Lavender in the Laundry

And still she slept an azure-lidded sleep, In blanched linen, smooth, and lavender’d – John Keats

Lavender has a long history of use in the laundry.  Its name comes from the Latin term lavare, meaning “to wash”, and it has been used for cleaning laundry at least since Roman times, if not longer.

My own experience with using lavender for laundry was prompted by a case of dermatitis (rash) and the realization that I have sensitive skin.  I now buy only detergents and fabric softeners which are free of dyes and perfumes.  This is good for the skin and most likely for the environment as well, but having clean laundry with no scent can be a little boring.  The solution- use lavender in the following ways in the laundry:

• Add several drops of lavender essential oil to unscented liquid laundry detergent or unscented fabric softener.  Simply add it to the full container and shake before each use. 
• Use white vinegar with lavender essential oil added for scent, in place of or in addition to commercial fabric softener.
• Put several drops of essential oil on a clean lint-free rag or washcloth and add to a dryer-load of clothes at the beginning of the cycle.
• Replace dryer sheets with homemade dryer sachets.  Purchase empty tea bags from a craft store or online supplier, fill them with dried lavender and seal with a regular household iron.  You could also make them by sewing or otherwise securely fastening a muslin bag with the lavender inside.  Use these through several dryer cycles, according to your personal preference.  Even after retiring from the dryer, they will still retain enough fragrance to use for a linen drawer sachet. 

You can use other essential oils besides lavender in the same way – such as eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint, or orange – whichever fragrance you would appreciate in your clean clothes and linens.