A bathhouse without a broom is not a bathhouse! But simply purchasing or making a bath broom is not enough: it is important to know how to use it. Start using a bath broom by steaming it. If you are not familiar with this process, but want to get acquainted, then this article is what you need. In it we will tell you how to properly steam a bath broom (birch, linden, juniper, eucalyptus, oak and fir).
Oak branches for a sauna 2. How to prepare birch branches 3. Eucalyptus branches for a sauna 4. Steaming a fir broom 5. Variation from juniper 6. Steaming a linden broom
Photo by ru.depositphotos: A visit to the bathhouse is not complete without this procedure!
How to steam an oak broom for a bath and extend its “life”
First you need to find out what branches your oak broom is made of. If you suddenly discover that it is made from fresh branches, then such a broom does not need to be parked. All you need to do before using an oak broom from fresh branches is to thoroughly clean them of dust and dirt. To do this, rinse it in a basin or running water.
Before steaming an oak broom, remember: this must be done so that the integrity of the leaf structure is not compromised. The broom should remain uniform and strong, the shoots should not become flabby and eventually become limp.
Before steaming, the oak broom must be soaked in plain water. You shouldn’t keep it there for a long time, a quarter of an hour is enough, during this time the broom should be placed in a basin or bucket with water heated to about +40 degrees. After this time, you need to add +60 degrees water to the container and turn the broom over to the other side every 15 minutes. You need to do this for an hour - this is the procedure.
If you don’t have time to wait, then you can literally bring the oak broom to readiness in just a few minutes, but for this you need a bath steamer. Fill the steamer with water, place a broom there for 5 minutes and transfer it to hot stones for a minute so that it is dry.
If you have planned a trip to the bathhouse in the evening, you can soak the broom in the morning:
- It should be placed in water at room temperature for an hour.
- Then place it in water heated to +60 degrees for an hour.
- Then transfer to a bag, shaking off excess moisture.
- In the bathhouse, just moisten it and place it on hot stones for a minute.
| Note! If you want the broom to last as long as possible, you can place it in cold water for 9–11 hours before use. However, such a broom will contain a minimum of useful substances and you should not rely on their effects. |
Photo pexels/cottonbro: It is better to pre-soak oak branches in cold water.
Health with thorns
Brooms from pine, spruce, cedar, and juniper must be cut relatively recently (the needles fall off on “dried” brooms) and they must be steamed at least half an hour in advance. And, before using such brooms, you need to steam the skin. Coniferous brooms are good for radiculitis, rheumatism, neuralgia, gout. They have a powerful bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect. A juniper broom (by the way, it never consists entirely of juniper branches, they are too prickly!) will help cope with allergies. In general, juniper broom is perhaps the most saturated in terms of the amount of useful substances. So it's worth being patient!
How to steam a eucalyptus broom for a bath: useful tips
You can steam a eucalyptus bath broom in several different ways, each of which is quite effective and allows you to preserve all its medicinal qualities:
- Method number 1. The simplest, but time-consuming. It is necessary to pour hot water into a basin, and then place the part of the broom that is covered with leaves into the water. You need to steam it for ten minutes and then transfer it to cold water. Such procedures must be repeated three times. After this steaming, the eucalyptus broom will be completely ready for use. You should not throw away used water: it has a number of medicinal properties. It is better to slowly pour it onto the heater and breathe in the beneficial steam. You can rinse with this water; it will disinfect your skin and improve the condition of your hair.
- Method number 2. Faster option. All you need is to take a deep basin and pour boiling water into it, then place a eucalyptus broom in the boiling water and leave it for forty minutes. After this time, you can remove it and use it. The steaming water can also be used for rinsing or added to the heater.
| On a note. Eucalyptus brooms can be used in combination with birch or oak brooms. This increases the massage effect, and the eucalyptus broom will last longer. |
Photo by ru.depositphotos: You can put to good use not only such a broom, but also used water.
Wormwood-bamboo cocktail
What kind of branches are not used to make brooms! Here, for example, is a fake one . It has a bronchodilator and antipyretic effect. Everyone's favorite is the eucalyptus - incredibly fragrant! The steamed broom is pressed to the face and breathed through the nose. Diseases of the bronchi, larynx, chronic cough and runny nose recede.
Bird cherry broom, rich in phytoncides, is used to prevent influenza. An elm broom will relieve chronic rheumatism. It is simply ideal for those who often have cold feet and hands, because it accelerates the blood perfectly.
How to steam a fir broom in three popular ways
You can steam a fir broom in one of three popular ways:
- Method number 1. 4 hours before going to the bathhouse, you need to place the broom in warm water. All this time it should be in water of about +45 degrees. Add hot water periodically to keep the temperature from dropping.
- Method number 2. You need to put a fir broom in a basin, pour boiling water over it, close the basin with a lid and leave it for a quarter of an hour. This is an accelerated method for steaming a fir broom for a bath, but also very effective.
