Have you ever stepped into the shower and wished your bathroom smelled a little fresher? There’s a surprisingly simple household trick that has been making the rounds online: hanging a wooden clothespin near the shower.
The idea is simple. A wooden clothespin can absorb a small amount of scented oil and slowly release its fragrance when exposed to the warmth and humidity of a shower.
It doesn’t turn your bathroom into a luxury spa overnight, and it won’t actually clean or disinfect the air. But when used correctly, it can be an inexpensive way to add a pleasant aroma to your shower routine.
What You Need
You only need a few simple items:
- 1 clean wooden clothespin
- 3–5 drops of essential oil
- A shower rod, hook, or suitable place to hang the clothespin
Good Essential Oils to Try
You can choose an essential oil based on the scent you enjoy.
Lavender: A soft, floral fragrance.
Peppermint: A cool, minty aroma.
Eucalyptus: A fresh, distinctive scent.
Lemon: Bright and citrusy.
Orange: Sweet and refreshing.
Rosemary: Herbal and earthy.
If you’re sensitive to fragrances, start with just 1–2 drops.
How to Make the Shower Clothespin
Step 1: Choose a Wooden Clothespin
Use a plain, untreated wooden clothespin.
Wood works well for this trick because it can absorb a small amount of liquid and release the scent gradually.
Avoid painted, varnished, or chemically treated clothespins if you’re going to apply essential oils to them.
Step 2: Add the Essential Oil
Place approximately 3–5 drops of your chosen essential oil onto the wooden portion of the clothespin.
Don’t soak the clothespin.
A few drops are enough to create a noticeable fragrance.
Step 3: Let It Absorb
Allow the oil to soak into the wood for a few minutes.
This helps prevent excess oil from dripping when you hang it up.
Step 4: Hang It Near the Shower
Clip the clothespin onto the shower rod or another secure location outside the direct stream of water.
The goal is for the clothespin to become warm and humid from the shower without being continuously soaked.
Step 5: Enjoy the Aroma
Turn on the shower and let the warm, humid environment help release the fragrance from the scented wood.
The aroma will generally be most noticeable while you’re showering.
Why Does This Trick Work?
The clothespin itself isn’t doing anything magical.
The main idea is that wood is porous, so it can hold a small amount of essential oil.
When the bathroom becomes warm and humid, the fragrance can become easier to notice.
This is similar in principle to using scented wood or other absorbent materials as simple fragrance diffusers.
The shower’s steam doesn’t transform the essential oil into a therapeutic treatment. It simply creates an environment in which the scent can be released and spread around the bathroom.
Does It Actually Make Your Shower More Relaxing?
It can make the shower feel more pleasant, especially if you enjoy the particular fragrance you’ve chosen.
However, it’s important to distinguish between enjoying an aroma and making a medical claim.
For example, lavender is commonly used in aromatherapy, but evidence about essential oils and health effects varies by oil, method of use, and condition being studied.
A scented shower can be part of a relaxing routine, but it shouldn’t be presented as a treatment for anxiety, insomnia, respiratory disease, or other medical conditions.
Why You Shouldn’t Put the Clothespin Under Running Water
It might seem like soaking the clothespin would release more fragrance, but that’s not necessarily better.
Direct water can:
- Wash away the essential oil
- Cause the scent to disappear more quickly
- Make the wood stay wet
- Encourage deterioration of the clothespin
- Cause oil and water to drip onto nearby surfaces
Instead, hang the clothespin somewhere it gets shower humidity but not direct water.
How Long Does the Scent Last?
The fragrance doesn’t have a fixed lifespan.
It depends on:
- The type of essential oil
- How many drops you use
- Bathroom temperature
- Ventilation
- How porous the clothespin is
- How often you shower
When the aroma becomes faint, simply add a few more drops.
It’s better to start with a small amount than to heavily saturate the wood.
Try a Different Scent Combination
You can also experiment with combinations.
Fresh & Minty
- 2 drops peppermint
- 2 drops eucalyptus
- 1 drop lemon
Calm & Floral
- 3 drops lavender
- 2 drops orange
Citrus Shower
- 3 drops lemon
- 2 drops sweet orange
Herbal Fresh
- 2 drops rosemary
- 2 drops lemon
- 1 drop eucalyptus
Keep the total amount modest, especially if you have never used the oils before.
