I ditched dryer sheets for this 1 cent essential oil dryer hack and loved how expensive-smelling my laundry turned out – you have to try it

I have always loved walking into a house and getting a waft of that clean laundry smell, so I was thrilled when a 1 cent dryer hacker made mine smell so good.

Historically, I have used dryer sheets and scented balls in my laundry, but then an expert cleaner shared an essential oil dyer hack with me and I decided to give it a go, using a few drops of my favorite oil on a damp cloth and chucking it in the dryer with the rest of the load and I loved how luxurious it made my items smell.

It’s a brilliant laundry tip and not only does it make your clothes smell great, you can actually smell it around the house, it lasts and is cheaper than using dryer sheets.

What is the essential oil dryer hack?

Instead of dryer sheets, use a few drops of essential oil on a damp cloth to make your laundry smell nice. It's important the cloth is damp so it doesn't stain your clothes or become a fire hazard.

It’s a natural way to add a fragrance you like naturally, easily and cheaply. I added 3-5 drops of a geranium essential oil I already had, much like the Handscraft Blends Geranium Essential Oil on Amazon, which is on offer for Big Deal Day, to a damp dish towel and put it in with the rest of the towels in my dryer.

Cleaning expert and operation manager at Spekless, Karina Toner, shares the steps for trying this natural dryer hack at home:

• Prepare your cloth: Dampen a clean, cotton cloth with water. Add 3-5 drops of your preferred essential oil directly onto the cloth.
• Toss in the dryer: Place the cloth with your laundry during the last 10-15 minutes of the drying cycle. Adding it toward the end ensures the oils won't evaporate too quickly from the heat.
• Enjoy the scent: When the cycle finishes, your laundry will have a subtle, lush fragrance that lasts.

There are a few dryer mistakes to keep in mind when using this natural scenting hack to keep your laundry stain-free and your machine safe, as well as these tips from Karina to maximize the use of this trick:

• Don't overdo it: Essential oils are potent, so only a few drops are needed. Using too much could leave an oily residue on your clothes.
• Avoid direct contact with clothes: To prevent oil stains, make sure the drops are well-absorbed by the cloth before placing it in the dryer.
• Use reusable dryer balls: If you use wool dryer balls, you can add essential oil to them for the same effect. Dryer balls also reduce drying time and static.
• Experiment with blends: Try blending essential oils for unique scents. For example, lavender and lemon make a relaxing yet fresh combination

All prices correct at time of writing.

How it worked in my home

In short, it worked brilliantly in multiple ways. First, my towels came out smelling like a spa and the luxurious scent lasted on my hand towels for at least three days. How often you wash your towels may vary by usage, but I refresh my hand towels every three days and bath towels after every other use. The essential oil hack I used left a stronger smell at the outset, but still a pleasant smell that lingered.

I also found whilst my dryer, which is in my kitchen, was running, the geranium smell filled the air. I left the house and came back in during the time it was running and I was impressed to be able to smell it from my front door. It's now gone on my list of tricks people with nice-smelling homes always use.

I really liked that you can use any scent you like in this dryer hack. Karina adds, 'You can choose the oils you like best or blend a few for a personalized scent. Popular choices include lavender for a calming effect, eucalyptus for a refreshing scent, or lemon for a zesty clean aroma.

How it compares to dryer sheets

I find dryer sheet smells to be lovely, but quite synthetic and they fade very quickly in my experience. Plus, I worry about the chemicals in them being next to my child’s skin, so I don’t use them on her clothing. You may have this experience of doing laundry with sensitive skin too and if you're like me, looking out for a scent solution that won't bother your skin.

Essential oils are natural and I have no worries about them being in anything I use in my home, such as my homemade cleaning spray, or on my daughter’s clothing. She has complained in the past of itchiness when I’ve used dryer sheets or scented balls in the laundry so now having a natural way to add nice scent to her clothes and linens is a real bonus.

Cleaning expert and operation manager at Spekless, Karina Toner, adds, 'Using essential oils in the dryer is a great, natural alternative to traditional dryer sheets. It leaves your laundry smelling fresh without the chemicals that often come with store-bought fabric softeners.'

She also adds essential oils keep your laundry smelling great without introducing synthetic fragrances or harsh chemicals. She says, 'This is especially helpful for people with sensitive skin.'

Also, my 30ml bottle of essential oils was around $6.50. Given that you only need 3-5 drops per dryer load, and a 30ml bottle of essential oil has somewhere between 400-900 drops in, that works out around 0.7-1.6 cents per dryer cycle.

In comparison, 120 Bounce dryer sheets, available at Amazon, work out 4 cents per load. I do a lot of laundry, typically 1-2 loads a day and there's only three of us in our house, so if you have a larger household, it will add up over the course of a year.

My verdict

I love it. It’s easy, natural, cheap and effective, and it means I can cater my laundry scent as I wish, without needing to use expensive sheets or other laundry fragrance items.

Next, delve into the mistakes you're making with laundry pods, and our dryer temperature guide.