I’ve been reading in older posts about people using essential oils on their wool dryer balls. I know the chances of a fire are small, but as a massage therapist of 7+ years, I’ve heard of more than one instance of sheets catching fire in the dryer. Below is a piece of an article about it. Here is a link to the full article for anyone interested.
Edit: i didn’t consider in my original post that wool is naturally flame resistant, so putting it on wool is probably safe enough(?). I’d stay clear of putting essential oils on dryer sheets, or other cloth though.
Using Essential Oils in the Dryer
More people are using essential oils in the dryer. We know that essential oils are flammable, some having quite a low flashpoint. The question is, are a few drops enough to pose a danger?
The flashpoint is most important when it comes to shipping and storage of essential oils. It is the temperature at which the oil vaporizes enough that heat or an ignition source can ignite it. This is different from the fire point, which is the lowest temperature a vapour will continue to burn at least 5 seconds. The flashpoint is lower and if ignited may not cause a sustained fire. (Source)
This chart from a soapmaking supply site lists flashpoints of their oils. As you can see, some such as Orange, Tangerine, Rosemary, Bergamot, Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Fir, Frankincense, Juniper Berry, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime and Spruce all have flashpoints between 102 F and 130 F. Many of these are popular “freshening” oils.
According to GE, maker of appliances, most dryers on low heat run at about 125 F and on medium to high heat run at 135 F. Some dryers that are 120V may run as high as 145 F.
As you can see, the potential for ignition exists. The flashpoint of certain oils is low enough, and the heat of the dryer is high enough.
Finally, though there is a theoretical risk, many people successfully use essential oils in the dryer, usually on dryer sheets or wool balls. Most do so without incident, but there are definitely reports of fire that circulate now and again that are linked to essential oils in the dryer. Dirty massage linens have actually spontaneously caught fire in a hot vehicle, and those are mostly just carrier oils!
So the question remains, what about a few drops? Is that really enough to cause a fire? Probably not. If you had a few drops of kerosene on your clothes (flash point 115 F) would you be okay putting it in the dryer? Ask yourself how comfortable you are with that scenario and make your decisions from there.
The Best Way to Scent your Laundry
So, if like me you are a safety freak and decide not to use essential oils in the laundry, is there an even better way? Why yes, yes there is!
Put your DIY skills to work and make little herbal sachets for your closets and drawers. You can fill them with dried lavender buds, or even with a little felt or cotton if you want a neutral palette. Put a few drops of essential oil on them and place them in the drawers where your laundry lives. You could also buy an inexpensive diffuser locket and hang it in your closet.
October 25, 2019 at 08:40PM
