Basic moments
Important! You need to dry the broom in natural conditions. Do not try to speed up the process by using an open flame, heater, drying cabinet or oven. In this case, the broom will lose almost all its beneficial properties and lose its aroma.
To avoid common mistakes, remember the following rules:
- Do not dry the broom in a draft. Drafts “blow” the scent out of the foliage.
- Avoid direct sunlight . In this case, the broom will turn out to be overdried and will quickly lose its foliage.
- Beware of high humidity . When exposed to moisture, the green mass will quickly rot and become moldy.
- Use only healthy raw materials for drying . Do not take branches affected by diseases and parasites.
The most important thing is to ensure that sufficient distance is maintained between the brooms during drying. They should not hang close to each other. This may lead to damage to the raw materials.
Frequent mistakes when procuring raw materials
Often, inexperienced bathhouse attendants unknowingly make a number of mistakes:
- The shoots are cut off quite early or, on the contrary, too late. This affects the quality.
- Early assembly will make the twigs brittle. Such twigs cannot be used as a bath broom.
- Summer is the optimal time for cutting shoots.
- It is not recommended to dry raw materials in the sun. Otherwise, the brooms will turn out shapeless, weakly smelling and have an unsightly faded color.
- You cannot dry the shoots in wet weather or after rain, this will lead to the brooms becoming moldy, and as a result they will have to be thrown away.
- For proper preparation, the raw materials must be absolutely dry.
If you comply with all assembly and drying conditions, you can get not only beautiful, but also fragrant bath brooms. High quality raw materials retain their properties for two years.
How to choose a place for drying?
Ideal places to dry brooms:
Waiting room
Attic of a private house
Hayloft
Some people dry brooms in garages. However, you need to ensure that there are no foreign odors in the room. Otherwise, during bath procedures you will enjoy the aroma of gasoline, not wood.
In the city, you can dry brooms on a glassed-in balcony. In this case, you need to ensure that the sun's rays do not fall on the branches. For security, you can hang thick curtains on the windows.
So, an ideal drying place should have the following qualities:
Do not have unpleasant or pungent odors.
Be dry and warm.
Have reliable dimming.
Only in this case can you count on a high-quality result.
How to give a broom the correct shape?
Finished brooms may differ in shape. It all depends on the method of drying them. They are flat and “fluffy”.
Flat brooms are obtained if they are first kept under a load. Brooms with a fluffy crown are the result of hanging drying. Both options have their advantages and features.
Flat or "shovel" shape
It is considered classic and most correct. This broom is convenient for steaming and pumping up steam.
Lush crown
This crown is left if the broom is intended for “aroma”. When dried in a suspended state, the leaves retain much more essential oils and beneficial substances, which are revealed in the steam room.
If necessary, you can combine two drying methods at once. For this:
- Ready fresh brooms are laid out on top of each other in a well-ventilated, dark room.
- Leave them in this position for 24-48 hours. If you want to leave the brooms for a longer period of time, do not forget to turn them regularly: 1-2 times a day. Otherwise, the foliage will rot and rot.
- When the brooms dry out a little, they are hung in a pre-prepared place for permanent storage.
The finished broom turns out to be quite lush, but at the same time it does not have protruding branches that can interfere with the process of visiting the steam room.
Expert opinion
Lovkachev Boris Petrovich
Bath master who knows everything about steaming
Regardless of the chosen drying method, it is recommended to wither the branches a little before assembling the broom. This can be done under a canopy, away from sunlight.
Healing properties
A broom made from birch branches has a huge number of healing components. Many essential oils, tannins, phytoncides, carotene and ascorbic acid have a positive effect on the human body.
It is recommended to make mixed brooms. To the birch branches you can add several branches of juniper or bay tree, a little wormwood, chamomile, St. John's wort, and nettle. This will add more aroma and double the healing properties of the broom.
Using such a broom will help with pain and aches in joints and muscles, and relieve tension after training or physical activity. Essential oils will help combat rashes and dry skin. After the bath, you can prepare a healing infusion from birch branches to strengthen your hair and eliminate dandruff.
Drying by weight
Drying a broom while hanging is considered a classic method. This is the simplest option.
To do this you need:
- Choose a suitable place for drying and place a rope or a pole in it on which the brooms will be hung.
