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25 Alternative Uses for Fabric-Softener Dryer Sheets

by on May 17, 2007


Here are some great uses for dryer sheets once you’re done with them. Instead of letting your fabric softener sheets pile up in a corner, try one of these alternative uses instead! 

 

 

1. Dusting: used dryer sheets can knock the dust off nearly any surface, including furniture, blinds, car interiors, baseboards/molding. Also works for sawdust and drywall compound.

 

Use dryer sheets as a mosquito repellant

2. Keep bugs away: Tuck some in your picnic basket or under lawn furniture to repel bees from your juicy flesh and encourage them back to the flowers, where they belong. You can also rub a sheet directly on your bare skin to discourage would- be buggers from leaving their mark.

 

Some fabric sheets on a clothesline held up by several clothespins.

3. Keep your clothes fresh: tuck a few fabric-sheets in your drawers to keep that ‘just-washed’ smell happening for weeks. Throw one in your dirty clothes hamper to prevent any rampant, residual odors from escaping into your bedroom.

 

4. Scrub your showers. Here’s another great use for dryer sheets: lightly wet a used dryer sheet, and scrub to remove soap build-up and mineral deposits.

 

5. Freshen your home: Place (or tape) a dryer sheet on your HVAC vents to scent the air circulating through your home. You can even place one alongside your filter in your central heating unit to distribute the scent. Also works on ceiling fans, and on the back of box/portable fans.

 

6. Reduce static cling: Pat your self with a sheet to combat static on your clothes, stockings, and even long hair! This is one of my favorite alternative uses for dryer sheets!

 

 

8. Clean your laundry room: When you finish drying a load, hold on to the dryer sheet, and wipe down the inside of your dryer’s drum, your lint trap, the outside of your washing machine and dryer, and scrub away any excess or spilt laundry detergent.

 

9. Scrub the bugs from your car: Summer drives often equal insect gut polka dots all over your auto’s body and windshield. Simply wet your car down, and use a dryer sheet to scrub away carnage with ease.

 

10. Wipe up hair: The cling of a dryer sheet is perfect to wipe up pet hair from your furniture, or even your own hair from your bathroom.

 

put dryer sheets in your shoes to keep them smelling good

11. In your shoes: Toss a dryer sheet in the toes of your shoes to minimize odors and prolong the just-purchased smell.

 

12. While traveling: Place a few dryer sheets in between items in your suitcase to keep both your clothes fresh and to prevent your items from picking up any mustiness from old luggage.

 

13. In your crafts: Use dryer sheets to add texture to cards, scrapbooks, etc. Also use for reinforcement in appliqué and quilting work.

 

14. For diapers: Keep your used dryer sheets in your diaper bag, and roll one up in the diaper to prevent odors before you have to chance to throw it away.

 

15. In the kitchen: Soak cookware with burnt or baked-on food in warm water, with a dryer sheet or two. Makes clean-up easier than you’d expect. Also works on cook tops and dingy cabinet doors.

 

Dryer sheets can be used to clean paint brushes

16. Clean paint brushes: Soak your used paintbrushes in warm water with a dryer sheet, and that pesky latex paint will come off in under a minute.

 

17. In books: placing a dryer sheet in new books or photo albums will keep them smelling fresh, and can combat the musty paper smell of used or old books. Also works as a killer bookmark.

 

18. In toilet paper: Roll up a dryer sheet in your toilet paper roll. Each time you spin, it releases a little freshness into your bathroom.

 

19. As you sleep: keep a fabric-softener sheet in your pillow case and under your mattress or mattress pad for sweet dreams of summer all year ‘round.

 

20. While sewing: use a dryer sheet to store your needles while threaded to keep them from tangling, for paper piecing while you quilt, and for backing for embroidery.

 

Dryer sheets can help keep out mice and other rodents

21. Repel rodents: Use dryer sheets to keep out mice, skunks, squirrels, rats, etc from your basement, garages, boats, campers, and clubhouses.

 

22. In your car: stash dryer sheets under your car seats and floor mats, and in your glove box and trunk for fresh scents as you travel.

 

23. At work: Hide dryer sheets in drawers, behind computers, and in cabinetry to keep your workspace fresh, and combat your co-workers awful perfume or stale cigarette scent.

24. In you vacuum cleaner: Place a dryer sheet in your vacuum bag or dust containment unit. As the hot air moves as you vacuum, you’ll bulk up your cleaning efforts. (Make sure this is in NO WAY a fire hazard)

 

25. In storage: tuck dryer sheets in your rarely used items such as luggage, camping gear, sports equipment, or specialty craft or kitchen items to prevent the inevitable smells of basements, attics, and garages.

 

[Dryer sheets are chemical products, so read the safety label on all your packaging. Using an ecologically alert product such as Method will guarantee safer results]

Love learning other uses for everyday items? Check out these alternative uses for olive oil…
 

25 Alternative uses for olive oil

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4 Comments

  1. JT

    I cleaned out the light socket on my stove hood with a dryer sheet, and suddenly it was working again, when it had not worked before.

  2. Katie

    No dryer sheets in my house. The chemicals and smells are horrible. I hate to think of their environmental impact. Ewwwwww.

  3. Marla Gunter

    Another use for used dryer sheets
    .26 Great for Straining paint for Air Brush and other paint related to be strained.

  4. Cheryl farsad

    I used dryer pads for alternative uses and developed a life threatening autoimmune disease. They are extremely toxic.