How To Safely Freshen Up Your Laundry With Lemon Oil

The idea of adding lemon oil to your washer or dryer sometimes pops up online as a hack for better-smelling laundry. It's just a case of putting a few drops on a dryer ball or into your detergent drawer to lightly scent your clothing as it washes or dries, and from a chemical perspective, it makes sense. Lemon oil is mostly comprised of limonene, a citrus-derived compound that can cut through grease, so it has many uses around the home. You can even use lemon oil to help clean your kitchen. That same limonene compound is dispersed through the air when heated up, so just a couple of drops is enough to scent a whole load of laundry. However, it's important to do so safely.

There are a few important cautions that need to be mentioned when it comes to using lemon essential oil in laundry. Like many essential oils, lemon oil is highly concentrated and flammable, so it should not be poured directly onto your clothing. To use it safely, just two or or three drops onto a damp cloth or wool ball during the drying cycle, or mixed into your laundry detergent during the wash cycle, is more than sufficient.

It's an anecdotal remedy, but it often makes the rounds on social media or even gets passed down through family traditions. It's especially popular with anyone who wants to avoid synthetic dryer sheets or other heavily scented detergents due to environmental or health concerns. Many online sources claim that because lemon oil is a natural deodorizer it can help to brighten and freshen up stinky laundry, or it can be used like a finishing touch for already clean clothes. But be sure to use it safely.

If using lemon oil in the dryer, you'll need to let the oil properly absorb into the cloth or dryer ball for around 15 to 20 minutes before you start the machine. When washing clothes, add a few drops to your detergent. Lemon oil can also cause discoloration and staining on certain fabrics, especially more delicate ones, so it's always good advice to check fabric compatibility before adding anything to the dryer or wash cycle. Thanks to its oil-base, lemon essential oil can leave a greasy residue inside the appliance over time, so you may end up having to clean your washing machine or dryer after a few uses.

This could be a nice, natural laundry swap for anyone who is looking to cut down on their use of dryer sheets. However, advice from organizations, such as the Environmental Working Group, does warn that essential oils can trigger allergic reactions, so something being "natural" does not automatically mean it is entirely without risk. Adding lemon oil to your laundry routine isn't a miracle cure, but when used safely, it can definitely leave a fresh and citrus-y scent on your clothes, sheets, and towels.