Easy Ways to Smell Your Laundry (No Harsh Detergents)
If you have especially smelly clothes, washing and deodorizing is the minimum you require from your washing machine. That’s why we’ve given so much advice over the years on how to get it right. But what if you just want your clothes to smell especially nice?
Here are some tips on how to make your laundry smell truly wonderful.
Focus on your washing machine first
Before we talk about how to make clothes smell good, we should look at the machines that help us clean them. Don’t overfill your washing machine if you want your clothes to smell better. According to Apartment Therapy, too much load can prevent your detergent from fully soaking into your clothes, thus defeating the point of washing them altogether – they won’t come out as clean and you won’t do much to meet your needs. the goal is also to create a great-smelling wardrobe.
Run an empty cycle from time to time to clean your washing machine. This suggestion came to us from Reddit , and it’s an especially good idea if you tend to use a lot of detergent in your laundry, as it can build up over time. HGTV suggests alternating cycles with hot water and bleach, and then hot water and vinegar (note: you can’t mix bleach and vinegar , so make sure the bleach cycle is complete before moving on to vinegar). To keep things fresh between cleaning cycles, leave the washer door open for a while after each use to dry out the inside, which can help prevent musty odors. (Here are other tips for keeping your washing machine clean .)
Wash clothes according to smell
Detergents, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets are all standard and reliable ways to bring a pleasant scent to your clothes, so if you like these strong scents, don’t skimp on them.
However, you have a few additional DIY options. Apartment Therapy recommends spraying your clothes with lavender water before washing, or making your own citrus oil blend at home. For the latter, mix a cup of baking soda, half a cup of borax, a cup of white vinegar, and 20 drops of your favorite citrus oil and add it to a bottle of unscented laundry detergent. Shake it well and then use the cleanser as usual.
Some may suggest applying essential oils directly to dirty laundry before throwing them in the wash, but be careful: oils can stain clothes, and the quality of your essential oils can also make a difference. Choose pre-packaged floral waters or highly diluted citrus oil blends instead of using them neat.