19 Alternate Uses for Your Dryer Sheets

Did you know that dryer sheets aren’t just for softening and reducing static in your clothes, bedding, and towels? I had used dryer sheets for a hundred years but had always tossed them out after one use. Not anymore!

I’ve compiled a list of 19 alternate uses, tips and tricks for your laundry room’s dryer sheets. Some are for unused dryer sheets, but many are for used dryer sheets. A great way to reduce, reuse and recycle!

Dryer Sheets

Freshen Old Books:  If some of your favourite old books are smelling musty, stick a dryer sheet between the pages to freshen the smell. (Makes a great bookmark too!)

Gym Bag Deodorizer:  A sheet at the bottom of a gym bag will help mask odours.

Clean Bugs Off Your Car:  (This tip is for my vehicle washing obsessed brother-in-law…lol) Wet a used dryer sheet and use it to remove bugs from your windshield and front grill. The fabric is abrasive enough to scrub away the insects but not so harsh as to damage the finish.

Freshen Dirty Clothes Hamper:  Toss a dryer sheet into your dirty clothes hamper to prevent any unwanted odours from permeating the room.

Clean the Plate on Your Iron:  With your iron on low, rub the flat soleplate of the iron over the dryer sheet until the dirt and residue disappear.

Dusting:  Used dryer sheets can make short work of dust on nearly any surface, including furniture, blinds, car interiors, baseboards, and molding. They also work really well for gathering up sawdust and drywall dust.

Dryer Sheets

Bug Repellant:  Keep a fresh dryer sheet in your pocket, it will keep away bugs because it has a toxin that is found in lavender and basil, as well as beta-citronella, which is used to repel mosquitoes.

Remove Soap Scum: This is one of my favourite tips! Dryer sheets are great for getting rid of soap scum. Put a few drops of water on a used dryer sheet and scrub to remove any soap build-up and mineral deposits on shower doors, ceramic sinks, or tiles.

Eliminate Static Cling:  This is another favourite of mine and I have used this countless times. If your dress or pants are clinging to your legs, rub your bare or hose covered legs with a fresh dryer sheet and the static will disappear. Works every time!  I have even rubbed my hair with a dryer sheet to reduce the amount of static. A must have in your suitcase when travelling or tucked in a desk drawer at the office.

Deodorize Footwear:  Tuck a sheet into each shoe and leave at least overnight.  By morning you will have fresh smelling shoes.

Dryer Sheets

Deodorize a Diaper Bag: Keep your diaper bag smelling fresh by placing a dryer sheet in the bottom of the bag to help with any odour.

Make Chrome Shine: Hard water can leave calcium deposits on chrome surfaces in the kitchen and bathrooms. All you need to do is buff the chrome with a used dryer sheet and your faucets and taps will look brand new. (If you use a new sheet, just buff any residue off the fixture with a clean soft cloth.)

Clean paint brushes: Soak your used paintbrushes in warm water to which you have added a dryer sheet and latex paint easily come off the brush.

Thread Detangler:  To prevent tangles, run a threaded needle through a sheet before you begin stitching.

Dryer Sheets

Keep you Bathroom Smelling Fresh: Place a dryer sheet in your toilet paper roll cylinder before putting the roll on the holder. Now, each time you spin, it releases a little freshness into your bathroom.

 Drawer Sachet:  Place a dryer sheet in your dresser drawers to give your clothes that fresh from the dryer smell every day.

Sand Remover:  Dryer sheets are great for getting dry sand off your skin. Just wipe your legs, feet or hands with a sheet and the sand will fall right off.

Keep Stored Items Smelling Fresh: When you pack away things like winter clothes or sports items, throw in a dryer sheet to keep them smelling great until you need them again.

Window Blinds: Periodically wipe your blinds with a dryer sheet. Because the sheets reduce static, it repels dust and fine dirt, your blinds will stay clean longer.

PS…this isn’t really an alternate use, it’s more of a tip. For YEARS I have always cut my dryer sheets in half, that way I get twice as many sheets in the box. I haven’t noticed one issue with static or freshness. The half sheet works just as well as a full sheet. Give this a try, it’s a great money-saving tip!

Dryer Sheets

Do you reuse your old dryer sheets? If you do, let me know how you use them!

Comments

  1. Catherine White says:

    I love those tips for using old dryer sheets. I especially like the one for the laundry hamper and in the shoes overnight. I have used them in the bottom of my garbage can and compost bags, too, outside the bags, of course. I hope you don’t mind if I print them off . My old mind would not remember most of those. lol

  2. I love these ideas – can’t wait to try them to get bugs off my car! LOL I put them under my car seats to freshen the air.

  3. Sarah at Journeys of The Zoo says:

    Can you explain the “thread detangler” item, I don’t get it but love to sew so I’d like to know more.

    I thought that you were using the sheet as a BOOKMARK which is what I do. I hadn’t thought of using it to clean but that makes perfect sense! Off to clean up the bathroom.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Besos, Sarah
    Sarah at Journeys of The Zoo recently posted…Donate to the @BostonPizzaFdn and Get 5 FREE Kids Meals! #BPKidsCardsMy Profile

  4. Better yet, cut your dryer sheets in quarters. A fourth of a dryer sheet works as well as a whole sheet. Your box of dryer sheets last 4 times as long. Where it’s just my husband and myself, I go through MAYBE one and a half boxes a year.

  5. I have removed annoying sticky buds from my sweat pants after walking our dogs through the woods, get a used dryer sheet and wipe it over the buds and they come off, beats trying to pick them off one by one and getting the prickles stuck in your fingers!!

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