Bath Sponge Bonanza

As a little kid, terry washcloths were the only bath accessory my mom found necessary. They were functional, easily laundered and came with bath towels and hand towels in matching colors so it was easy to coordinate. As an adult, I was never all that fond of washcloths, but hey, they came in matching colors with towelly stuff I really did like, so sure enough, those bits of cloth were there in the linen cupboard and in the shower.

Then I discovered the joy of bath time. Those old-fogey clothes no longer seemed appropriate for my inner princess delight. Instead, I discovered the joy of bath sponges. Over the next months, I experimented with all the different kinds I could locate. After awhile, I found my favorites and they became the foundation of my bath time gear kit. Each session, a different sponge made its appearance, until a week or two later I returned to old favorites.

A white, classic oval bath sponge looks pure and fresh. It has little holes in it that hold the water until you run the sponge up over your shoulder and then squeeze lightly to let the warm water trick down your arm and over your back. Shaped just larger than the size of an open hand and nearly two inches thick, these come in a pack of three. A simple, straightforward approach to bathing when all you really want is to just get in that water and get warm.

For days when you've been outdoors a lot or cleaning house or some other strenuous activity, the dual texture bath sponge brings the whole getting-clean aspect into the natural relaxation routine of bathing. One of the flat sides is a regular spongey sponge. It's bonded to the other side that is a tighter, textured sponge material. That textured side helps scrub away at the feet, shins and elbows, but in a very delicate, non-abrasive way. This type of sponge comes in multi-paks and pretty colors from purple to pink to blue.

A natural sea sponge is the ultimate delight. Its organic shape and texture make you feel like a princess mermaid. Sea sponge is naturally very soft, so running it over your body feels like a caress. At the same time its slipping over your skin, its natural texture is removing dead skin cells, leaving a fresh, warm glow. When you are done with the bath, rinse it out and set it on a pretty tray by the side of the tub. Natural sea sponge adds a designer touch to the bathroom decor.

Start a Luxury Bath Ritual

I was well into adulthood before it occurred to me that the very simple act of taking a bath could be so pleasant. Before that, in the rush-rush world, the whole business of climbing into a tub full of water seemed like a hassle. But then I entered a very stressful stretch of time. As I talked with other women about it, they suggested I block out a little portion of time -- for a bath, of all things -- where I could block out the entire world and let my entire mind and body relax in a way that was so badly needed.

Eventually, I succumbed. It all seemed a little bit 'wooh-wooh' to me. I ran the tub full of hot water, stripped down to nothing, set a bath towel by the tub and climbed in. It felt awkward at first. I didn't even have any bubble bath to make it look like I was doing anything particularly wanton or frivolous. Yet within 10 minutes, I understood!  I got it!   I could see how this bath ritual could become like therapy for the body, soul and mind.

That weekend I went out and got a couple of candles and a long-handled bath brush. If I was going to do this thing, I reckoned I'd better get the bath gear to go with it. From that point onward, taking a luxurious, quiet bath on a weekend evening became a ritual that carried me through the rough times.

Bath Pillows

The kindest thing you can do for your self is simply lay back in a nice warm bath and relax. Let the cares of the day slowly and gently drain from your body as the water surrounds you in a warm embrace.

It's tough out there. Work takes a lot out of you when there are not enough people to cover all the bases. Demands from customers and bosses and coworkers can be hard on the body and soul. If you are without work, the stress is just as great... sometimes greater. But instead of carrying all that anxiety around, let it drift away as you lay back in the bathtub.

Since tubs are not exactly made for reclining, a bath pillow is the solution for full relaxation. Attached to the back of the bathtub, at the opposite end from the faucet, a pillow made especially for the purpose gives you more than a headrest. It offers support for your neck, allowing your entire spine better alignment. A bath pillow lets you submerge more of your body in the water, since you aren't forced to sit erect. And it provides a touch of softness in a space where the rest of the surfaces are hard.

There are enough varieties of pillows designed for bath use that you will find one most suited to your own comfort. The more luxurious types are molded to fit the contours of your head. More flexible types are inflatable; with this type you can fill them fully with air for a firm head rest or only partially inflate the pillow for a softer rest.

Choose one type of pillow for starters, then add others to your collection to jazz up your bath-time pleasure. Several of the more popular bath pillows are:

White Jellybean Luxury Bath and Spa Pillow
Earth Therapeutics Terry Covered Bath Pillow
AquaBella Inflatable Bath Pillow
Spa Sister Terry Bath Pillow
Axel Kraft Sun Shaped Terry Bath Pillow

The ultimate goal is to make your bath experience one of complete relaxation. You will be able to sleep better, think more clearly and have more vitality in your day to day life. Adding a pillow to your bath routine is an act of royal indulgence that is well worth the investment.