When it comes to personalizing our cars, fuzzy dice and Elvis bobble-heads might be classic accessories, but they can’t quite match up to the benefits a miniature Himalayan salt lamp has to offer. Mini versions of full-scale lamps popular as decorative and healing items for the home, these lamps come with a USB cord you can slot in to your dashboard to light your lamp up for that lovely rosy-orange hue unique to these naturally occurring, hand-mined rocks – which also happen to release negative ions to help keep the interior of your car safe and healthy. Prolonged periods of time in the confined space of a vehicle can oftentimes get unbearable, and it doesn’t help that we’re the most exposed to pollution, be it from industrial smog drifting over the freeways to exhaust fumes from cars and trucks, when we’re on the road.
If you’re a smoker, or are travelling with one, all that trapped up tobacco smoke isn’t likely to be doing you or your lungs any favors either. Meanwhile, even if you drive with your car doors and windows tightly shut, dust is going to find a way inside, which in turn attracts moisture and can lead to an uptick of allergens anyone allergy-prone is not going to appreciate stewing in during hectic work weeks or for day-long road-trips, where we have no choice but to spend time in our vehicles. Plonk a Himalayan salt lamp on your dashboard, though, and you’ll experience a marked difference in all these conditions. Negative ions effectively neutralize contaminants like dust, bacteria and other pollutants like cigarette smoke, while these naturally hygroscopic lamps draw in moisture and remove them from the air to prevent accumulation of airborne allergens. Not to mention, the soothing glow of these lamps as well as negative ionization have been associated with mood boosts and stress-relief, and at no time do we need those more than when we’re stuck in traffic. Interested? We’ve rounded up our picks for the best Himalayan salt lamp for cars to get you started.
KEN’S PICK
Brighter Living Organics Natural Himalayan Salt Crystal Lamp
This travel-sized, hand-crafted natural salt lamp fits right in on your dashboard, the perfect accessory to brighten up your car – both literally and figuratively. Despite the small size, don’t underestimate this lamp – when lit, it’s heavy-duty enough to fight odors and contaminants you might otherwise be forced to stew in as you will away the hours in a traffic jam or during your morning commute. Negative ions can tackle irritants like fumes, smoke and dust, while the hygroscopic abilities of the salt lamp regulates moisture levels – this not only prevents any unfortunate allergy outbursts or an ill-timed cold or infection, but also improves your respiratory and immune systems and encourages healthy blood circulation. As with all hygroscopic, authentic salt lamps, the surface of the lamp is likely to sweat in humid conditions, but this is easy to take care of with a handy sponge in the glove compartment, or a clean tissue. With AC adapter and USB cord assembly, the lamp features multi-colored LED lightbulbs, which cycle through a series of colors to create a soothing effect, appropriate for mood-lighting and keeping your stress levels low and spirits high while you’re on the road.
KEN’S BUDGET PICK
Himalayan Salt Solution Lamp with USB Plug
One feature we immediately like about this lamp is the wooden base – you won’t have to worry about moisture pooling at the base of the lamp and potentially damaging your dashboard as the Himalayan salt draws in water. In a classic, jagged shape reminiscent of marble or precious gems, this lamp may be too small to carry out the full-scale negative ionization we’d look for in a heavy-duty therapy lamp, but for the price is still a great decorative option to add a splash of color to our car. Either way, the soft, LED-powered amber glow of this USB connected lamp is relaxing to keep around, ambient as well as uplifting, with orange lights generally associated with warmth, happiness and rejuvenation, especially handy if you’re going to be stuck in a car for a while.
RUNNER-UP
Himalayan Salt Solution White Salt Lamp
White salt lamps are often the rarest of the bunch (and therefore usually pricier), so if you’re looking for a novelty item as the centerpiece for your car, this is the one to go for. Sourced from the natural salt mines of Pakistan, this lamp exudes a surreal silver light, associated with clarity and purity, with tinges of the colored bulbs you choose to use shining through the translucent crystal. Bigger than our budget pick, clocking in at 8 inches, with lightbulbs of the right wattage the salt will heat up and generate the negative ions we need to tackle all the contaminants and allergens swimming around inside a locked car, helping maintain and healthy and therapeutic conditions within our vehicles. This lamp, like our previous entry, also comes with a wooden base helpful in keeping our dashboards clean and moisture-free.
Note that white salt lamps may be too bright to use during the evenings; however, you can opt for a dimmable replacement cord, sold separately, to control the brightness.
RUNNER-UP
HOMY LED USB Himalayan Salt Lamp
Hand-crafted, so each lamp is different from the next, these all-natural Himalayan salt lamps come with a color-changing LED lightbulb already installed, so you can enjoy a beautiful and relaxing color-play to keep your mood bright while on the road, while also remaining reassured that you’re breathing in clean, contaminant-free air. The negative ions released as the salt warms also help improve your immune system, clear out your respiratory system and aid circulation, so you get to glean a long-term physical benefit being around these lamps. And what better time to take advantage of that than when you’re literally stuck in a seat inside a vehicle for prolonged periods of time?
SOURCES
- Confused.com: https://www.confused.com/on-the-road/maintenance/how-to-beat-condensation-in-your-car
- The Unbounded Spirit:
- Wellness Mama: https://wellnessmama.com/23569/himalayan-salt-lamp-benefits/
- Critical Cactus: http://www.criticalcactus.com/himalayan-pink-salt-lamp-health-benefits/