Lavender Oil in Laundry | Yay or Nay?
One of the most refreshing (and clean!) scents is the smell of lavender. It’s a gentle, herbal scent that induces feelings of calm and relaxation.
Now, if you’re a big fan of the scent of lavender oil like we are, you might have thought about using it in your laundry. And, the good news is, with a bit of caution, you can!
Essential oils, usually produced by organic farming, are a natural resource that we can use in a thousand and one different ways at home. They help us feel better and keep our homes clean.
So, if you’re ready to start putting this oil to good use, we’re here to help. Stick around and we’ll explain how you can add a few drops of lavender oil to your laundry machine to make your clothes smell great.
Why Use Lavender Oil in Your Laundry
Laundry is a necessary evil. Sometimes we have to set aside a whole day just to clean our clothes!
But, it’s worth the effort when in the end you have fresh and fragrant clothes to put on the next day.
If you want to really step up your laundry game, you can add lavender. This gives your clothes a pleasant and long-lasting smell. And, it’s also a great way to ditch the toxins and chemicals that are usually contained in common detergents.
What’s more, due to its antimicrobial properties, lavender essential oil can disinfect your clothes.
And, the best thing about this powerful oil is that it has no toxic chemicals that most commercial laundry fragrances do. You can use this oil in both your washer and dryer, making it a super versatile oil.
Using Lavender Oil in Laundry Detergent
If you’re ready to get started with lavender oil in your laundry, good for you! It’s pretty easy to use lavender oil in your laundry.
To do so, just add a couple of drops of oils to your favorite eco-friendly laundry detergent. This will give you a much longer-lasting, fresh aroma than the one offered by the detergent itself!
The reason why is that usually, your laundry detergent’s aroma completely disappears once the clothes are dry. However, with lavender oil, the scent lasts for several days at a time.
This happens because the washing machine breaks up the oil droplets, splitting them into even tinier droplets. The majority of the droplets will be flushed out with the water, but that’s fine.
Essential oils are super powerful, so the diluting effect of the machine will just leave you with that soft aroma we’re looking for.
The result? Gently scented clothing that smells great for days on end.
Using Lavender Oil With Fabric Softener
It’s not just your laundry detergent that you can mix with lavender oil. You can also add lavender oil to the fabric softener!
And, instead of using store-bought fabric softeners that are packed full of icky chemicals, you can use a homemade recipe using just two ingredients:
- Vinegar
- Lavender essential oil
Vinegar acts as a natural softening agent that helps dissolve hard water buildup without leaving residue. And, the lavender oil adds a fresh scent to your clothes!
Now, if you’re thinking that the scent of the vinegar will outweigh the scent of the lavender oil, don’t worry! Even though this ingredient has a strong smell, you won’t notice it once your clothes have dried.
How to Make Lavender Oil Fabric Softener
So, are you ready to make your own homemade fabric softener? Good for you!
All you’ll need is 16 ounces of distilled white vinegar and between 10 and 15 drops of lavender oil.
To make the fabric softener, add the ingredients to a spray bottle and shake them until they’re combined. Then, spray the solution on your wet clothes before you pop them in the dryer or hang them on the clothesline.
Note: you can use any amount of your favorite essential oils to add to this recipe. Feel free to adjust the number of drops or the type of oil as you see fit.
Pro Tips for Using Lavender Oil in Your Laundry
Okay, so you’re using lavender oil in your laundry. And, it seems to be working great!
But, what if you could make it work even better?
One way of making that lovely lavender smell last even longer is to iron your clothes after they come out of the wash.
Ironing clean clothes isn’t just great removing wrinkles; it also helps keep the fabric in good condition. And, by ironing freshly washed clothes you can lock that lavender smell into the clothing, lengthening the feeling of freshness.
Another great tip is to try mixing up the type of oil you use. For example, you could try adding a couple of drops of tea tree oil to your clothing!
Whatever scent it is that you love, just add a couple of drops to your detergent or softener for clean and fresh-smelling clothing.
Step Up Your Laundry Game With Lavender Oil
Essential oils can be a great way to disinfect your clothes and imbue them with a fresh aroma. And, they do all that without imparting harmful chemicals (like the ones we usually buy in the supermarket) into your clothing.
With this guide to all natural, homemade laundry solutions, you can start enjoying cleaner and fresher clothes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Essential Oils Ruin Clothes?
Although not all pure essential oils stain, some do. This is usually due to the natural color of the original botanicals. So, be careful when using these essential oils around your favorite white T-shirt!
A few oils that stain due to their naturally dark color:
- Blue Tansy
- Jasmine
- German chamomile
A couple of oils that stain due to their natural yellow color:
- Patchouli
- Vetiver
- Myrrh
- Mandarin
Keep in mind that overtime the color fades, but you’ll still want to avoid using it around your whites.
How to Avoid Essential Oil Stains on Clothing?
Applying any essential oils directly to white fabric will leave a stain. If dyeing your t-shirt isn’t your plan, avoid doing the following with these oils:
- Applying them directly to the skin and then putting on your clothing before the oil dries
- Spilling on clothing or other fabrics
Can You Add Essential Oils to Laundry Balls?
Of course! Adding 2-3 drops of essential oil per ball should last several laundry cycles. And, you can always add a couple more drops if you want a stronger scent.
