Traveling with Epsom salts

[CeruleanMoon]

So...here's a weird question. I'd like to bring some Epsom salts. For anyone who doesn't know what they are, Epsom salts are a kind of bath salt made from magnesium sulfate. You dissolve it in bathwater and soak in it, and it relieves ached and pains. It works wonders for sore, tired feet! Problem is I could only find some in a 4 lb bag! I don't want to lug that in my suitcase, nor do I need that much. I want to just take a smaller amount and put it in a zip-lock bag and pack it in my checked luggage.

Will this be a problem? I'm not foolish enough to try and take it in my carry-on, but I know they x-ray checked luggage as well, and I imagine a plain zip lock bag with mysterious white salt crystals in it is going to look problematic. I don't want to find out my suitcase has been ravaged, or worse yet, confiscated by overzealous TSA employees.

Has anyone traveled with this stuff? Am I ok with putting it in my suitcase? I don't want any problems, but I also bought it specifically for the trip, so I'd hate to leave it behind.

 

[Alesia]

It's fine. It's also fine to put it in your carry on, which is probably what I would do.

 

[CeruleanMoon]

I'm wondering if a better idea would be to dump out most of the salts into a gallon zip lock which I'd leave at home, and then bring the actual manufacturer's bag, just with a small amount left in it. At least that way, they wouldn't have to take my word for it as to what it was, because it's clearly labeled. I supposed it could still get confiscated, but hopefully not? If TSA examines your checked luggage does it hold up getting your luggage at the other end at all?

 

[scdak]

I have traveled with it in the 4lb bag in carry on without trouble, it was factory sealed and they tested the outside of the bag for drugs/explosives and I was rapidly on my way .

 

[CeruleanMoon]

I have traveled with it in the 4lb bag in carry on without trouble, it was factory sealed and they tested the outside of the bag for drugs/explosives and I was rapidly on my way .

That's good to know! All I could find while googling was a story of someone who was held up by TSA and questioned extensively. I hope many more people are making it though without issue like you did. It probably helped that yours wasn't open yet.

I don't want to carry 4 lbs though and I don't need it in my carry-on. I think I'm just going to go with emptying the bag out a bit and just bringing maybe 1lb or so in my checked luggage. I hope that will ok.

 

[Alesia]

You're worrying too much. Epsom salts aren't prohibited. They're totally fine.

 

[bababear_50]

Hi
Just my 2 cents...
and no question is ever a weird question,, wish I had asked .........
I travel with it due to a skin condition and I would not travel without it being in a sealed container/package with it's listed ingredients.
I travel from Canada to the USA and yes they have questioned it when I took it in a small baggie.
I recently found out that my neighbourhood dollar store sells small labeled bags of it for 1.00 so I take a couple of these with me every trip.
I plan to pack it in my checked suitcase.(TSA is asking people to declutter) their carry-on--see here
https://wtop.com/travel/2018/04/tsa-boosts-security-measures-us-airports/

I also learned the hard way that my Dr. prescribed skin cream should have a pharmacy label on it also,,it would have saved me alot of time at the airport.
Best wishes to you
Mel

**a side note
: the bath bombs (fizzies) I bought at Basins (Disney Springs) were opened and unwrapped
by TSA on my March 2018 trip.

 

[CeruleanMoon]

Hi
Just my 2 cents...
and no question is ever a weird question,, wish I had asked .........
I travel with it due to a skin condition and I would not travel without it being in a sealed container/package with it's listed ingredients.
I travel from Canada to the USA and yes they have questioned it when I took it in a small baggie.
I recently found out that my neighbourhood dollar store sells small labeled bags of it for 1.00 so I take a couple of these with me every trip.
I plan to pack it in my checked suitcase.(TSA is asking people to declutter) their carry-on--see here
https://wtop.com/travel/2018/04/tsa-boosts-security-measures-us-airports/

I also learned the hard way that my Dr. prescribed skin cream should have a pharmacy label on it also,,it would have saved me alot of time at the airport.
Best wishes to you
Mel

**a side note
: the bath bombs (fizzies) I bought at Basins (Disney Springs) were opened and unwrapped
by TSA on my March 2018 trip.

I wish I could have found a small package like that but I searched everywhere and found nothing but several lb bags. That size would have been perfect! Then I wouldn't have had to open it (which I already did.) I'm putting it on top in my suitcase so it will be easy to see.

You're worrying too much. Epsom salts aren't prohibited. They're totally fine.

I know it's not prohibited, but I've seen too many stories of TSA agents not being familiar with things (including things like bath salts) and holding everyone up while they investigate.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

I try make my life as easy as possible when going through TSA.

All of my medication items - ibuprofen, decongestant, antihistamine, etc. - are in one ziplock bag. Cables/ear phones for the phone are in one ziplock bag. Snacks are in one ziplock bag. That way if there IS a need for TSA to examine something, they can easily find what they want to see without having to unpack every single item in the carryon.

I'd carry epsom salts in their original labeled container inside a larger plastic ziplock bag, even if I had to leave some of the epsom salts at home.

 

[CeruleanMoon]

I'd carry epsom salts in their original labeled container inside a larger plastic ziplock bag, even if I had to leave some of the epsom salts at home.

This is what I've decided to do. It's in my checked suitcase, so hopefully TSA won't feel the need to open it up and examine it.

I try make my life as easy as possible when going through TSA.

All of my medication items - ibuprofen, decongestant, antihistamine, etc. - are in one ziplock bag. Cables/ear phones for the phone are in one ziplock bag. Snacks are in one ziplock bag. That way if there IS a need for TSA to examine something, they can easily find what they want to see without having to unpack every single item in the carryon.

