Use dryer sheets in 50 different ways
Close up of dryer sheet and blue jeans.
Note – This article has been updated to reflect the newest dryer sheet technology. I never gave much thought to the dryer sheet, also known as fabric softener sheets. But now that I know how versatile it is, even after being used, it has many uses. You might be surprised by the many ways you can reuse dryer sheets, and still have them useful after a run through the dryer. Before you toss that dryer sheet in the trash, check out the suggestions below to see if they make sense. The fragrance will not be as strong because they’ve already been through the dryer, but it doesn’t mean they don’t smell at all. It would be a waste to use new dryer sheets, as that would defeat the whole purpose of finding ways to reuse them. You can experiment to find out what works best for you. You can experiment to find out what works for you.
First step, cut your dryer sheets in half
Since the article is about ways to reuse your dryer sheets and save money you should probably start by cutting them in half when they are brand new. Half a dryer sheet will do the job just fine. If not, you can use full sheets. You can save up to 50% by using half the amount of dryer sheets. You may even want to experiment further to see if cutting them into thirds or fourths works for you and to save even more money.
Consider Buying Your Dryer Sheets in Bulk
If you are buying dryer sheets new consider getting them in bulk from an online retailer – you’ll save in gas costs and the time it takes you to get to the store and back. The Bounce Outdoor Dryer Sheets 320-sheet Pack
and the Gain Dryer sheets 240-sheet pack
are both good values in this case. Both of these retail under $25 on Amazon.com. If you cut these in half you’ll have 640 and 480 sheets respectively.
While all of these reuses probably won’t apply to you, even if you find a few where you can use them, you have given something that you would have thrown away a new life. Use it Again
This tip will be based on your personal preference for your clothes. If you find your clothes have a lot static after using a sheet, it is likely that you have over-dried them. Experiment a few times and you will quickly be able to determine how many times you can use a dryer sheet and still be satisfied with its effectiveness.
Freshen Diaper Bag
Keeping a few used dryer sheets in your diaper bag makes a lot of sense. It will not only keep your diaper bag fresh but you can also use it to cover a diaper if there is no place for you to throw it away. Reuse your dryer sheets to clean paintbrushes.
Used dry-er sheets are an excellent way to clean brushes. Place the paintbrushes in a container of warm water, and then add a used dryer sheets. What can be a difficult time getting latex paint off of the brushes becomes amazingly simple, and the brushes should be clean within a few minutes.
Alternative Swiffer Mop Sheet
One of the most innovative and cost effective ways to reuse old dryer sheets is to use them in your Swiffer mop. You may need to add a few layers of dryer sheets to make it more effective. They will remove dirt, dust and hair from the floor as well as sweeper mop. Create Art Pieces
Most don’t think that used dryer sheets could be transformed into something beautiful. But they can. They can be transformed into beautiful art pieces or mix media cloths with a bit of effort. You don’t believe me, do you? Make A Fire Starter
You can create a fire starter by combining used dryer sheets and dryer lint. You can make these devices in a variety of ways, but the easiest way is to fill an old toilet tissue or paper towel tube with dryer sheets and lint. Fold the ends inwards once the tube is filled. Now you have a fire starter. They are great for the campfire or in the fireplace.
Dust your TV Screen
Anti-static properties of dryer sheets remain after use. They are a great way to remove dust from TV screens made of glass (don’t use them on TV screens that are not glass). Dryer sheets can be used to wipe up messes. It can be hard to clean up flour that you spilled in the kitchen while baking. They can be used on many dry spills like this. You can use them on many dry spills. It can reduce the smell. Add a few dryer sheets used to your closet to keep it smelling fresh. Used dryer sheets can be placed in drawers to keep clothes smelling fresh. Again, this will help all the clothes that are stored there to remain fresh and smell as if they have just come out of the dryer.
Freshen Up A Dirty Laundry Hamper
The reason that you have dirty clothes in your laundry hamper is because they need to be cleaned. It’s likely that some of the clothes in your hamper don’t smell great. Use luggage to store your used dryer sheets. When luggage is not used for a long time, it can start to smell musty. Create A Travel Barrier
The dryer sheets you keep in your luggage are also useful for creating a scent barrier when you travel. You can use the used clothes bag to store all your dirty clothes while traveling, similar to a laundry hamper. Place the dryer sheets into this dirty clothes bag to reduce smell and make sure that your clean clothes don’ take on the odor of the dirty clothes in the suitcase.
Keep Gym Bags Fresh
By far the best way to keep gym bags from smelling to to wash them regularly because they will absorb the smell and sweat from clothes placed in them over time. Between these washes you can keep the smell down by placing used dryer sheet into your gym bag. It didn’t prevent someone from making one. Seriously:.
