13 Surprising Ways To Use Dryer Sheets In Your Home
These hidden house-cleaning powers go beyond the laundry room.
Odds are, dryer sheets are already a part of your everyday life and live inside your laundry room. The ability to boost the scent of your freshly washed clothes is appealing enough, in addition to removing lint and pet hair, reducing wrinkles, and preventing static cling when used in your laundry drying cycle. But these fluffy sheets can be used in amazing ways beyond the dryer.
Dryer sheets are good for so much more than laundry, and you can easily save up your used sheets for dual purposes later on. From cleaning your bathroom to combating stinky feet, keep reading for 13 genius ways to use dryer sheets in your home.
In the Bathroom
Make fixtures shine
Running a moistened dryer sheet over chrome bathroom fixtures will have them shining like the day they were installed. They work even more easily than a paper towel.
Clean your glass shower door
Because dryer sheets contain detergent, they're also perfect for cleaning soap scum and grime off of shower doors, walls, and fixtures. Moisten the dryer sheet, rub the soap scum to remove it, and then rinse your shower with clean, warm water to remove any residue.
In the Kitchen
Remove burnt-on food stains
Believe it or not, dryer sheets are excellent at removing burnt-on foods from pots and pans. Something to think about the next time you burn tomato sauce! Save the elbow grease and use a dryer sheet on the stubborn food residue instead. Simply add a drop of dish soap, hot water, and a dryer sheet over the food stains, and let it soak, then watch as the detergents on the dryer sheet lift the mess right off your pots and pans.
Wipe a stove clean
Additionally, if you need to tackle a stove riddled with stuck-on food after a week's worth of dinners, a dryer sheet will work here too. Simply soak a fresh sheet in water for 10 to 15 minutes before scrubbing away.
Deodorize kitchen trash
Get rid of stinky kitchen trash odors by placing a dryer sheet on the bottom of your trash can before you line it with a new bag. The sheets will absorb the stench while adding a pleasant scent.
In the Living Room
Pick up dust and pet hair
It turns out dryer sheets are excellent at picking up dust and pet hair, using the same function as removing laundry static to attract dust and hair. Use them on everything from your ceiling fans to your baseboards, and your vacuum cleaner will thank you.
Keep electronics dust-free
Electronic screens—from TVs to computers—that gather dust and streaks can be wiped with dryer sheets, just make sure they are dry.
Remove crayon from walls
Anyone who has children knows that sometimes the walls become a canvas for an eager young artist. Luckily, dryer sheets are actually quite effective in removing crayon from the walls. Rub a new or used sheet over the creation, and it'll restore the wall to a fresh slate.
In the Closet
Get rid of deodorant smudges
A dryer sheet can save you in a pinch when you have white deodorant marks on your clothes. Wiping unsightly white smudges on your clothes with a sheet easily solves this wardrobe malfunction.
Stop shoes from squeaking
You can also use a dryer sheet to stop your shoes from squeaking. Just rub the bottoms of the soles with a dryer sheet, and it'll help take off some of the slickness. Do as often as needed.
Wipe away static cling
When static cling season begins, clothes might stick to you, or taking off your hat might make your hair stand up straight. To deactivate the cling, swipe a dryer sheet on the problem surface areas. Keep in your purse or pocket on dressy occasions!
Keep clothes smelling fresh
If you like to use sachets to perfume your dresser drawers, a dryer sheet also does the trick to add scent to clothes. Plus, if you have a pile of dirty laundry that builds up over the course of the week, you can toss a dryer sheet into the hamper to help control the smell. It'll tide you over until you're able to take care of the clothes. (This hack also translates to tossing a dryer sheet in luggage or gym bags to keep odors in check.)
Fight funky-smelling shoes
Dirty laundry isn't the only stinky problem a dryer sheet can mitigate. Issues with foot funk? Slice a dryer sheet in half and put a piece in each shoe after a day of use. Let the sheet work its magic overnight, and your shoes should smell better by morning.
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