- Method No. 3. Ideal when there is absolutely no time to prepare. It is necessary to rinse the broom well, place it in boiling water for five minutes, and then dry it on hot coals. Then you can use it.
Steamer
In order to properly prepare a broom, you need a steamer for a bath. This is usually the name given to a wooden container where it is filled with water. It can be with or without a lid; the first option is more preferable, but its price is higher. But the lid will not allow not only the steam to escape, but also the broom to float, and it will steam better.
Steamers for baths are:
- vertical, similar to a barrel or bucket;
- horizontal, resembling a pelvis.
The first ones are easier to make, so they are cheaper and more common.
Tip: in a horizontal steamer, broom branches are steamed evenly.
Steam a juniper bath broom in 3 steps
A juniper bath broom is usually steamed in one way. It is important to use fresh branches for the bath. If they are overdried or stored for a long time, then they will not be fully used: when steaming, the needles will simply fly off into the branches. A high-quality juniper broom is steamed as follows:
- You must first soak it in a container, preferably a basin, in water at room temperature for 15 minutes.
- After this, the juniper branches must be removed and the water thoroughly shaken off.
- Fill the container with boiling water and place a juniper broom there for a quarter of an hour, closing the container with a lid. After that it can be used.
What should you not do in the bathhouse?
When visiting the bathhouse you cannot:
- Drink alcohol. Together with elevated temperatures, this will create excessive stress on the cardiovascular system.
- Wipe the body with a washcloth , and also use soap and shampoo. They can dry out the skin. You can wash your hair after completing the bath procedures.
It is important to listen to your feelings. If your health worsens, you should leave the steam room and not enter again that day. And if alarm bells (dizziness, nausea) recur, you should give up relaxing in the bathhouse and go for a medical examination.
Steaming a linden broom for a bath
Linden is a rather soft and delicate tree, so it is necessary to steam the broom so that the leaves do not fly off during the steaming process:
- Method number 1. To begin, rinse the broom with cold water, then pour water about +80 into a basin and place it there for 15 minutes. After this time, remove the broom and hold it over the hot steam of the oven for about a couple of minutes.
- Method number 2. It is necessary to rinse the broom well in cold water, place it in a bowl of water about +90 degrees and cover with a lid for 15 minutes. Then you can use it and slowly pour the water onto the heater so that the linden aroma spreads throughout the sauna.
This is how you need to steam brooms for a Russian bath.
Photo by ru.depositphotos: Linden branches are processed at high temperatures. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Read other articles about the sauna: Choosing a stove for a sauna
Tips for building a bathhouse Wooden houses and bathhouses ______________________________________________________________________________________________ How do you soak a bath broom? Share your recommendations with other gardeners in the comments.
Oak and birch will save you from frost!
One of the most popular brooms is birch . Birch leaves contain phytoncides that purify the air and make it possible to breathe easily; moreover, these leaves fit very tightly to the steamed body and perfectly absorb sweat. In general, when steamed, a birch broom releases a variety of useful substances that expand the lungs and bronchi, removing mucus and phlegm from them: high temperature dilutes them, and the volatile substances of the birch broom are removed from the body. So for colds and for those who want to quit smoking or have just done so, a birch broom is the best choice. Do not under any circumstances throw away the water in which the broom was steamed. With its help, you can make weak hair that is prone to loss strong, and also get rid of dandruff.
Remember dates and places
To pamper yourself with an excellent accessory in the steam room, you need to collect good raw materials, then tie a broom and dry it, according to the canons.
The general rule for harvesting branches is: you need to collect them before lunch, on a day when the weather is clear and the dew on the grass has already dried. If it suddenly starts to rain, it is better to postpone the trip.
You need to go for oak somewhere from mid-June (usually after Trinity). However, the best quality broom is obtained from raw materials collected in July. Then the leaves on the branches stick better, and they themselves become stronger. The end of August marks the end of the harvesting season. Although, if you wish, you can collect branches in September, if it is warm. True, the quality of the broom will be slightly worse.
In different areas, the harvesting season begins and ends at different times. But you should firmly remember that after frost this cannot be done categorically. You'll just be wasting your time.
When should you go to cut brooms, and how should you do it? We are looking for suitable oak trees
Both common oak (called Quercus robur) and Canadian oak (also called Quercus rubra or red oak) are suitable for brooms. The latter has wide leaves and flexible long branches, which is convenient for mating. There is also Caucasian oak, which is good because its leaves are especially thick and durable.
We choose oak trees with large leaves, growing somewhere in a shady place. It is better if they are three or four meters high. We take pruning shears and cut a little side branches from each tree so as not to destroy them. Only after a year, when the oak tree has become stronger, can you come again and take branches from it. They should be straight, flexible and about half a meter long.
Do you want the best broom? Then look for an oak tree with a burdock lurking at the base of its trunk. And the most durable product is obtained from the branches of those trees that do not shed their leaves for the winter. They usually grow at high altitudes.