Important Essential Oil Safety Tips
Essential oils are highly concentrated substances, so more is not necessarily better.
Don’t Apply Essential Oil Directly to Your Skin
For this particular trick, the oil goes onto the wooden clothespin—not onto your body.
Undiluted essential oils can irritate the skin.
Keep Oils Away From Your Eyes
If essential oil gets into your eyes, rinse carefully with plenty of clean water and seek medical advice if irritation persists.
Be Careful Around Children and Pets
Some essential oils can be irritating or harmful to children and animals. Keep concentrated oils securely stored and don’t assume an oil that’s pleasant for humans is safe for pets.
Use Good Ventilation
If the fragrance becomes overwhelming, remove the clothespin and ventilate the bathroom.
People with fragrance sensitivities may find strongly scented products irritating.
Avoid Excessive Amounts
Five drops can provide plenty of fragrance in a small bathroom. Adding more doesn’t necessarily make the experience better.
Can You Use a Plastic Clothespin?
You can, but it won’t work in quite the same way.
A wooden clothespin is preferred because the wood can absorb the oil.
A plastic clothespin doesn’t absorb essential oil in the same way, so the fragrance may not last as long.
Can You Use Perfume Instead?
It’s better to use an essential oil or a fragrance product specifically intended for this type of use rather than spraying perfume onto the clothespin.
Perfumes contain alcohol and other ingredients designed for application as fragrance, not necessarily for heating and diffusing in a steamy bathroom.
What If You Don’t Have a Shower Rod?
You can place the scented clothespin on a suitable dry hook or another location near the shower where it won’t fall and won’t be exposed to direct water.
Never place it somewhere where it could fall onto the floor and become a slipping hazard.
When to Replace the Clothespin
Wooden clothespins don’t last forever in a humid bathroom.
Replace yours if it becomes:
- Moldy
- Cracked
- Permanently damp
- Discolored
- Brittle
- Unpleasant-smelling
A bathroom is a naturally humid environment, so keeping the clothespin dry between showers can help it last longer.
Other Simple Ways to Freshen a Bathroom
If you’re looking for additional ways to keep your bathroom smelling fresh, try:
- Improving bathroom ventilation
- Washing towels regularly
- Cleaning the shower drain
- Keeping damp bath mats dry
- Emptying the bathroom trash frequently
- Cleaning areas where soap residue accumulates
- Allowing surfaces to dry between uses
These steps address common sources of bathroom odors rather than simply covering them with fragrance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the clothespin clean the air?
No. A scented clothespin mainly adds fragrance. It should not be considered an air purifier or disinfectant.
Does it remove mold?
No. It doesn’t remove mold or prevent existing mold growth. Proper ventilation and cleaning are needed to address bathroom mold.
Can I use eucalyptus oil?
Yes, if you tolerate the fragrance. Use only a few drops and keep the oil away from direct skin contact and your eyes.
Can I use lavender oil?
Yes. Lavender is a popular choice for a soft floral scent.
How many drops should I use?
Start with 3–5 drops. If the fragrance is too strong, use fewer.
Can I use the same clothespin repeatedly?
Yes, as long as it remains clean and dry enough to use safely. Add a few drops of oil when the fragrance fades.
Does shower steam activate essential oils?
Warmth and humidity can make an existing fragrance easier to notice and may help volatile aromatic compounds disperse. This doesn’t mean the steam creates a medically therapeutic effect.
Final Thoughts
Hanging a scented wooden clothespin near the shower is a simple and inexpensive way to add fragrance to your bathroom. The porous wood acts as a basic scent holder, while the warmth and humidity of the shower help make the aroma more noticeable.
The key is to keep the clothespin out of the direct stream of water, use only a few drops of essential oil, and replace it if the wood becomes moldy or damaged.
It won’t replace proper bathroom cleaning or ventilation, but if you enjoy essential-oil fragrances, this little trick can make an ordinary shower feel a bit more special.
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