Himalayan Salt Lamps in Singapore - Benefits, Uses and Where to Buy

Himalayan salt lamps have become increasingly popular in Singapore. You’ll see them in many homes as a centrepiece decoration in living rooms and even bedrooms. The glow from the salt lamp is enchanting and makes the space feel exceptionally cosy. The allure of a salt lamp from the storied mountains of Himalayas also brings some wonder along with it. Additionally, the Himalayan salt lamp is also said to bring about a whole range of health benefits. No wonder that they are so sought after!

Here are the best Himalayan Salt Lamps that you can buy

What are the benefits of a Himalayan salt lamp?

Besides the beautiful aesthetics of a salt lamp, they are said to bring about many health benefits. Do they really work or it is just a placebo effect? The answer is yes and no. While some of the health benefits are not supported by in-depth scientific studies, some are. Here are some of the more widely believed health benefits that a Himalayan salt lamp brings.

Cleans and purifies the air

A Himalayan salt lamp can help improve the air quality in your home. Since the early 1900s, people started going to salt caves if they had respiratory problems. This knowledge has passed down, and we can still see salt rooms in places like Korean saunas now. However, you should know that there has been no scientific study conducted to prove this connection. It could be the placebo effect in play. Or not. As a result, salt lamps are said to be helpful if someone has asthma and allergies. If you have serious respiratory issues, do not just depend on a Himalayan salt lamp to cure all your problems. It may alleviate some symptoms, but the best way to get a permanent cure is to visit a doctor.

Reduces stress and helps you relax

Salt lamps are said to emit negative ions while they are on. A link was found between negative ions and the improvement of moods and feelings. Basically, if you came into contact with negative ions, you would feel happy, relaxed and be less stress. On a scientific note, this link was found but was not 100% to be attributed only to negative ions. So, take this benefit with a pinch of salt (pun intended).

Besides negative ions, a Himalayan salt lamp is beautiful. It can be very relaxing to look at, especially with the warm and soft light coming from it. Having it as a centrepiece in your home will make your home look more cosy and relaxing.

Improves your sleep quality

The Himalayan salt lamp is said to help you sleep better through two methods. Firstly, if you use the salt lamp as a light source in your bedroom instead of a harsh LED light, it would set the right mood for sleep. Dim lights make you feel sleepy quicker and prepare your body to anticipate the night time. On the other hand, LED lights will make your body think that it is still day time which may delay your sleep time.

A salt lamp might also help put you in the mood to sleep as it ionizes the air. There exists a possible correlation between ionization and better sleep.

Helps with skin conditions like eczema

A common home remedy for eczema is to take a bath with Himalayan salts. An alternative if you do not want direct contact with the salt would be to use a Himalayan salt lamp. As the lamp is turned on, some elements of the salt will come into contact with your skin. There have been real-life reports of improvement in skin conditions after the use of Himalayan salt lamps.

How does a salt lamp work?

A Himalayan salt lamp is supposed to ionize the air. A salt block cannot do that on its own. It requires a heat source to start the process of ionization. That is why you need to turn on the lamp for a salt lamp to work. As the heat from the lamp starts to heat up the Himalayan salt block, negative ions are released into the air. These will pair up with the positive ions in the air to reduce air pollution and improve air quality.

Where to buy a Himalayan salt lamp in Singapore?

Our favourite place to get a Himalayan salt lamp is from Lazada. There are many sellers to choose from there. Here is a list of shops that you can buy from.

Common questions about salt lamps

Is a salt lamp safe?

Yes. Having a Himalayan salt lamp in your home is safe. Even if some of its benefits are not scientifically proven, there are no known harmful effects from using a Himalayan salt lamp. After all, salt is something that we consume on a daily basis from our diet. However, do make sure your Himalayan salt lamp is kept away from your pets if you have them. Your dogs or cats may be intrigued by it and start licking it. Ingesting too much salt may be harmful to them.

What size should I get?

You can get a Himalayan salt lamp in many sizes. It can be as small as 1 kilogram or more than 10 kilograms. However, it does not mean that the bigger, the better. Instead, you should look for a salt lamp that is suitable for the size of the room or space that it will be in.

If you are getting it for your bedroom, a 2 or 3 kg salt lamp will be perfect for a 100 square feet room. If your room is slightly larger, get a 3 to 4 kg piece. If you are lucky enough to live in a humongous house, use this formula (1kg increment for every 30 to 40 square feet). For an average apartment or HDB living room, a 3 to 6kg salt lamp will be the optimal size.

How is a Himalayan salt lamp made?

Your Himalayan salt lamp comes from a salt mine on the famous Himalaya mountains in the Northern Pakistan region. The process of creating a salt lamp is quite tedious which is why it is quite expensive and rare.

First, the miners will have to use explosives to break apart the salt rocks into smaller pieces, so it is easier to mine and collect. After that, the salt rocks are transported out of the salt mines and taken to a production facility. The salt rocks are washed with salt water and cut or broken down into smaller pieces. Once they are of the right size, they are sun-dried and then broken further down into sizes suitable for your home or office. Finally, they are carefully packed into protective boxes and transported out of the country to you.

How to tell if your Himalayan salt lamp is real?

There are a few telltale signs that will tell you that the Himalayan salt lamp that you are buying is real. A Himalayan salt block is mined from the western region of Himalayas. Commonly, it is from the Khewra Salt Mine in Pakistan. The shop that you are getting the salt lamp from should have some form of certification that shows their lamps come from Pakistan.

Look at the real-life customer reviews online. If the salt lamp is good and authentic, the online reviews should generally be positive. If you see bad reviews, it would be best to avoid that particular store.

A Himalayan salt lamp usually has an irregular shape and density. That means that when the lamp is turned on, the light transmitted from it is generally uneven because some parts of the salt block are denser than other parts. If everything looks too perfect, it could be a sign that the salt block is not actually mined but man-made.

Will a salt lamp melt?

A salt lamp does not melt. Usually, people think that the moisture on the salt lamp is the result of its melting. That is not the case. Because of Singapore’s humid climate, your salt lamp may be more prone to sweating. If you keep your Himalayan salt lamp on frequently, it should lower the occurrence of this “melting”.

How long will a Himalayan salt lamp last?

Technically, it will last almost forever. Salt’s lifespan is estimated to be around 250 million years. You are more likely to damage it by dropping it rather than it disappearing over time. Who knows you may even be able to pass your salt lamp to your next generation.

However, only the salt component of the lamp has a long lifespan. For the bulb inside, it can usually last for a few years before you need to change it.

How to take care of your Himalayan salt lamp?

Himalayan salt lamps are usually very durable and can last for many years even with daily use. If you take care of it, you will extend its lifespan so that you can enjoy the benefits it brings for an even longer time.

You should clean your salt lamp once every few weeks. There might be some moisture and dust collected on it. You can use a dry cloth to wipe it gently once through which should take less than a minute.

You should use your Himalayan salt lamp regularly. By turning it on, the lamp’s heat will help to reduce the absorption of moisture. If you do not plan to use it regularly, you should store your salt lamp away in an airtight container to prevent moisture from damaging it. However, this is only in the case where you do not plan to use it for weeks or months. If you see that your salt lamp is wet, either turn on the lamp for a few hours or leave it under direct sunlight for an hour or two.

As Singapore’s climate is humid, your Himalayan salt lamp will be more susceptible to moisture forming. An option would be to put a small tray under your lamp to collect any moisture that forms.

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