How long should you soak in the bath?

Soak for 15 to 20 minutes in water that is warm, not hot: close to body temperature, about 37°C. That is long enough to settle into the water, and short enough that skin doesn't start to feel dry or the heat become too much.

Quick answer
- How long: 15 to 20 minutes.
- How warm: warm, not hot. Close to body temperature, about 37°C.
- Quick check: dip your elbow or wrist in. The water should feel pleasantly warm, never uncomfortably hot.
- If your skin feels dry: keep baths shorter and moisturise straight after.
- Get out slowly if you feel light-headed or too warm.
- Take extra care if you are pregnant, and always supervise children.

How long should you soak in the bath?

Fifteen to twenty minutes is the right length for most baths. It gives the water time to do what you ran it for: the warmth, the scent, the quiet. Beyond that there is little to gain, and warm water slowly starts to leave skin feeling drier.

If your skin tends to feel dry, go shorter. The American Academy of Dermatology's advice for dry skin is a five to ten minute bath or shower in warm water, followed straight away by moisturiser.

What temperature should a bath be?

A bath should be warm, not hot: close to body temperature, which is about 37°C. At that point the water feels comfortable rather than striking, and you can stay in for the full soak without overheating.

Two easy ways to check:

  • By feel. The NHS advises checking a baby's bath by dipping your elbow in: it should feel the same as your body temperature. The same test works for an adult's bath. Mix the water well first so there are no hot patches.
  • With a bath thermometer. The simplest way to know the number rather than guess it.

For context, bath taps in new homes in England are fitted so the water cannot come out above 48°C. That figure is a safety ceiling against scalds, not a target. A comfortable bath sits well below it.

How can you tell if a bath is too hot?

A bath is too hot if it stings as you step in, if you have to lower yourself in slowly to bear it, or if you start to feel light-headed. Being too hot is one of the common causes of fainting listed by the NHS, so if you feel warm, dizzy or faint, sit up and let some water out before getting out slowly.

A cooler bath you can stay in comfortably for 20 minutes is a better soak than a hot one you have to leave after five.

Is a long, hot bath bad for your skin?

A long, hot bath can leave skin feeling dry and tight afterwards. That is why dermatologists' advice for dry skin is warm water and a shorter soak. To keep skin feeling comfortable:

  1. Keep the water warm rather than hot.
  2. Stay in for 15 to 20 minutes, or less if your skin is dry.
  3. Pat dry with a towel rather than rubbing.
  4. Moisturise while your skin is still slightly damp.

If your skin tends to feel dry, our guide to the oat milk bath covers a softer soak.

How do you time a bath without checking your phone?

The easiest way to time a bath is to choose something that lasts about 20 minutes and let it end the soak for you. A few ideas:

  • One side of a record, or a short playlist.
  • A chapter or two of a book.
  • A timer set before you get in, with the phone left outside the bathroom.
  • The water itself. When it drops from warm to merely pleasant, it is usually time.

Keep a glass of water within reach, and leave the bathroom door unlocked if you are on your own in the house.

When should you take extra care in the bath?

Take extra care with bath temperature and length if any of the following apply:

  • You are pregnant. The NHS advises avoiding anything that could make you too hot, such as hot tubs and saunas. Keep the bath warm, not hot, and check with your midwife or doctor if you're unsure.
  • Children are bathing. Use cooler water and always supervise.
  • You are drowsy or have been drinking alcohol. Don't bathe until you feel fully alert.
  • You have a medical condition or feel faint in warm water. Check with your doctor first.

Bath time in SLATE

A SLATE bath is built for a 15 to 20 minute soak. Run the bath warm, then drop in your Grid™: each pressed block is about 22 g and fizzes as it dissolves. Every block carries Epsom salt and kaolin clay in its base (the SALT block is Epsom salt on its own), and most add a scent: some blended from essential oils, some from fragrance oils. Our guide to lavender and chamomile in the bath explains how scent oils behave in water.

Building the Grid™ while the bath runs is part of the ritual: choosing blocks one at a time, for the evening you want. The System explains how the blocks combine.

A Grid™ for a twenty-minute soak
9 CALM · Lavender and chamomile · Quiet the noise
9 UNWIND · Vanilla and amber · Let it go
9 OAT · Colloidal oat · Calm and soften
Build this Grid™ →

Common questions

How long should you stay in the bath?

15 to 20 minutes in warm, not hot, water suits most people. If your skin feels dry, keep it shorter.

What is the ideal bath temperature?

Close to body temperature, about 37°C. It should feel pleasantly warm on your elbow or wrist, never uncomfortably hot.

Is it bad to stay in the bath for an hour?

Long soaks are not needed, and warm water can leave skin feeling dry over time. If you want a longer evening, get out after 20 minutes and carry the ritual on outside the bath.

Why do I feel dizzy after a hot bath?

Getting too hot is a common cause of feeling faint. Keep the water warm rather than hot, sit up slowly, and let some water out before you stand. If it keeps happening, speak to your doctor.

How hot is too hot for a bath?

If it stings, if you have to ease yourself in, or if you feel light-headed, it is too hot. Top up with cooler water until it feels close to body temperature.

Should you moisturise after a bath?

Yes, if your skin tends to feel dry. Pat dry, then moisturise while your skin is still slightly damp.

How often can you have a bath?

As often as suits your skin. If it starts to feel dry or tight, run shorter, cooler baths and moisturise after each one.

Sources

SLATE products are cosmetics for external use only. If you have a skin condition, are pregnant, or have any concerns, check with your doctor before use. Patch-test any new product. Keep out of reach of children. Contains essential oils; see each block's ingredient list for allergens. Every block contains sweet almond oil (tree nut).

SLATE is a soak for the body and mind: small-batch bath blocks of cosmetic-grade ingredients, made in the UK. Build your Grid™

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Build your Grid™

Choose each block, compose your Grid™, and let the water take it from there.

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