, Brandi! I got the small mason jars right at walmart for 7 bucks, I think. There are 12 in the pack. The epsom salt, baking soda and peppermint tea are all inexpensive too.If you want to get really fancy, you can even paint the mason jar tops with the colors of your wedding!
Great reminder to keep epsom salt handy to make this!
Oh yes, Joyce. Since it’s so cheap, I try to keep it on hand all the time. Also, it helps with my son’s weekly detoxifying bath. His ADHD becomes so much more manageable if we give him a weekly detox with epsom salt.
I am looking forward to trying this one on my husband!
Yay! Let me know how it goes for you, Janeane!
I just got my first pedicure for the summer. I’ve been hiding my feet for weeks, wearing closed toed shoes, but the warm weather forced me to make some me time and schedule a mani and pedi. I shouldn’t wait until the last-minute. This mixture makes it easier to take care of my soles!
I agree men do not not take care of themselves as they should… tomorrow I’m taking danny with me to get a pedicure 🙂 this recipe sounds heavenly indeed, my feet feel fresh just reading about it.
Oh, I need this SO bad!! Thanks for sharing on Pin it Forward Friday! Got you all pinned up ;o)
Visiting from Pin It Forward. Love the feel of peppermint soaks and lotions on my feet! Pinned this.
I am going to have my day care children put their “painted’ foot on the jars and give this to their parents for Christmas!!!
I love that idea, Jane!
can we use any kind of tea or does it have to be peppermint??a
Hi Nikki,
Peppermint tea is best, since it gives that soothing feeling to tired feet.
why do you use the baking soda? and can you drop in some peppermint essential oil??
The baking soda helps to soothe aching feet, so the combination of baking soda and epsom salt is a great one-two punch when taking care of your tired feet. You can use peppermint essential oil, but this was a gift that was created with what we had right in our home, and what wouldn’t cost us too much. There’s always a few bags of peppermint tea sitting in our cupboard 🙂
thanks for the info & reply!! 🙂 Happy New Year!
This will be an awesome gift for my spa party thank you am hooked on this site love love love it
Oh Terry! I’m so glad that you’re hooked! Thanks so much for visiting :).
If you don’t have a food processor, will a blender work?
Absolutely, Sheena! You’re basically turning it into a powder, so a blender will work just fine.
Hi,thanks for the lovely idea.can I use mint leaves from my garden?
Hi Zainab! I suggest using dried mint instead. This recipe is meant to last a long time, and adding fresh mint would put an expiration date on the soak.
Is it necessary to use a blender or food processor? Is it something that could work just pouring some in?
Yes, it’s important to use a blender or food processor since we want the powder to be able to dissolve in the water.
What an awesome gift idea! Thanks for sharing.
How long do you recommend soaking for?
I say as long as the water is warm, Carissa :D. I’m an avid believer of a long soak, whether it’s your feet or in the tub!
This looks like the perfect gift to give to all my extended family members this year for Christmas. Each year I try to come up with a gift to give everyone (there’s a lot of people to give to) that is handmade/homemade. One year I did crocheted dish clothes, then I did beeswax candles. This sounds perfect for this year! Simple & inexpensive! Thanks so much for sharing!!
You’re so welcome, Lynn!
Thanks for this! I am using it for a ladies Church dessert night on DYI gifts. I will be sure to pass on your site address. All the best to you!
Thanks so much, Marci!
Just tried this and it’s great! Put it in a painted mason jar and cannot wait to give it to my sister for Christmas 🙂 Thanks!!
Yay! Thanks for coming back and commenting, Shelton. I hope your sister enjoys it!
Has anyone had trouble with moisture? I made some a few weeks ago and am looking at it and it looks like it got get and has hardened.
I’ve haven’t had that problem, Megan! You have to make sure that all items are dry before you use them: blender or food processor, mason jar or other container, etc. Since all the ingredients are dry, it’s important that they are processed and put in items that are dry also. Hope that helps!
I just made a HUGE batch of this for all my Christmas gifts! However, since my baby is terrified of the food processor /blender, I put the salt in a big zip lock bag 1 cup at a time, and used a rolling pin. Then I mixed it all with a large spoon, and jarred it up! Thank you for this recipe!
I love that twist on making it, Laura! My baby loathes the blender too. I’ll have to try this method!
Hi,
I’m making this for my neighbors for Christmas and am wondering how much of it
you need to use to be effective.
Thank you for this idea and instructions.
One tablespoon per foot tub. If using it in a full tub I’d add 2 or 3 tablespoons.
Hi, I made this and was excited to hand them out for Christmas presents….however, they all tired rock solid in the jar. What do I need to do to keep it from from turning into one big hard blob where you can’t event get it out of the jar….?
Hi Shelby!
You have to make sure that all ingredients, and utensils are completely dry. That includes the food processor, too. A lot of people are forgetting that that cleaning the processor may put water underneath the part of the blade that holds it together (where the blade sits on the middle part of the processor). Also, make sure that the mason jar, and the top is bone dry. This is true for any DIY scrub you create. I hope this helps!
Thanks, for the tip. However, I didn’t use a good processor. I just out the tea, baking soda & Epsom salt all together & mixed them in a dry bowl & then put them in a dry container. The next day, everything was hard as a rock. Do I need to add a cracker or something to keep it from hardening up like you do with Brown sugar?
That might be the issue. The processor turns it into a fine dust, which keeps it from attracting moisture and crystalizing. This is why I specifically mention the mini food processor in the instructions :). Can you use a blender instead? Just make sure it’s dry.
I made this before for myself but I didn’t put it thru the processor. The smell is amazing!
That’s awesome, Anna!