Sewing Help
Tangled threads often frustrate avid sewers. You can prevent the thread from getting tangled or knotted by running a needle through an old dryer sheet. It is for this reason that you should include a used dryer sheet or two in your sewing kit. It makes sense to include a few used dryer sheets in your sewing kit. This problem can be solved by using used dryer sheets. You can also use used dryer sheets on cloth furniture to capture any pet hair that has accumulated on it. Computer Screen Cleaner
Any computer that has a screen made of glass is a good candidate for using dryer sheets. You should not use dryer sheets to clean non-glass screens, as they may damage them. Used dryer sheets are also good to use to clean out any tiny hairs and particles that have settled around the keys in your keyboard.
Take Away the Musty Smell of Books and Magazines
Anyone who collect old books or magazines knows that many times when they’re picked up they’ll often come with a musty smell. Used dryer sheets are an effective and easy way to eliminate this musty smell. When you remove the book, all musty odor will have disappeared. When you take the book out, all the musty odor will have disappeared.
Vacuum Fresh
If you want to freshen up your house a bit, you can do so while you are vacuuming killing two birds with one stone. Use a dryer sheet to place in the vacuum bag or the area where air is released. The dryer sheet will absorb the smell of freshly dried clothes as the vacuum air is released into the air. Safety first. Don’t place the dryer sheet anywhere where it has the potential to start a fire or clog the vacuum airflow.
Bug Repellant
Some people claim that dryer sheets make a wonderful bug repellent. The names of some chemicals in dryer sheets are long and complex, even though the manufacturers claim that their products meet FDA standards. According to healthline.com, common ingredients are:
dipalmethyl hydroxyethylammoinum methosulfate, a softening and antistatic agent
fatty acid, a softening agent
polyester substrate, a carrier
clay, a rheology modifier, which helps control the viscosity of the coating as it begins to melt in the dryer
fragrance.
Healthline.com
Due to the chemicals in the dryer sheet, you definitely don’t want to rub the used dryer sheet directly on your skin. Place a dryer-sheet in your belt loop or pocket to repel mosquitoes and other flying insects. This can help to repel mosquitoes and other flying insects.
Clean Chrome
Used dryer sheets do an amazing job at cleaning and polishing chrome. You can use them to touch up and clean the chrome on your car or any other chrome that you may have around the house such as faucets, shower heads and other chrome trimming that you want to sparkle.
Remove Soap Scum
One of the best places to use dryer sheets is in your bathroom. Shower tile or a shower glass door will work well if you have them. A used dryer sheet can be used to clean a soapy layer on a ceramic sink or plastic shower curtain. Simply put a few drops of water onto the dryer sheet and you should be able to easily rub away all the soap scum with little effort.
Car Deodorizer
There really is no need to buy any car deodorizers when you can use your old dryer sheets to get the exact same fresh smell effect. If you wear glasses, and your lenses are made of glass you can clean them with a dryer sheet. (If your lenses are not glass, do not use dryer sheets because they could damage them). An added benefit is that the dryer sheets will help repel dust so that the glasses remain clean longer than if you simply wipe them off with a paper towel or other cloth.
Craft Flowers
Another craft that you can make out of old dryer sheets are flowers which can be used in a avariety of ways in your craft projects:
Hair Static Remover
If you ever find that you’re having one of those terrible static air days where your hair is flying all over the place, you can use an old dryer sheet to tame down your hair. Tucking one in your purse will not only help your purse remain fresh smelling, but you’ll also have it as an emergency hair static remover anytime that you need it throughout the day.Furniture Dusting
Dryer sheets make wonderful dusters on wood furniture. The nooks and crevices of the dryer sheets (see the photo at the top of the article) make them perfect for dusting wood furniture. They are often regarded as one of the most effective tools for dusting. You can use them either with or without a dusting spray.
Window & Blind Cleaner
Old dry sheets work well for cleaning windows and blinds. Because of their anti-static qualities, they not only clean the blinds and window, but also prevent them from becoming as dirty again in the future. People usually do not clean windows and blinds as often as they should, so this is a nice way to reuse dryer sheets.
Baseboard Cleaner
One of the things that is always a problem, is trying to get all the dirt and dust that gathers in the corners by the baseboards in your house.
Old dryer sheets repel dust and dirt. Old dryer sheets repel dust and dirt. This will prevent dirt from building up on your baseboards. This makes mopping or vacuuming easier because the dirt isn’t stuck to the baseboard.