I've been doing this as well. It makes things easier for me too!

 

[bumbershoot]

I would absolutely carry them on. Checking them is asking for issues. They’ll see it, open them, possibly spill them.

In carryon they MIGHT care about them, and if they do they hold you up for 2-10 minutes, as they are peering at it you say “Epsom salts” (NOT “bath salts” as that’s a nickname for drugs like my name Molly is) to help them, maybe they’ll test it, maybe they won’t, and you move on.

I’d go further. I would decant what you need into a gallon size zip top bag (maybe double up) and put the empty official bag into the zip top bag (maybe the outer one if you’re doubling). Then pull that out and put it in the bin with your shoes or 311 baggie.

Make it easy on them.

I would under no circumstances check them.


Also, go to any grocery store, go to the section where they keep things for constipation, and look at the bottom shelf. That’s where you’ll find the various size containers of non-fancy, cheap, Epsom salts.

 

[CeruleanMoon]

I would absolutely carry them on. Checking them is asking for issues. They’ll see it, open them, possibly spill them.

In carryon they MIGHT care about them, and if they do they hold you up for 2-10 minutes, as they are peering at it you say “Epsom salts” (NOT “bath salts” as that’s a nickname for drugs like my name Molly is) to help them, maybe they’ll test it, maybe they won’t, and you move on.

I’d go further. I would decant what you need into a gallon size zip top bag (maybe double up) and put the empty official bag into the zip top bag (maybe the outer one if you’re doubling). Then pull that out and put it in the bin with your shoes or 311 baggie.

Make it easy on them.

I would under no circumstances check them.


Also, go to any grocery store, go to the section where they keep things for constipation, and look at the bottom shelf. That’s where you’ll find the various size containers of non-fancy, cheap, Epsom salts.

Ugh. I don't know...the worst horror stories seem to come from people taking things in carry-ons. In my checked luggage I figure the worst that could happen is they open the suitcase and confiscate it. Whereas the worst that can happen in the airport is being detained for several hours, missing your flight, and being terrorized by overzealous agents. In a suitcase by itself I would think it would look far less threatening, whereas you taking it in the actual passenger compartment of the plane is riskier.

All this is making me wonder if I should just leave the stuff at home.

 

[CarolMN]

Lots of choices for epsom salt on Amazon. Here's 1lb. in a resealable bag:

https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Epso...d=1523914822&sr=1-15&keywords=Epsom+salt&th=1

 

[NotUrsula]

DD flies domestically with them often (headed to athletic competitions where she needs them if she overdoes at practice.) Her original package is a large jar, so the ziploc is our carrier of choice. I just photographed the label on the jar, printed that and slipped it into the baggie. She has TSA-pre now, but before we did, we just put that baggie into our larger meds baggie and put it in a bin. She normally tells the screener that there is a baggie of epsom salts in there, and that way they can decide whether or not to take a closer look. Most of the time they don't bother.

 

[CeruleanMoon]

Maybe I'll take another look and see if a local drug store has smaller packages of Epsom salts. Target and Walmart only had 4-8 lb bags. I don't recall seeing what I was looking for on Amazon at the time, but who knows. Leaving Wed, so no time now to order something.

DD flies domestically with them often (headed to athletic competitions where she needs them if she overdoes at practice.) Her original package is a large jar, so the ziploc is our carrier of choice. I just photographed the label on the jar, printed that and slipped it into the baggie. She has TSA-pre now, but before we did, we just put that baggie into our larger meds baggie and put it in a bin. She normally tells the screener that there is a baggie of epsom salts in there, and that way they can decide whether or not to take a closer look. Most of the time they don't bother.

I'm really glad to hear you had a positive experience, especially with putting it in a different container.

At this point, I'm discovering just how hard it is to fit everything I want to bring! I've got 1 day left to decide if I'll even bother bringing it. Thanks everyone!

 

[AquamarineSteph]

At our local Target & Wal Mart I've found 'scented' Epsom salts in smaller packaging. I've seen one in lavender. Another in eucalyptus. This may not help you at this late date, but going forward it may be something which interests you. The eucalyptus ones smell great and seem to soothe sore muscles for me better than then plain ones.

Have a great trip!!

 

[Woodview]

An 8 lb packet of Epson Salt was / is selling for $ 5 in Walmart this afternoon.

Why not buy here in Disney area ?

 

[Euby]

You could always buy it on Amazon and have it shipped to your resort.

 

[akl432]

Ugh. I don't know...the worst horror stories seem to come from people taking things in carry-ons. In my checked luggage I figure the worst that could happen is they open the suitcase and confiscate it. Whereas the worst that can happen in the airport is being detained for several hours, missing your flight, and being terrorized by overzealous agents. In a suitcase by itself I would think it would look far less threatening, whereas you taking it in the actual passenger compartment of the plane is riskier.

I took epsom salts in my carryon in a 1-lb factory sealed container. It was a huge hassle; they made a big deal out of it; they opened it and took some out to test it; all of my carryon items were scruitinzed. It didn't take several hours, but it took quite awhile. It was enough of a hassle for me to say never again. My recommendation is to stop at WalMart or a drugstore to buy some on the way to the resort.

Good luck!

 

[CeruleanMoon]

So, I ended up leaving the Epsom salts behind, partly because I didn't want to deal with the potential hassle, and partly because my suitcase was already so full and heavy that I needed to take something out anyway. We ordered from Amazon Prime for groceries and they didn't carry Epsom salts, so I had to do without. Not a big deal, but my feet sure could have used them! Next time I may get a small bag and NOT open it, then put it in my checked luggage. I think that's the safest bet if I ever go back and plan to bring it.