Ideal for a moment of bliss in the bath .
If you’re a regular reader of IDEAL, then you’ll know just how much we love a good soak. Hey, perhaps you’re reading this in the bath, candles lit and foamy fingers scrolling. Actually, rather daringly, we’re writing this one from the tub, and may we just say how glad we are to be sharing this steamy experience with you. Hmmm, this has got a little weird, let’s start over…
If you’re a regular reader of IDEAL, then you’ll know just how much we love a good soak. But after almost a year of lockdown in some form or another, the water has got a little tepid. If, like us, you’re on the lookout for new and exciting ways to improve your bath time experience, beyond the usual soak, scroll and stare, then you’ve come to the right place; here are 5 of the best products that will upgrade your bathtime experience.
WHIRLPOOL JETS
Hey, we promised we’d reinvigorate your bathtime experience, and what better way to do that than by bringing the bubbles? Nope, we’re not talking about an excessive bout of flatulence or popping champers in the tub (more of that later, actually), but rather, we’re exploring the possibility of turning your bath into a jacuzzi.
There are, in fact, loads of gadgets out there that can turn your tub into a jacuzzi using the power of whirlpool jets. The Conair Dual Jet Bath, available on Amazon, is one such gadget. The guys at Well + Good introduced us to this one, and say that “The force of air that the jets propel underwater against your back (or neck or shoulders) make it feel extra-special. You get the double-whammy of a soak and the bubbles that are enough to feel like a pseudo-massage”. We couldn’t be more grateful to have discovered it!
That said, to truly turn your bathtub into a jacuzzi, why not invest in a real jacuzzi bathtub, or rather, a whirlpool bath. This thing isn’t as far fetched as it sounds. The guys at www.jtspas.co.uk tell us that you can find whirlpool baths suitable for fitting into a normal bathroom space, with their “corner baths designed to make the most of available space”, and able to fit in a space as compact as 1500mm x 1000mm. Wow!
A BATH TRAY
You’ve just slipped into the bath and managed to adjust to the scorching hot temperature of the water. The bubbles are sitting just right and your hands are wet…
The last thing you want to be doing right now is getting back out to grab that drink or change the background music. Actually, we’re shuddering at the thought. Keeping things close to hand isn’t much better; balancing things on the side of the tub (hello wet books) or leaning out to grab what you need (hello wet floor) is never ideal.
A tub tray might just be the solution to your problems. The tray lays along the length of your bath and allows you to store drinks, books, magazines and gadgets close to hand, but also in safety and dryness.
Deploying one during bath time allows you to relax with a glass of wine balanced above you, alongside that book you’ve finally got the time to read. It’s the ultimate hack to recreate a lavish, luxurious spa day experience at home, and the good news is that you can get a decent tub tray for as little as £15 online, with high-end models costing around £60.
WINE HOLDER GLASS
Speaking of that glass of the good stuff, if you like to drink a glass of wine in the tub (who doesn’t?) then this one may well revolutionise your bathtime supping experience.
Let’s be honest here for a moment; when it comes to wine holders for baths, not all have been created equal. Some, in fact, lead to a lot of spilt wine and a concerning colour to the bath water.
In our experience, the best of the bunch and a number one seller on ebay is the SipCaddy. As Bustle explains ‘’Basically, the creators came up with a cup holder meant for cans, bottles, cups, and wineglasses — even those with stems. That is brilliant in and of itself, but what separates it from all the other novelty items for sale on the Internet is that the cup holder is attached to a heavy-duty suction cup.’
‘According to the product website, the suction cup can stick to non-porous surfaces made of plastic, ceramic, metal, glass, and mirrored material, and it is capable of holding up to seven pounds.”
We couldn’t agree more. And if drinking wine in the bath is your thing, then you’ll too be wondering how you ever lived without a bathroom wine glass holder before.
A BATH PILLOW
As we’ve already established, there are a few things that can ruin a long, luxurious soak in the bath. These include the doorbell ringing, the fire alarm going off and the cold hard edge of the tub digging into the back of your neck.
In the past, we’ve used rolled-up towels to support our heads. However, if you too have done this, then you’ve probably already felt that sinking feeling when that carefully crafted towel falls into the bath the moment you shift position slightly. Enter the bath pillow, designed to support your neck, be totally waterproof, and perch perfectly on the end of the tub – in other words; the ideal solution to that irritating crick in the neck.
If you want to go all out, invest in a full body bath cushion which supports and provides comfort for the whole body. If you’re thinking about investing in that whirlpool bath we mentioned, then definitely get one of these, too; the two work beautifully together!
A BATHROOM SPEAKER
The idea of a long, languid soak for hours seems wonderful on paper, but many people (even us!) get bored in the tub surprisingly soon after settling in.
Enter the waterproof, wireless speaker, designed with clever suction cups to keep the thing stable and dry, and able to keep you entertained for hours in the tub if that’s your wish. Catch up on the news, listen to your favourite podcast, or sing along to your favourite songs in the tub…one of life’s greatest pleasures, we think.
Many also have a built-in microphone and hands-free speaker phone option should you wish to share your musical talents (or your water) with friends. Or you could, you know, simply catch up on some gossip with your pals while you soak. Here at IDEAL, we like to play a zen playlist while relaxing in the bathtub to create that at home spa experience, the dripping of the sink’s broken tap bringing a relaxing, waterfall-esque quality to the whole affair. But that’s just us.
THE BOTTOM LINE
We’ve been extolling the virtues of baths for so long, we think it’s time to go run one! Before you do the same, why not check out our article on 6 IDEAL ways to have the best bath ever at home? You won’t regret it!