Drier sheets

[natik]

When I am making soap, just like lots of us, I use towels to wipe out the bowls, let the soap saponify and then throw those towels together with my laundry in the washing machine. I love how nice smelling all my laundry comes out. Although, I did ruin several white t-shirts with micas while doing it
So I got an idea to make drier sheet. Hardware stores sell cotton unwoven towels, that can be easily cut in small pieces. I was thinking of making 100% coconut HP soap with EO, then dipping those towels in it, letting it dry, and throwing to the washing machine and to the drier with my laundry. Theoretically, I can go higher on EOs. If I do sodium hydroxide HP soap, EO should not degrade too much. I was thinking of just putting several drops of EO straight in the washing machine, but adding oil to laundry doesn't seem right, and it can not be added to the drier.
I am wondering if anybody did anything like this. What can go wrong? Any ideas/suggestions/criticism... are greatly appreciated
Just have to add, that nobody in my family has allergies to FO, but I don't like how strong commercial drier sheets smell. Plus, they are synthetic and non-reusable.

 

[artemis]

I have wool dryer balls. Occasionally, I will add a few drops to a dryer ball before running the machine. It doesn't really last very long on the clothes.

 

[AliOop]

I have wool dryer balls. Occasionally, I will add a few drops to a dryer ball before running the machine. It doesn't really last very long on the clothes.

Same here

 

[KimLynn]

When I am making soap, just like lots of us, I use towels to wipe out the bowls, let the soap saponify and then throw those towels together with my laundry in the washing machine. I love how nice smelling all my laundry comes out. Although, I did ruin several white t-shirts with micas while doing it
So I got an idea to make drier sheet. Hardware stores sell cotton unwoven towels, that can be easily cut in small pieces. I was thinking of making 100% coconut HP soap with EO, then dipping those towels in it, letting it dry, and throwing to the washing machine and to the drier with my laundry. Theoretically, I can go higher on EOs. If I do sodium hydroxide HP soap, EO should not degrade too much. I was thinking of just putting several drops of EO straight in the washing machine, but adding oil to laundry doesn't seem right, and it can not be added to the drier.
I am wondering if anybody did anything like this. What can go wrong? Any ideas/suggestions/criticism... are greatly appreciated
Just have to add, that nobody in my family has allergies to FO, but I don't like how strong commercial drier sheets smell. Plus, they are synthetic and non-reusable.

I add EOs to baking soda and plain epsom salts as a laundry freshener for the washing machine. I can see adding the same fragrance to a cloth dryer sheet.

 

[natik]

I add EOs to baking soda and plain epsom salts as a laundry freshener for the washing machine. I can see adding the same fragrance to a cloth dryer sheet.

How do you mix EO with baking soda? Does it make a paste? And how much EO vs baking soda?
I use the mix of baking soda/DE/calcium for brushing my teeth. Wanted to add EO to it, but not sure how to mix/redistribute through the whole mixture. I was worried that it would end up making little balls of EO/powder and I will end up brushing teeth with EO drops.

 

[KimLynn]

How do you mix EO with baking soda? Does it make a paste? And how much EO vs baking soda?
I use the mix of baking soda/DE/calcium for brushing my teeth. Wanted to add EO to it, but not sure how to mix/redistribute through the whole mixture. I was worried that it would end up making little balls of EO/powder and I will end up brushing teeth with EO drops.

I just add a few drops to the dry ingredients - about 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup Epsom salts - and squish it up in a zip lock baggie, then put in screw top jar with a little wooden scoop in it. Definitely not enough for a paste, just enough to give it a scent. A little bit trial and error.

 

[natik]

I just add a few drops to the dry ingredients - about 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup Epsom salts - and squish it up in a zip lock baggie, then put in screw top jar with a little wooden scoop in it. Definitely not enough for a paste, just enough to give it a scent. A little bit trial and error.

Thanks, will try.

 

[DeeAnna]

> "...about 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup Epsom salts..."

Epsom salts is another name for magnesium sulfate. If you're using lye-based soap to wash your clothes, DON'T add magnesium salts to the wash water! The soap will react with the magnesium ions to form insoluble soap scum. The soap will be much less effective as a cleaner and the scum will gunk up your washer as well as gunk up your clothes.

Also baking soda causes true lye-based soap to decompose into fatty acids. This is also something you don't want to do if you're using lye-based soap in your washing machine for much the same reasons.

If you really want to do this, add scent to washing soda (sodium carbonate) which plays nicely with lye-based soap.

 

[natik]

> "...about 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup Epsom salts..."

Epsom salts is another name for magnesium sulfate. If you're using lye-based soap to wash your clothes, DON'T add magnesium salts to the wash water! The soap will react with the magnesium ions to form insoluble soap scum. The soap will be much less effective as a cleaner and the scum will gunk up your washer as well as gunk up your clothes.

Also baking soda causes true lye-based soap to decompose into fatty acids. This is also something you don't want to do if you're using lye-based soap in your washing machine for much the same reasons.

If you really want to do this, add scent to washing soda (sodium carbonate) which plays nicely with lye-based soap.

Thanks, DeeAnna. I use a store bought scent free detergent, so I don't need to worry about it. I might try baking soda with FO. Not sure if scent will survive a drier

 

[KimLynn]

> "...about 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup Epsom salts..."

Epsom salts is another name for magnesium sulfate. If you're using lye-based soap to wash your clothes, DON'T add magnesium salts to the wash water! The soap will react with the magnesium ions to form insoluble soap scum. The soap will be much less effective as a cleaner and the scum will gunk up your washer as well as gunk up your clothes.

Also baking soda causes true lye-based soap to decompose into fatty acids. This is also something you don't want to do if you're using lye-based soap in your washing machine for much the same reasons.

If you really want to do this, add scent to washing soda (sodium carbonate) which plays nicely with lye-based soap.

Thank you for this information. I don’t use lye-based washing soap, but it’s good to know about the reaction with magnesium sulfate.