The Ultimate Guide to Using Essential Oils in Your Laundry for Fresh and Clean Clothes

If you’re a fan of essential oils, you probably know all about their wonderful scents and therapeutic benefits. But did you know that you can also use essential oils to freshen up your laundry? It’s true! Adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil to your laundry can make your clothes smell amazing and even provide some additional benefits. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about using essential oils in your laundry, from the best oils to use to how to add them properly.

Benefits of Using Essential Oils for Laundry

The main benefit of using essential oils in your laundry is the delightful natural fragrance they can impart to your clothes. Not only do they make your laundry smell amazing, but certain essential oils also have mood-enhancing and stress-reducing effects that can promote a sense of well-being. Additionally, some essential oils have antimicrobial properties that can help disinfect and deodorize your laundry, making them ideal for sportswear or gym clothing.

While scientific studies have shown that essential oils like lavender, tea tree, peppermint, and eucalyptus have antimicrobial properties, their effectiveness in disinfecting laundry hasn’t been conclusively proven. Nonetheless, experts agree that tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil are among the best choices for deodorizing and disinfecting your clothes.

Essential Oils to Use and Avoid

When it comes to using essential oils in your laundry, some oils are better suited for the job than others. Popular choices for laundry include lavender, lemon, tea tree, eucalyptus, and peppermint, as they offer pleasant scents and are generally non-irritating. Lemon essential oil is particularly useful as a natural stain remover and can be used to pre-treat stains on fabrics before washing.

On the other hand, highly concentrated oils like cinnamon, clove, oregano, cedar, pine, and bergamot are best avoided for laundry, as they have the potential to stain your clothes. Always opt for clear essential oils to prevent any unwanted staining.

How to Add Essential Oils to Laundry

To ensure that essential oils are properly dispersed in your laundry without causing stains, it’s essential to dilute them with a carrier solution. Unscented laundry detergent, fabric softener, white vinegar, or baking soda can all be used as carriers for essential oils.

Simply add five to 10 drops of your chosen essential oil to half a cup of unscented carrier solution and add it to your washing machine as usual. For best results, wash your clothes on a cold or eco-warm setting to preserve the scent of the essential oils, as high temperatures can cause the scent to dissipate.

While essential oils can be added to dryer balls or washcloths for use in the dryer, it’s important to exercise caution, as essential oils can be flammable. To minimize any fire risk, create a homemade spray with essential oils and apply it to the dryer balls or sheets before use. For the best results, consider air drying your laundry to retain the fresh scent of essential oils.

Additional Tips for Using Essential Oils in Laundry

• Create a Homemade Freshening Spray: Mix water, witch hazel, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil in a spray bottle to freshen up your clothes between washes.
• Add Essential Oils to Dryer Balls: Apply essential oils to wool dryer balls to infuse your laundry with a pleasant scent without the need for dryer sheets.
• Use Vinegar as a Carrier: Combine vinegar and essential oils for a natural and effective way to dilute essential oils for use in laundry.
• Experiment with Different Essential Oils: Try out different essential oils to find your favorite scents for laundry, such as lavender, lemon, or tea tree.

Conclusion

Using essential oils in your laundry is a natural and effective way to freshen up your clothes and add a pleasant scent to your laundry. Whether you’re looking to disinfect and deodorize your gym clothes or simply want to enjoy the aromatherapy benefits of essential oils, incorporating them into your laundry routine is a great idea. By following these tips and guidelines, you can enjoy fresh and clean laundry that smells divine every time.

References:
– Farrar, Ashley J. and Francisca C. Farrar. Clinical Aromatherapy. Nursing Clinics of North America, vol. 55, no. 4, 2020, pp. 489-504, doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2020.06.015
– Puvača, Nikola, et al. Antimicrobial Activity of Selected Essential Oils against Selected Pathogenic Bacteria: In Vitro Study. Antibiotics (Basel), vol.10, no. 5, 2021, pp. 546, doi:10.3390/antibiotics10050546.