What can you do with a used dryer sheet? Well, first of all: use it again. You can reuse dryer sheets quite a few times before they lose their effectiveness or scent. But after that, there are still quite a few useful things you can do with a used dryer sheet.
It’s worth noting that most dryer sheets have chemicals in them that are not necessarily good for us. Some brands that claim to be pure and chemical free may be safe. Just to be safe, I don’t recommend using dryer sheets in any way that involves applying them to the skin, hair or fur of a living creature. I don’t even like using them as mouse repellent.
Reusing old dryer sheets
- Static Cling: when clothes develop static cling, running a used dryer sheet over them will get rid of it.
- Deodorizing: stick used dryer sheets in shoes overnight to deodorize them.
- Dusting: they’re awesome for dusting, with or without a dusting spray.
- Sachet: put a used dryer sheet in a drawer of clothes, and the clothes will keep that nice fresh laundry scent for quite a while.
- Irons: if your iron has gotten gunky, iron a used dryer sheet on low and it’ll clean the gunk off.
- Dusting TVs: rub a used sheet over the TV screen to reduce dust-attracting static electricity. This not only dusts the TV, but helps slow down future dust accumulation.
- Sawdust: these things pick up sawdust like magnets pick up iron shavings. Use them to clean up a work station.
- Threading: to keep sewing thread from tangling or tying in knots, pull your threaded needle through a dryer sheet and let the thread follow it through.
- Closets: put used dryer sheets in closets to keep them smelling fresh.
- Soap scum: for some reason, just a few drops of water on a used dryer sheet makes a soap scum fighting weapon par excellence. Use it to get tough soap building off your glass shower doors and plastic curtains.
- Car freshening: put them in cars to keep them smelling fresh. Tuck them away in hidden cup holders or seat pockets, or under mats or seats.
- Cleaning cookware: with a few drops of water, a used dryer sheet will take dirt off cookware with surprising ease.
- Boxes of books: put a used dryer sheet in a box of books you’re storing to minimize the musty smell from the dust. When you unpack them, use the dryer sheet to dust the book covers off.
- Cleaning the dryer: what better way to clean your dryer after using it, than to hold onto the dryer sheet and give it a quick once over?
- Removing deodorant from clothes: if you get deodorant on your clothes while dressing, rub it away with a fabric softener.
- Preventing trash odors: put a used dryer sheet in the bottom of the kitchen garbage pail to keep food odors to a minimum until you take the garbage out. (Note: this won’t work long-term, but it can make a difference if you’re just leaving it overnight.)
- Bugs on a windshield: put a little water on your used dryer sheet and rub bugs off a windshield easily.
- Bug repellent? Some people claim diluted liquid fabric softener, which is basically what dryer sheets have on them, repels most insects. Some people wear them or rub them on their skin (I recommend against applying them to skin, for fear of chemicals, just to be safe), and say it keeps the nasties away. Others say this isn’t true. But sticking a sheet in your belt or pocket is worth a try.
- Gym bags: keep a used dryer sheet in your gym bag to minimize stale clothes stinkage.
- Suitcases: tuck used dryer sheets into suitcases, and especially dirty clothes bags, to keep your suitcases smelling okay.
- Scrapbooking: used dryer sheets can add texture to a scrapbook when you use them under photographs.
- In pillows: if you’ve ever accidentally left a dryer sheet in a pillow case, you probably already know how nice they can make your bed smell.
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