Adding Essential Oils to washing

[ZisforZebra]

At the moment we are using Ecover but I'm considering switching to the Ecoball but would love to fragrence the washing with EOs. Do I just pop some in the washing machine powder drawer or do I need to mix it with something first?

I once added lemon EO to my iron and it didn't end well so that's why i'm seeking advice this time!

I use soap nuts and add a few drops of lavender or lemon straight on to the laundry items - it disperses during the course of the wash - just 3-5 drops straight on to random bits of clothing. Smells lovely!

Hi ZisforZebra

Hope you check in on this thread - the best way to fragrance your laundry naturally is to add 50ml of white vinegar with 2/3 drops of essential oil to the final rinse cycle (where you would normally put your fabric softner). I absolutely promise you, your laundry will not smell of vinegar!

ooh, sounds fab. What oils would you use? I'm not too keen on lavender, but am considering cederwood/lemon. Too bizarre?

Thanks Stargazing and Evilstepwitch (sorry for the late response, I've been forgoing MN and knitting like a demon for a while!). I've been adding EO of lavender to bedding and lemon to clothes etc when I remember but actually the ecoballs combined with outside drying just leave the clothes smelling really fresh.

ESW - I used to add vinegar to the wash to soften my reusables and it's great isn't it!

I put a couple of drops of lavender in my iron and nothing untoward happened - what went wrong with the lemon oil?

I use tea tree in with my nappies

and vinegar sometimes

(I barely use my eco-balls now because of dd1's endless chucking of tomatoes down herself so if you want to buy mine second hand just cat me. I used them for my nappies but now dd2 has toilet trained)

Cappuccino - The lemon oil just came out of the bottom of the iron and left big oil marks all over the clothes.