- Hang the prepared brooms, keeping the distance between them. Under no circumstances should they be hung closely.
- Leave the brooms until completely dry.
You can tell that the broom is dry by the characteristic rustling of the leaves. If the leaves break and crunch, then you have dried it out.
Drying by weight is suitable for any brooms. After drying, they turn out lush. Ideal for massage.
Horizontal drying
During the horizontal drying process, the broom takes on a flat shape. This method is often used by professional bath attendants.
It requires:
- Tie brooms of the required size from pre-withered branches.
- Place them in stacks in several layers on a dry and flat surface.
- Place the weight on top. There is no need to take too heavy a weight, as it can lead to deformation and breakage of the branches.
- Turn over and swap brooms daily.
When the leaves are dry, the brooms should be removed for further storage in a pre-prepared place.
Drying in hay
If you have a hayloft, you can dry brooms in the hay.
A large amount of dry hay allows you to create ideal conditions for drying and storing raw materials, promotes complete ventilation and rapid evaporation of moisture from the leaves. To dry in hay, you must adhere to the following algorithm:
- Cut fresh branches and prepare them. Remove diseased leaves, remove excess branches and jagged edges at the site of the future handle.
- Cover the prepared branches with dry hay. It should cover them completely.
- Turn the branches over once a day and replenish them with fresh hay.
Important! This drying method is only suitable for individual branches. The brooms themselves are tied immediately before use. Drying in hay is convenient in cases where you prefer to use prefabricated brooms consisting of different plants.
Keep in mind that different plants dry out differently. If 1-1.5 weeks are enough for a birch broom to completely dry, then for an oak broom this period will stretch to 3 weeks or longer. That is why you need to independently monitor and control the process.
General steaming algorithm
A freshly picked broom steams very quickly. It is enough to immerse it in warm water for 3-4 minutes and start using it. But it is worth considering that it has a less healing effect when compared to dry, so it is recommended to prepare oak branches at least 1 week before visiting the steam room.
The usual procedure for steaming a dried broom is as follows:
- immersion for 1–2 minutes in a basin of warm water;
- immersion in cold water for 1–2 minutes;
- soaking in warm water for 5–7 minutes;
- Add hot water to the container with a broom and cover with a lid for 7-10 minutes.
How to store finished brooms?
There are several ways to store bath brooms. This allows each person to choose the most suitable and optimal option for themselves. Let's look at this issue in more detail.
Hanging storage
This is the most common and proven method. Dried brooms are placed in a previously prepared place, hanging them on a pole or rope.
Important! Since fluctuations in humidity and temperature are observed in any room, brooms stored in a suspended state may dry out. Additionally, thin branches can become brittle and brittle.
However, the negative consequences of such storage can be minimized.
To do this, each broom needs to be wrapped in paper. It will be stored in this position until use. Also be sure to maintain the distance between brooms. The optimal gap between them should be 15 centimeters.
You can use an attic or a dressing room as a storage space. As a last resort, you can hang brooms on the balcony or veranda. Most importantly, they should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
Storage in a city apartment
In a city apartment, the easiest way to store brooms is in a large cardboard box. Before placing them in it, make sure there is good ventilation. To do this, you can make several small holes on the top and sides.
Place the dried brooms in rows on top of each other. Line each row with newspaper or wrapping paper. It will maintain an optimal level of humidity and prevent air stagnation.
You can place the box in a closet or on a glazed balcony. If the room is excessively dry and hot, the brooms will dry out quickly. In rooms with high humidity they can rot.
You should not store brooms on the mezzanine, since the air at the top is usually much drier and hotter.
If possible, dried brooms can be packed in vacuum bags. This will extend their shelf life and prevent them from drying out.
Important! If there is no box, you can use a large bag made of natural fabric for storage.
Please note that regardless of the method you choose, dry brooms should not be stored for longer than 2 years. The longer you store them, the less beneficial properties they retain. The aroma of the leaves also evaporates.
Rules for collecting birch twigs
Since this is most likely your first harvest, find out in advance where the nearest birch grove is located, so that then, choosing the right moment, go straight to harvesting.
The most suitable place is a shady lowland, where it is quite humid and at the same time not wet: near a river, lake or at least a large stream. Look for young weeping and curly birch trees - the best for making bath brooms.
