Did you know other than diffusing and applying it topically, you can also incorporate essential oils into your laundry? You can:

• Add 2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil to a clean cotton washcloth, toss the infused washcloth into the dryer along with the clothes you want to freshen up
• Add 2-3 few drops of your favorite essential oil to dryer balls

Here are a few suggestions in terms of which essential oils to use.

Lemongrass/Citronella

It’s no secret that they are excellent for keeping those pesky mosquitoes at bay. But when added to laundry, the anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties help with extra disinfection of your clothes, and its crisp grassy scent makes your clothes come out selling amazingly fresh.

Peppermint/Spearmint

What are the first words that pop into your mind when it comes to “mint”? Toothpaste, Christmas, perhaps mint chocolate ice cream, or the coolness and freshness that it leaves behind, now doesn’t the last one sound lovely for freshening up laundry? Inhaling the delightful scent it leaves behind is also beneficial for our overall wellness.

Eucalyptus

The anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties definitely make eucalyptus essential oil a popular ingredient in cleaning products such as soaps and dental hygiene products. Moreover, its woody and mint-like smell is brilliant for getting rid of odors and grease.

Tea Tree

Tea tree is well reputed as a gentle anti-septic and just like eucalyptus, it is an ingredient found in many cleaning products such as household cleaning products, laundry detergent, and even air fresheners. The medicinal and earthy scent is not everyone’s favorite. If you want the benefits but don’t like the scent, you can combine it with lemon or any of the oils above.

Sage

Also known as common sage, Dalmatian sage or true Sage, sage has been treasured since the Middle Ages for its cleansing abilities. It is often mistaken and confused for clary sage, but they are very different oils with different abilities and benefits. A whiff of its strong herbaceous aroma is wonderful for your laundry as well as your well being.

Palmarosa

If you prefer something a little more floral and if your laundry of the day is linen, try palmarosa. Its rosy and citrusy scent is delightfully calming and grounding, it may also help with sleep as you sleep with the palmarosa scented linen sheets. You can also add it to linen spray and spray lightly to create a peaceful ambience.

Citrus

This shouldn’t be a surprise, of course citrus will be on the list! That includes bergamot, grapefruit, lime, lemon, mandarin, orange, tangerine and yuzu. Citrus oils not only smell fantastic without being overpowering, they are great for eliminating stubborn odors while eliminating bacteria.

With the above mentioned essential oils, it’s better to add them during the drying process instead of the washing process as you don’t want the scents to clash with the laundry detergent. You can also add them to cotton balls and add them to sneakers or shoe cabinets, they are not limited to just laundry.