Why i love himalayan salt lamps

_They’re more than New Age fluff._ Okay, I’ll admit it, I’m a salt-lamp junkie.* I have one in every room in my house and I obtain tremendous comfort from them. Not only are they attractive

to look at, but they make my sinuses and skin feel better. And even though I can’t find any scientific literature to back up these claims, in this case, I don’t need science to tell me how

wonderful they make me feel. (See my Medium article on research and anecdotal claims.) So, what exactly are Himalayan Salt Lamps and how do they work? The answer is in their name. These

lamps and various other products like them are made from salt mined in the Himalayan mountains, a range that runs about 1,500 miles through the countries of Pakistan, India, Bhutan, and

Nepal, with the most authentic salt lamps coming from the Khewra Salt Mine in Pakistan. It is said the salt from these products releases negative ions that purify the air and remove odors.

Again, there are no official studies to back this up, but I discovered how well they can remove odors when we hadn’t replaced the bulbs in our kitchen lamps for a while. Once we replaced

them, our kitchen and parlor area became odor-free again, literally overnight. I am fascinated by the array of shapes, sizes, colors, and functions of these products. Type “Himalayan salt

lamps” into your search engine to see what I mean. They come in natural, rectangle, pyramid, bowl, flower, leaf, moon, heart, and angel shapes, along with my favorite, the simple sphere

shape that reminds me of an October moon. Their colors range from a pinkish hue to dark cinnamon. Something for everyone and for every décor. And lamps aren’t the only products out there.

I’ve found a large selection of tealight and candle holders, as well as nightlights for sale, online and in stores. Prices will vary depending upon the weight and shape of the item.

Predictably, a naturally shaped salt product will cost less than one that has been carved into a tulip shape. Regardless of what you’re willing to spend, make sure you’re getting the real

deal. Some knock-offs may tempt you with their low prices, but don’t be fooled. You can tell the difference between the products because the fake ones will have a brighter light with a shiny

plastic look to them, instead of the matte soft glow and slightly coarse feel of a real salt lamp. Most salt products will be powered by electricity. A nightlight will be a plug-in unit,

but a full-sized lamp will have a small bulb inside of it, usually held in place with a clip. The on/off or dimmer switch on the full-sized models can be found in-line on the cord. Candle

holders, by definition, will be powered by the heat of candlelight. But no matter which form you buy, please be aware that this is a natural product and must be treated as such. The salt

will attract moisture and these products can sweat, leaving permanent salt rings on table tops and shelves. After a few hard-won battles, I learned to put my salt lamps in a shallow glass or

ceramic dish that matches the color of my shelf or in a clear glass dish that allows the color of my shelf to shine through. Whatever you do, do _not_ use a metal dish. The salt will

destroy the dish and bleed through to wreck whatever is underneath it. These products can be very heavy so make sure you have a firm grip with both hands on them when you work with them. If

you drop the lamp, it will chip or break and it can inflict serious injury if it lands on your foot. Should they acquire dust, and the only time I’ve had this happen is when I turned them

off to go on vacation, leave them in place and lightly wipe the salt area with a slightly damp cloth, then allow the lamp to air dry before turning it back on. The caveat to owning a salt

lamp is that you will have to do a little maintenance once in a while to keep it performing at its best. The first thing I do with my lamp is to check the bulb size, then buy extras to have

on hand. Depending upon the size and shape of the lamp, the bulbs can range from 15 to 40 watts, so buy your spares accordingly. FYI, when I used a higher watt bulb than what came with the

lamp, I had to replace the bulb sooner, not later. I’m not an electrician, but I would guess the higher wattage generates more heat and this is what shortens the bulb’s lifespan. Eventually,

no matter what size bulb you’re using, the bulb will burn out, and you will have to replace it. _THE FIRST STEP IS TO UNPLUG THE LAMP. SAFETY FIRST, I CAN’T EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH! _I

usually put down newspaper on the kitchen table before I begin because if you’re not careful, you can shatter the old bulb and make a mess. The table is a good place to work, strong enough

to support the weight of your lamp and large enough to spread out the paper. When you’re ready, wear gloves and wrap the old bulb in a dry towel or rag before unscrewing it to protect your

hands should it break. Looking at the top of the bulb, the direction to unscrew the bulb would be counterclockwise or to your left. The old alliteration for this is “Lefty loosey — Righty

tighty.” Once you’ve got the bulb out, screw in the new bulb, turning it to the right — “Righty tighty.” Stop when it is just snug. Cranking the bulb down too tight will make it all the

harder to remove next time. This is how bulbs get broken. Now, before putting the bulb unit back inside the lamp, plug it in and click the “on” switch to make sure everything is working. If

the new bulb did not light up, unplug it and try another new bulb in case the first one was defective from the package. This has happened to me more than once. If the second bulb does not

work, you may have to purchase a new cord and light socket. Go online and shop for a “replacement cord for salt lamps,” then buy the one that matches your original equipment, screw in a new

bulb, and test-drive it before you put it in your lamp. I run my lamps all day long and turn them off at night because the glow, even though gentle, tends to keep me awake. Because of this,

I use electronic timers for my lamps and I’ve had great luck with them. To find the right timer for your unit, take the description of your lamp to your local hardware store and have them

help you pick out the right timer. This concludes the story of my experience with Himalayan salt products. I hope my article will encourage you to try at least one of the many products

available and that you will enjoy them as much as I do. Thank you for reading. _*I do not sell any Himalayan salt products nor am I receiving any kind of compensation for promoting them. The

opinions in this article are mine and mine alone, based on my past experiences. I am not responsible for any injury incurred when buying, handling, or maintaining salt products._