Fresh Summery Scented Bedding Year Round: Tip Sheet

Winters are pretty cold here in Canada so windows are kept shut and clotheslines hang empty for months, but there are a few tricks us Northerners have that help us enjoy fresh, fragrant bedding year round (with no nasty chemicals or expensive laundry products).

One of the things I miss most in winter is flinging open the bedroom window, stripping the bedding back and letting nature freshen up my bed linens naturally with sun and fresh air. But this list offers options that are just as easy and will provide a fragrance filled sleep year-round.

Many of these suggestions have been published previously on Tipnut and are listed here in one handy tip sheet (along with a few new recipes marked as “New”).

Scented Laundry Tips & Tricks

Herbal Lavender Dryer Bags

Fresh and fragrant laundry can be achieved chemical free with these easy to make lavender dryer bags. Using lavender buds gives the benefit of a natural moth repellent, sleep aid and a natural antibacterial.

• You’ll find the instructions posted here on Tipnut: How To Make Lavender Dryer Bags

Perfect for lavender scented bedding, these are very easy to make and Bonus! you can skip the commercial dryer sheets when combined with a vinegar rinse (1/4 to 1/2 cup per load).

Scented Laundry: Easy Trick (New)

• Directions: Fill a small spray bottle with water then add several drops of essential oil (lavender, mint, whatever you like). Shake then spray a clean white washcloth with the water/EO solution until lightly damp, toss in the dryer with the wet laundry. Scent will transfer to the bedding, lovely!

Lavender Buds Vinegar Rinse

Use this recipe for making a lavender vinegar suitable to use as a laundry rinse and fabric softener (as listed here on Tipnut: Lavender Vinegar Recipes):

• Handful of Lavender Flowers and 1 Pint White Vinegar
• Directions: Combine lavender and vinegar, seal and let sit for 6 weeks before using. Strain. Use about 1/4 cup in the rinse cycle, increase up to 1 cup per load if stronger scent is desired.

Scented Vinegar Rinse (Essential Oils)

Use this recipe (as listed here on Tipnut: Frugral Fabric Softener Recipes & Dryer Sheet Tips):

• Using 1/4 cup vinegar in your laundry’s rinse cycle keeps clothes soft. You can set aside a vinegar jug just for laundry and add about 2 dozen drops of your favorite essential oil to the vinegar if you’d like (or as much EO as you feel necessary).

Scented Laundry Booster (New)

Directions:

• Fill a plastic container with baking soda then add a few drops of essential oil to preference (start with about 2 drops per cup). Stir well with a wooden stick or spoon (not one used for cooking). Seal the container and set aside for two weeks.
• After two weeks use the scented baking soda as a laundry booster (1/2 cup per load in the wash or rinse cycle–your choice). Do not add any commercial fabric softener.

Scented Linens: Tips & Tricks

Mattress & Linen Freshener (New)

• Using your blender, grind until fine 1/2 cup of dried herbs (try mint, lavender, lemon balm, etc.).
• Mix ground herbs with 1/2 cup baking soda.
• Sprinkle mixture lightly over mattress pad or cover then top with clean fitted sheet.
• Spread mixture more heavily on top half of bed where upper body rests to enjoy a consistent fragrance.

Scented Starch For Linens

You can substitute the lavender EO in this recipe for any fragrance you like. Recipe is from Storybook Woods (as found here on Tipnut: Homemade Lavender Starch Recipe):

• Dissolve 1 tablespoon cornstarch in 1 pint cold water. Add 6 drops of lavender essential oil. Place in a spray bottle. Shake before using.

Fresh pressed linens, nicely starched, and lavender fragrance wafting in the air. Nice!

Homemade Linen Sprays

Combine vodka (which is also a disinfectant), distilled water and fragrant oils to make these lovely linen sprays. Here are three easy to mix recipes from Hallmark Magazine (previously mentioned on Tipnut here: Homemade Linen Sprays):

Pour 2 TBS 100 proof vodka into a 32-ounce spray bottle then add the following:

Directions: Top the vodka and oils with distilled water, cap and shake to mix. Spray linens as needed, shaking bottle lightly before each use.

Scented Herbal Sleep Pouches

• Insert the herbal pouch inside your pillowcase at night to help relax and fall asleep easier. To help the herbs last longer, store the pouch in a ziploc bag during the day and place in a drawer out of light, take out and insert in your pillowcase each night. Squeezing the pouch a bit before use will help too.
• Details to make these herbal pouches can be found here on Tipnut: Homemade Herbal Sleep Pouches. These are also called “Dream Pillows”.

Linen Closet Scented Sachets (New)

• Directions: Mix 50/50 dried lavender and lemon balm and fill cotton fabric or cheesecloth sachets. Tuck sachets into clean folded linens. The sachets will scent the linens while being stored. Sachets can be used repeatedly. Lavender and lemon balm together is a very calming and relaxing mix, perfect for scented bed linens.

Herbs & Scents: Sleep Easy Suggestions

When scenting your bed linens, it’s tempting to overdo it since you’re likely choosing your favorite fragrances. However, a light application is preferable since headaches and stuffiness may occur if scents are too strong (you’ll be sleeping on the linens for hours at a time). Strong smells may also keep you awake rather than ease you into a peaceful sleep.

Select Herbs & Fragrances That Are Soothing

Choose scents that are pleasing to you and help you relax rather than those that perk you up. Your sleep will be more peaceful and less restless. This is especially helpful for those suffering from insomnia or who have regular trouble falling asleep. Some suggestions:

• Lavender
• Lemon Balm
• Lilac
• Rose Petals
• Peppermint

Peaceful Sleep Scented Mixes

Lavender is commonly recommended as a home remedy for sleep since it’s thought to be effective in inducing a calm and peaceful rest. It’s also suggested as an excellent repellent for dust mites, so it’s a great choice to scent linens. Most of the mixes I have collected include lavender…

• Lavender, Lemon Balm
• Lavender, Rose Petals
• Lavender, Rose Petals, Thyme, Rosemary
• Lavender, Rose Petals, Jasmine
• Lavender, Peppermint
• Lavender, Lilac
• Rose Petals, Lemon Balm, Chamomile

When using dried herbs and flowers to fill sachets and sleep pillows or scent bedding, choose those that are pesticide free for best results.

Don't Miss These Tips:

• 10 Laundry Boosters Using Vinegar
• Frugral Fabric Softener Recipes & Dryer Sheet Tips
• Homemade Lavender Starch Recipe