When enough branches have been collected, let them lie for an hour in the shade, spread out in one layer. Then we transport it, trying not to pack the branches tightly so that they do not overheat on the road. Otherwise it would be a pity if the leaves fell off because of this.
How to knit a broom correctly?
First, we discard branches that are woody or dotted with too little foliage. When knitting, the number of these branches is selected individually - usually based on the thickness of the handle, making it from 3 to 5 centimeters in diameter. In the place where it will be located, the leaves must be removed (about two palm widths).
There are two ways to form a broom:
- The easiest way is to knit with a ball. To do this, you need to lay the rods evenly in a circle - you get a loose product with good volume.
- "Shovel" is a more popular method. We lay the rods flat, so that they press the previously laid branch, and the outer side of the sheet faces the middle. This creates a dense fan.
We remember that thinner branches should lie closer to the outer part of the broom, and those that are thicker will be good in the middle. To make it strong and reliable, we fix the product in two places. Where the rods fan out, we use twine. And wrap a cloth around the edge of the handle (you can take a medical bandage).
Watch how to knit a broom correctly in the video. Remember the tips.
To get more pleasure and benefits, we will add healing and aromatic additives to the broom. A couple of rowan branches will invigorate, and coniferous branches will increase blood flow in the body and drive away colds. Bird cherry will serve as a bactericidal drug.
How to dry it properly?
First, let’s hold the finished accessory under pressure for about a day. This is if you need a flat shape. And then we hang brooms, two at a time, on a rope where there is a draft and where the rays of the sun do not reach. You need to take special care from them so that the leaves are not overcooked, removing all the beneficial substances.
We store finished products according to the rules
If you have a haystack (what if), then you can bury branches in it in the form of sheaves. In this case, we tie the brooms together immediately before going to the steam room. This method allows you to avoid deformation of finished products.
Well, in urban conditions we use a glazed loggia or balcony, garage, dry basement. Any place where it is cold, not damp and there is a draft is suitable. You can wrap the products in paper or put them in cardboard boxes. There are also “advanced” options - vacuum packaging or dry freezing.
As soon as the leaves dry well (this usually takes about a week), our accessory is ready for going to the steam room. Feel free to dip it in hot water. However, you can take a freshly tied broom with you, but we use warm water for soaking it.
We take a steam bath with pleasure
Oak accessories are the most durable. They are enough for about five times. But this is approximately. And so we look at the appearance of the broom - when it finally goes bald and becomes too rough, then you need to change it.
As for the steaming procedure, the easiest way to do it is this: first, dip the broom in cold water (for two or three minutes), and then in hot water (not boiling water). Cover the basin or bucket and wait until the oak begins to exude a wonderful smell. So it's time! By the way, the remaining water does not need to be poured out. It's worth splashing it on walls and hot stones. Nice and useful.
After the bath, we water the broom with warm water so that it becomes clean, and then we put it in a bag and take it to our place. At home, you need to hang it on a rope and wait until it dries completely, then put it back in place.
You can take care of extending the life of your bath assistant. To do this, in the morning, put it in a bucket of warm water for five minutes, then wet a rag in the same water, wring it lightly and wrap it around the broom. We put all this in a plastic bag and leave it until the evening, until the steam room, where we dip a broom in a bucket of hot water.
Your own or store bought - that is the question
For a broom to really be useful, it must be made according to all the rules. If you made it yourself, you can be sure of this. And store-bought products depend on your luck. However, provided you buy them in a reliable place, there will be no misfires.
- You can add something for your body and soul to your own broom. For example, a sprig of rowan, Christmas tree or eucalyptus. And in finished products you will have to be content with “what they give.”
- While steaming with friends, it is much more pleasant to pull out an accessory knitted with your own hands (or even give one to all your friends). It will be very emotional.
- If you visit the bathhouse regularly, using your own brooms will save you a lot of money.
A bath is a leisurely, gradual and consistent affair. Everything must have its own order. The oak broom is the real ruler of the bathhouse empire and it requires special treatment. It is necessary to steam an oak broom for a bath in advance.
Oak broom differs from birch broom in greater strength and density of leaves. A properly steamed broom in a steam room practically does not fall off.
A dense and wide oak leaf captures and brings more bath heat to the body. This broom warms the body well and softens the skin.
However, in order for the beneficial properties of the broom to reveal themselves in full force, you need to know the subtleties of steaming. An improperly soaked broom will lose its leaves, quickly break and scratch the skin.
An overly steamed broom will also not bring pleasure. The branches become limp, the foliage becomes heavy, it heats up very quickly and steaming with it is unpleasant and dangerous. Boiling water drips from the hot leaves onto the body, the leaves stick to the skin and burn very strongly.
To avoid such troubles in the steam room, you need to steam and soak the broom according to the rules.
