Transforming your laundry routine into a fragrant and refreshing experience is easier than you might think, and it all begins with a simple homemade laundry scent booster. Say goodbye to mundane laundry days and hello to clothes that emerge from the wash with a delightful, long-lasting scent. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through crafting your very own laundry scent booster using just a few household staples: Epsom Salt and Baking Soda.
Whether you prefer the natural aroma of essential oils or the allure of fragrance oils, you’ll discover how to infuse your laundry with captivating scents that linger on your fabrics, elevating your laundry game to a whole new level. Get ready to breathe new life into your laundry and experience the joy of freshly scented clothes every day!
Materials:
Instructions:
How to Use:
When doing a load of laundry, add 1/2 cup of your laundry scent booster directly to the wash. If you want your clothes even softer, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the bottom of your washing machine. (This will not make your clothes smell like vinegar, I promise! Vinegar is a natural fabric softener because it contains acetic acid, which helps break down mineral deposits and residues in fabric fibers.
Notes:
The measurements in this recipe are just a baseline. If you desire a stronger scent, you can absolutely increase the amount of essential/fragrance oil to 1 full teaspoon. Just as well, you can increase the amount of scent booster you add to your laundry up to 1 full cup. If you have any more questions or want to share your creations, don’t hesitate to reach out via email or social media!
*Disclaimer* We recommend testing this out on a small load or a load with old towels before committing to using it on your favorite sweater on pair of jeans. While we’ve tested this on our own laundry, it is impossible to test with every different fragrance and/or clothing material.
Why Epsom Salt?
Epsom salt can be beneficial in laundry for a few reasons:
- Softens Water: Epsom salt can help soften hard water. Hard water contains minerals like calcium and magnesium, which can interfere with the effectiveness of laundry detergents. Epsom salt binds to these minerals, preventing them from interacting with detergents and allowing the detergent to work more efficiently. This can result in cleaner and softer clothes.
- Fabric Softening: Epsom salt can act as a natural fabric softener. It helps relax the fibers in clothing, making them feel softer to the touch. This can be particularly useful for towels, bedding, and other fabrics where softness is desirable.
- Color Preservation: Epsom salt can help preserve the vibrancy of colored fabrics. By softening the water and improving detergent efficiency, it can prevent the dulling and fading of colors, keeping your clothes looking brighter and newer for longer.
- Stain Removal: Epsom salt can aid in the removal of certain stains, especially those caused by mineral deposits in hard water. It can help break down and loosen these stains, making them easier to wash away.
- Odor Removal: Epsom salt can also help neutralize odors in clothing. It can absorb and eliminate unpleasant smells, leaving your laundry smelling fresher.
- Eco-Friendly: Epsom salt is a natural and eco-friendly option for improving laundry outcomes. It doesn’t contain the chemicals or additives found in some commercial laundry products, making it a more environmentally friendly choice.
Why Baking Soda?
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a versatile and effective laundry aid for several reasons:
- Stain Removal: Baking soda is a mild abrasive, which makes it effective at breaking down and removing stains. It can help lift and loosen dirt, grease, and other stains from fabrics, making them easier to wash away during the laundry cycle.
- Deodorizing: Baking soda is well-known for its deodorizing properties. It can help neutralize and eliminate odors from clothing, leaving your laundry smelling fresher.
- Whitening: Baking soda can act as a natural whitener for white and light-colored fabrics. It can help brighten dingy or yellowed clothes, restoring their original whiteness.
- Softening: Baking soda can contribute to softer laundry. It can help regulate the pH level of the water, which, in turn, enhances the effectiveness of your laundry detergent and fabric softener. This can result in clothes that feel softer to the touch.
- Gentle Cleaning: Baking soda is non-abrasive and gentle on fabrics. It can be used safely on a wide range of materials without causing damage.
- Eco-Friendly: Baking soda is a natural and environmentally friendly option for improving laundry outcomes. It does not contain harsh chemicals, making it a more sustainable choice compared to some commercial laundry additives.
