Will Essential Oils On Dryer Balls Stain My Clothes?

August 02, 2023

Essential oils and stains don't have to be a package deal when it comes to dryer balls. Take it from us—there's an easy way to get fresh scents minus the spots.

Quick links:

Tips for having fresh scented laundry without spots

Is lavender the safest option?

How to find your scent sweet spot?

Choose dryer-safe scents

Are fragrance oils a good choice?

How to freshen laundry with essential oils

How to freshen laundry without essential oils

Let’s find out how to use essential oils on wool dryer balls. If you want to make things super easy, add our Anti-Static Essential Oil Scenting Spray to your wool dryer balls and enjoy the fragrances of orange, lemon, and lavender.

Do Essential Oils On Dryer Balls Stain Clothes?

Some essential oils can potentially stain clothes when used in the dryer. Enjoy fresh scented laundry without spots by following a few simple precautions.

Use 2-3 drops of oil per ball—any more than this can over-scent clothes and increase staining risks.
Choose 100% pure essential oils—oils with synthetic additives have a higher staining potential.
Allow balls to fully dry once oils are applied before adding to the dryer—this prevents transfer of wet oil onto clothing.
Remove laundry promptly when drying is complete—extended contact between oil and fabric can occasionally cause staining.
Wash and dry lighter and darker items separately—lighter fabrics show oil stains more noticeably.
Buy our essential oil spray, which has been designed to not stain clothes.

Is Choosing Low-Risk Essential Oils the Best Option?

Not all essential oils have the same risk of staining when used on dryer balls. Certain qualities make some oils less likely to leave behind spots:

Light color. Darker pigmented oils like clove and cinnamon can more easily tint light fabrics. Oils without deep hues have lower staining risks.
Subtle aromas. Bolder, more concentrated scents often come from oils with higher staining potential. More delicate aromas tend to be lower risk.
Non-greasy. Oils with thicker, greasier textures adhere more to fabric and can leave oil spots. Thinner, dry oils don't transfer as easily.

What are the Safest Choices?

Based on those criteria, these oils have a lower chance of staining:

Lavender. Its pale hue and delicate floral scent make it ideal for dryer balls.
Lemongrass. A light, dry oil with a fresh, mild aroma.
Tea tree. Light gold in color yet still strong smelling without being overpowering.
Eucalyptus. A thin, low-pigment oil with a light, clean scent.

How Many Drops of Oil Do You Put on Wool Dryer Balls?

When adding essential oils to dryer balls, start with 2-3 drops per ball. This provides a light but noticeable fragrance. If you want more intensity, use 5-6 drops max. Too much oil risks overpowering scents—and stains.

Our essential oil spray makes it easy. Just spritz the balls lightly before drying for instant aroma.

Remember, a little oil goes a long way. Let the balls disperse the scent naturally without saturating them.

Read our guide to using essential oils in laundry for more tips and tricks!

What are Dryer Safe Essential Oils?

Not all essential oils are well-suited for use in dryers due to the high heat environment. Certain properties make some oils safer and more effective for scenting laundry during drying cycles.

Oils with high flash points, like many citrus varieties, are less flammable at elevated temperatures. Their bright, fresh scents also hold up better compared to more volatile, fleeting aromas. Lavender and eucalyptus are other good options, as their scents remain steady despite heat while also providing calming or invigorating aromatic effects.

On the other hand, some oil properties render them unstable and potentially dangerous in dryer settings.

Pine, spruce, and fir needle oils have lower flash points, making them more flammable at the temperatures inside a running dryer.
Bergamot and other phototoxic oils can degrade under heat exposure and cause sun sensitivity when worn.
Skin irritants like cinnamon, clove, and oregano may cause reactions when heated and brought into contact with bare skin.

To enjoy safe essential oil infusions in the dryer, follow tried and tested recipes using appropriate oils.

What are the Best Fragrance Oils for Dryer Balls?

Unlike essential oils, fragrance oils are lab-created rather than sourced from natural materials. But they can still make your clothes fresh and fabulous when used properly with dryer balls.

Focus on phthalate-free fragrance oils designed for laundry use. This keeps fabrics smelling great without irritating skin or leaving residues.

Some top safe, inviting fragrance oils for dryer balls include:

Fresh linen
Lavender fields
Citrus burst
Sweet orange
Eucalyptus mint
Jasmine blossom
Ocean breeze

How to Scent Dryer Balls With Essential Oils

Scenting your laundry with essential oils is simple. Just add 2-3 oil drops to your wool dryer balls, or spritz them with Smart Sheep scenting spray, and let them absorb for a few minutes before use.

For Subtle Scents

Add the scented balls at the start of the drying cycle. As clothes tumble, the fragrance will disperse, leaving lightly scented laundry. The full drying time allows the scent to gently infuse fabrics.

For Stronger Aromas

After drying ends, toss the scented ball in the dryer for 10 more minutes. The heat reactivates the oils for stronger scented laundry in less time. Fewer drops can be used with this shorter dispersion method.

Pro tip. Using more dryer balls makes your laundry more scented. The additional balls distribute and disperse the essential oils further throughout clothes for a stronger aromatic effect.

How to Scent Dryer Balls Without Essential Oils

No essential oils for your dryer balls? We know, we know, they aren't for everyone. But denying their divine aroma is just downright crazy! If you must, here are some scent substitutions.

