Make Wool Dryer Sachets in 30 Minutes for $10
The difference between sachets that protect your sweaters all winter and ones that go flat in a month is using cedar chips that can be refreshed with a light sanding.
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Last November I pulled my favorite wool sweater out of storage and found tiny moth holes along the cuff. Sad. The fix was a handful of cedar sachets, but the cheap ones lost their scent in weeks. The distinction between sachets that last all season and ones that fade quickly comes down to the cedar itself: cedar protects through its natural oils, and those oils sit in the surface of the wood. Cheap fine shavings lose them fast, while chunky cedar chips hold them and can be revived with a quick pass of sandpaper. Sewn from scrap cotton or linen, a set of six sachets takes about 30 minutes and costs $10 total, so your sweaters stay safe and smell great all winter.
What You'll Need
- Materials (~$10 total):
- 1 bag of cedar chips or cedar hang-up blocks, about 1 quart (~$6)
- 1/4 cup dried lavender buds (~$3)
- 1/2 yard of tightly woven cotton or linen fabric, or scraps (~$1 if using scraps)
- Matching all-purpose polyester thread
- 6 pieces of 12-inch natural twine or ribbon
- 5 drops of cedarwood essential oil (optional)
- Tools:
- Sewing machine or needle for hand stitching
- Fabric scissors or pinking shears
- Straight pins
- Small funnel or paper cone
- Fine-grit (120) sandpaper for refreshing the cedar later
How to Do It
- Cut six 4-by-8-inch rectangles of fabric. Pinking shears help stop fraying, and a tightly woven fabric keeps the chips from poking through.
- Fold each rectangle in half with the right sides together so it forms a 4-by-4-inch square. Pin the sides so the layers don't slip while you sew.
- Sew down both open sides with a 1/4-inch seam, leaving the top edge open. Backstitch at the start and end, since the weight of the chips will stress these seams.
- Turn each pouch right side out and push the corners out with a pencil. Crisp corners make the sachets look neat and hold their shape.
- Mix the cedar chips with the lavender in a bowl and add the essential oil if using. Stir well so the scent spreads evenly.
- Fill each pouch about two-thirds full using a funnel. Leave room at the top to cinch, because overstuffed sachets won't close tightly.
- Tie the top shut with twine, wrapping twice and knotting firmly. A tight tie keeps chips from leaking into your clothes.
- Place one in each drawer, closet shelf, or storage bin. Every couple of months, squeeze them or rub the surface lightly with sandpaper to wake up the scent.
Professional closet organizers and textile conservators tuck cedar near fabric but never let it touch delicate fibers directly, since the oils can stain. Slip each sachet inside a thin muslin liner or place it in a corner of the drawer, and replace the cedar chips every season for the strongest protection.
