One of the latest trends going around is using essential oils in the washer and dryer, to help naturally scent linens and clothing. While some prefer to put the oils into the wash, there are a few considerations to take into place when doing so. First, if you wash your clothing at a low temperature, this means the oils may not combine or break down and can risk a dryer fire. On the flip side, if you wash your items at a higher temperature, then the oils tend to simply wash away, which is an extremely unsustainable way to use them. In this article, we are going to discuss the best essential oils for dryer balls, but also ensure we cover all the risks of doing so, allowing our readers to make their own educated decisions. We will also offer alternatives, for those who wish to try other methods to scent their clothes using essential oils.
So, Can I Put Essential Oils on My Dryer Balls?
You can put essential oils on your dryer balls, but it is a potential fire risk. However, many people do this with no problem. While the risk appears to be low, we still want to make sure the understanding is out there. Your dryer can reach a temperature of up to 145°F, with 125°F on the lower scale. Essential oils have flashpoints, which is the temperature at which the oils will turn into vapor, with the potential of heat or another ignition source causing a fire. A lot of common fragrances (such as citrus) have flashpoints in the 105-130°F range. As you can see, this does put them in the potential danger zone.
Why Use Essential Oils on Dryer Balls
There are many benefits to using best essential oils for dryer balls for fragrance purposes, instead of turning to things such as dryer sheets. Dryer sheets are also a major fire hazard, and both them and fabric softener can contain many harmful chemicals and skin irritants. Our list of the best essential oils for dryer balls includes oils that have many potential benefits outside fragrance alone:
- Aromatherapy
- They help clothes dry faster by increasing airflow
- Better than fabric softener for a prolonged life span of your clothes.
- Allows you to use your favorite essential oil aromas to scent clothing and bedding
- Non-toxic option
- Cheaper, more durable, earth-friendly, and natural
The Top 10 Best Essential Oils for Dryer Balls
We’ve come up with a list of what we believe to be the 10 best essential oils for wool dryer balls. As you become more familiar with essential oils and their individual aromas, you can play around with different scent combinations to come up with new blends of fragrances. It is also worth looking at their flashpoints, and seeing which oils can tolerate higher heat.
1. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender essential oil is well-known for its reputed ability to calm and soothe. It is one of the best essential oils for dryer balls. Research indicates that the scent of lavender may be able to help lower stress and anxiety level, and improve sleep patterns. This makes it top of the list of the best essential oils for dryer balls. Try lavender oil when drying bedding, to promote a sound sleep!
- Calming
- Helps to promote sound sleep
2. Chamomile Essential Oil
Chamomile essential oil, especially the Roman extract, may be able to help relieve feelings of anxiety and depression. This oil, from the flower of the herb, also offers a mild, floral aroma. Anecdotal evidence indicates that chamomile may be able to:
- Reduce tension and anxiety
- Soothe nerves
- Inspire and refresh
3. Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Ylang ylang essential oil is a base note oil, meaning its scent is longer-lasting than that of other oils. Extracted from the Cananga Odorata tree, this oil can help fragrance your daily wear, gym clothes, bedding with its rich, sweet scent. This makes it one of the best essential oils for dryer balls, as who doesn’t love the smell of the tropics? Ylang ylang’s sweet floral fragrance will help to keep your energy levels up, and your mind at work. Use ylang ylang to:
- Boost energy
- Reduce symptoms of depression
4. Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary oil might be one of the best essential oils for dryer balls, due to its strong, aromatic presence. Its herbaceous aroma works as both a suitable masculine and feminine fragrance, and it offers a very fresh scent, perfect for laundry. Additionally, studies indicate that using rosemary oil aromatherapy may be able to:
- Improve memory and cognitive function
- Ease tension and stress
- Improve blood circulation
5. Patchouli Essential Oil
Patchouli oil is famous for its deep, musky fragrance. Adding a few drops of patchouli to your dryer balls will bring an earthy fragrance to your laundry, along with potentially:
- Reducing anxiety, insomnia, tension
- Improving mood
6. Sweet Orange Essential Oil
The sweet orange rind gives us one of the best essential oils for dryer balls, offering a cheerful, citrusy scent. Use orange oil for loads of towels and linens to brighten up your bedroom and bathroom. Sweet orange oil shows indications of being able to:
- Balance mood
- Increase productivity
- Reduce symptoms of depression and/or anxiety
7. Marjoram Essential Oil
Marjoram is famous for its role as a Mediterranean herb, but its aromatic fragrance is also very popular. Its spicy aroma is sweet but subtle, making it great for laundry purposes as it is not overpowering, making it a great choice for those who are more sensitive to smells.
8. Grapefruit Essential Oil
Grapefruit’s sharp, sweet fragrance is a great way to add a burst of freshness to your clothing and linens. Only a few drops of oil will leave your clothes smelling fresh and clean. It may also be able to encourage:
- Feelings of happiness and well-being
- A decrease in feelings of stress and anxiety
9. Cinnamon Essential Oil
Cinnamon essential oil comes in two different varieties: from the bark and from the leaf. Both offer up this spice’s trademark aroma, though cinnamon bark is the stronger of the two. Cinnamon oil is reputed to be able to:
- Enhance mood
- Calm anxiety and promote sound sleep
How to Use the Best Essential Oils for Dryer Balls
Applying essential oils to dryer balls is as simple as it sounds.
- Dryer balls are generally made from wool, so all you need to do is place 2-3 drops of your chosen oil on their surface.
- After applying the oil, let the balls dry for a minute before putting them in the machine. Feel free to play around with different combinations of scents, or use all the same one.
- As dryer balls are meant to lower drying time, do not overload the machine with clothes or there will be less ventilation which will hinder this.
- To be on the safe side, never dry the clothes too long, as this can generate static.
Alternatives to Using Dryer Balls
- Use essential oils to create your own linen mists
- Create your own drawer sachets with dried flowers and herbs, or even cotton. You can add a few drops of essential oils which will help scent your drawers and clothing for longer, and uses much less oil than putting on the dryer balls every time
Wrapping Up
In this post, we went over the risks of using oils on dryer balls, as well as how to put essential oils on dryer balls if you do decide to do so. We also covered other alternatives you can use, which may be safer and more sustainable. If you have any other suggestions to incorporate essential oils into your laundry practices feel free to drop a comment!
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