Herbal Sachets

Herbal sachets filled with fragrant dried flowers or herbs are a natural way to scent clothes. As heat activates the aromas inside, they infuse fabrics with soothing essence. Make your own or purchase pre-made sachets.

DIY Scented Laundry Linen Spray

Mix water and essential oils and place them in a spray bottle to make your own fabric refresher. Lightly mist dryer balls or laundry before drying for gentle aromas without oils. Our pre-made spray also works great.

Natural Extracts

Vanilla, almond, or other extracts added to dryer balls lightly scent laundry with their natural essences when heat releases the fragrance.

Scented Dryer Sheets

Dryer sheets are often used for their convenience, static reduction, and scent infusion. However, they have significant drawbacks. Dryer sheet’s synthetic fragrances and chemicals can also irritate sensitive skin. They are single-use, generating unnecessary waste per laundry load.

In contrast, wool dryer balls like Smart Sheep's are a far more eco-friendly option. Their natural wool construction reduces waste—each ball lasts up to 1,000 loads. Wool dryer balls naturally soften fabric, decrease static, and shorten drying time, saving energy. With environmental benefits and performance advantages, wool dryer balls are a superior choice to single-use dryer sheets and chemical fabric softeners.

Essential Oils FAQ

Is it safe to add essential oil to wool dryer balls?

It is safe to add essential oils to wool dryer balls. When used properly, essential oils can add a pleasant scent to your laundry without causing any harm. Use them sparingly to avoid overwhelming the fabric.

Can dryer balls stain clothes?

Dryer balls do not typically stain clothes. They are designed to be safe for use with all types of fabrics and colors. Ensure that the dryer balls are clean and free from any residue before use.

How do you use essential oils with laundry balls?

Using essential oils with laundry balls is straightforward:

Choose a high-quality, fabric-safe essential oil.
Allow the oil to fully dry on balls before placing it in the dryer.
Add scented balls to the dryer with clothes. Heat disperses the aroma into freshly scented laundry.

What should you look for when choosing essential oils for dryer balls?

Consider these factors when selecting essential oils for dryer balls:

100% pure essential oils without additives or synthetic fragrances.
Scents you enjoy that complement laundry. Popular options: lavender, citrus, eucalyptus.
Oils safe for skin and fabric, without irritating or phototoxic properties.
Oil intensity and number of drops needed to achieve desired fragrance with balls.

Can you soak wool dryer balls in essential oils?

Soaking wool dryer balls in essential oils is not recommended. Wool dryer balls are porous and absorbent, which allows them to efficiently distribute moisture and aid in drying clothes. However, soaking them in essential oils can lead to excessive saturation and potential oil transfer onto the clothes, resulting in oil stains or spots.

Will essential oil stain clothes?

Essential oils should not stain clothes. It's important to use caution when applying undiluted essential oils directly onto fabric, as certain oils may have a stronger color or the potential for staining. To prevent any potential staining, you can dilute essential oils in a carrier oil or mix them with water before using them on clothes. Or you can use Smart Sheep scenting spray and forget about staining.

How do you scent dryer balls safely?

To safely scent dryer balls, you can follow these steps:

Add a few drops of essential oil directly to the dryer balls, use a Smart Sheep scenting spray, or place a sachet of dried herbs in the dryer with the balls.
Add a few drops of essential oil or spray the scenting spray onto the dryer balls. Use caution to avoid applying too much oil, as it may transfer to the clothes and potentially cause staining.
Let the dryer balls dry completely before using them in the dryer. This ensures that the scent is properly absorbed into the balls and minimizes any potential transfer to the clothes.

What oils do you use for dryer balls?

Here are some popular choices for essential oils for dryer balls:

Lavender essential oil
Lemon essential oil
Eucalyptus essential oil
Peppermint essential oil
Orange essential oil
Chamomile essential oil
Tea Tree essential oil
Jasmine essential oil
Ylang ylang essential oil

Can you put lemon essential oil on dryer balls?

Lemon essential oil can be applied to dryer balls. Lemon essential oil is a popular choice for making your clothes smell fresh. Just a few drops of lemon essential oil applied to the dryer balls should be sufficient to provide a pleasant fragrance to your clothes.

What can you put on dryer balls?

The dryer balls can be scented in two ways: either with a few drops of your preferred essential oil, or with a spritz of a scenting spray.

Does fragrance oil smell stronger than essential oil?

Fragrance oils typically have a stronger and more potent scent compared to essential oils. Fragrance oils are synthetic or artificially created scents that are specifically designed to provide a strong and long-lasting fragrance.

Essential oils are derived from natural plant sources, and their scents can vary in strength. While some essential oils may have a strong aroma, others may have a more subtle scent.

How do you incorporate essential oils into your cleaning routine?

Incorporating essential oils into your cleaning routine is easy. You can add a few drops to homemade cleaning solutions, use them in diffusers for a fresh scent, or mix them with vinegar or baking soda for natural cleaning power.

Can I use tennis balls as dryer balls?

You can use tennis balls as dryer balls. But if you compare wool dryer balls to tennis balls, wool balls are better in every way imaginable. Buy our wool dryer balls and don’t even think about using tennis balls..

Are wool dryer balls better than fabric softeners?

Yes, wool dryer balls are a superior natural alternative to fabric softeners. They soften fabrics by tumbling and fluffing clothes as they dry. This agitation separates fibers rather than coating them in oils.

Dryer balls are an effective softening solution without chemical residues. Their reusable nature also makes them more eco-friendly and cost-effective compared to single-use liquid softeners.