Scissor Cleaner
There are some people that swear that old dryer sheets are a great scissor cleaning tool. If your scissors aren’t cutting as well as they should be, a quick cleaning with an old dryer sheet may help refurbish them so that they cut clean again.
- Removing Static Cling
- This one should not come as a surprise. Dryer sheets are used to reduce static in clothing. The used dryer sheets retain their static-cling properties even after being run through the drying machine. You can use an old dryer sheet to remove static from clothes. Old dryer sheets can be used to pick up sawdust if you are doing any woodwork. Keep a stash where you do your work and you’ll always have them handy when you need to do a quick clean-up.
- Cleaning Cookware
- One of the more unusual ways to use old dryer sheets is to clean off pots and pans that have well cooked food residue stuck to them. Drop an old dryer sheet in the warm water after filling the pots. Let the pots soak in water overnight. If you use this method, be sure to thoroughly rinse the cookware afterward because of the chemicals. If you do use this method, be sure to thoroughly rinse these cookware after you have finished because of these chemicals.
- Cleaning The Dryer Lint Trap
For those of you who want to use the dryer sheets again, but don’t want to make much of an effort in doing so, there is a simple solution. Once your clothes have dried, empty the lint filter. Use the dryer sheet to remove any lint that is hard to reach after you have emptied the trap. Voila! You’re done! Add a few drops to the used dryer sheet to clean the top and inside of your washer. This will keep your washer and dryer clean and you can reuse the dryer sheets without much effort. The white deodorant residue that sticks to clothes when you dress can be removed by using used dryer sheets. Lightly swipe the sheet over any area of the clothes that has the white deodorant residue, and the dryer sheet should pick it right off the clothes.
Preventing Trash Odors
If you are one of those people who don’t take out your trash quite as often as you should, placing a used dryer sheet into the bottom of the trashcan can help to prevent food odors from filling the kitchen until you have a chance to take the trash out. It’s important to note that this odor prevention will not work on a long-term basis, but it should keep your garbage from smelling too badly in between trips to the outside garbage can.
Removing Bugs on Windshield
Anyone who has taken a long road trip knows that when you finally make it back home there is usually an abundance of bug splats on the car windshield. These bug splats can be easily removed with old dryer sheets. Reuse Dryer sheets in your Scrapbook
For scrapbookers, used dryers sheets are a great way to add texture. Reusing dryer sheets can make your scrapbook smell new after it has been stored for some time.
Keep pillows fresh
You may have had an accident where a dryer sheet accidentally got into a pillowcase while your clothes were drying. It remained there after you removed everything. Every night you will have a pillow that smells amazing. You can intentionally create this smell if you like it. Every time you go to bed, the pillowcases will smell like they just came out of the dryer. Use dryer sheets to keep your sleeping bags fresh. This will prevent them from smelling like dirty tents or campfire smoke. It is particularly effective for people who do not use their sleeping bags often. This helps to prevent the sleeping bag developing a musty smell. It will keep your tent clean and prevent vermin or rodents from living inside. If you have children, old dryer sheets may be a good way to remove crayon marks from wood furniture. You don’t want the wood to get damaged if you use this method. Just be careful to not rub too hard. A used dryer sheet can easily remove all the hair droplets. It’s also effective in cleaning up any gunk that may have built up in the sink or on the countertop.
Bathroom Freshener
Old dryer sheets are an effective bathroom freshener. Place the old dryer sheet inside the toilet roll tube, as the dispenser is attached. Every time that you pull sheets of toilet paper off the role, the roll will spin sending out some of the dryer sheet fresh scent into the bathroom.
Mattress Freshener
If you would like to have your bed smell fresh all the time, place some old dryer sheets onto the bed before you put down the mattress cover or the bottom sheet. The whole bed will have a fresh scent every time you sleep. Photo credit: Staffan Vikans via Flickr.
Another way to reuse dryer sheet is to repel mice. Most rodents don’t like the smell of dryer sheet. You can use dryer sheets as a deterrent to keep rodents like squirrels, rats and mice away from places you do not want them. You can use dryer sheets to keep rodents out of small cracks. This works well if your home has a lot of them. Simply place some old dryer sheets into these cracks and you should no longer have that rodent problem.
Office Cubicle Freshener
You don’t have to keep all your dryer sheets for use at home. Bring some old dryer sheets with you to work to freshen up your cubicle. Place them in an inconspicuous place around the cubicle. This way you won’t need to go out and buy expensive air freshener.
For More Great Saving Advice Articles, Consider These:
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Thirty Eight Surprising Ways To Make Extra Money
Seventeen Bills In Your Wallet Worth More Than Face Value
(Photo courtesy of seannaber)