It is best to cut branches with pruning shears: choose lateral, low-growing ones, those without earrings. It is advisable to be thinner and straighter, the optimal length is 50-60 cm. In addition, choose branches with forks at the rate of 2-3 pieces per broom; they will give it more strength, as has long been noted by folk craftsmen.
And be careful, don’t get too carried away in a barbaric way with just one tree—it also needs branches to live. Better a little, but from more trees.
What to do if the broom is dry?
Even a very dry broom can be revived.
To do this, you need to follow a simple algorithm:
- Before steaming, you need to sprinkle it generously with cold water.
- After this, the broom should be left on the shelf in the bathhouse so that the foliage is saturated with moisture. If desired, the crown can be covered with a damp cloth.
- After 15-20 minutes, the broom can be steamed in any way familiar to you.
You can tell that the crown has dried out by a simple sign: its leaves become more brittle. Instead of the characteristic rustling sound, they make a cracking sound and crumble even with minor mechanical stress.
Buy or make it yourself?
In fact, there is no difference if you trust the person from whom you buy the brooms and have no doubts about the origin of the birch twigs and their environmental friendliness. The easiest way, of course, is to buy a broom directly in the bathhouse, because any self-respecting establishment should have a selection of fresh bath accessories by default.
It’s another matter if you like non-standard solutions and want to give yourself one hundred percent to the bath culture: a birch broom prepared with your own hands, carefully knitted from painstakingly selected and prepared twigs is a reason to brag to your friends and, of course, it’s much more psychologically pleasant to take a steam bath with such a broom. Shall we talk about savings? No, let's just do something fun!
How and where to store bath brooms?
In order for the broom to be stored for as long as possible and to preserve all its beneficial properties, you must remember the following rules:
- Brooms should not be stored on solid boards or the floor. The base must have good ventilation. Otherwise, the foliage may rot or become moldy.
- Fresh brooms that have just been collected and tied should not be placed under the load. You need to give them a little time to wilt.
- You cannot store brooms in the steam room. There they quickly deteriorate due to changes in humidity and temperature.
- Brooms that are reused must be thoroughly rinsed and straightened before drying. Only after this can they be hung to dry.
- Dry brooms can cause a fire, so storing them near a stove or other sources of open flame is prohibited.
- Do not store brooms near sources of strong odors. The foliage quickly absorbs it and then releases it when steamed.
- Protect brooms not only from the sun and moisture, but also from insect pests. Inspect the crowns from time to time for insect damage.
Question answer
Is it possible to dry pine brooms?
Coniferous brooms do not tolerate drying very well. Sometimes fir brooms are dried. However, even they are stored for a limited time. If you like pine brooms, it is best to use fresh branches each time. In extreme cases, the broom can be frozen.
What to do if traces of mold appear on the broom?
You need to get rid of such a broom immediately. It can be burned. Do not use it in a bath under any circumstances, as this can cause serious health problems.
Why did the broom begin to crumble a lot?
If the broom is crumbling a lot, it is most likely dry. Violation of the rules for the preparation and drying of raw materials is also possible.
How many years can a dry broom be stored?
It is recommended to store dry brooms for no longer than 1.5-2 years. The longer you store a broom, the less useful it remains. In addition to vitamins, the aroma leaves it.
Why can't you dry your broom in the sun?
Some people dry their brooms in the open sun. However, doing this is strictly prohibited. Firstly, such a broom dries out quickly, and its foliage becomes brittle and fragile. Secondly, ultraviolet radiation destroys most of the beneficial substances.
Preparation for drying
The process of making a broom can be divided into several stages:
- the branches are cut;
- sort and collect together;
- tied tightly in several places;
- form a handle.
The ability to skillfully knit brooms is acquired with experience. Branches for them must be taken from the middle of the tree. There they are quite flexible and rich in nutrients. You can buy ready-made brooms at the market, learning how to choose them correctly.
The height of the finished product can be from 30 to 60 cm. Everyone chooses the density as desired. Some people like fluffy little brooms, while others like big, loose bundles. Be sure to take care of the handle. It should be free of knots, properly rounded, neither thin nor thick, so that it is comfortable to hold on to in the bathhouse.
