I was recently visiting with a dear friend over a cup of tea. “Elise, I heard that a used dryer sheet is great for removing burnt or baked-on foods from the bottom of your cookware. Is that true?” I had heard that there were several uses for dryer sheets. I do not use store brands however, we use Melaleuca dryer sheets. Other brands irritate our skin. We are also very sensitive to chemical smells but do fine with these sheets. I thought I’d find how many ways I could use these handy, dandy sheets that I had been throwing out after only one use. How surprised was I to learn the following:

  1. Most value in your dryer: Dryer sheets can be used up to four times. After each use cut off a corner so that you know when to discard.
  2. Lint trap: Use to clean your lint trap.
  3. Easily collect pet hair: Rubbing areas with a dryer sheet will magnetically attract loose hairs.
  4. 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.
  5. Keep bugs away: I would never rub dryer sheets on bare skin, but I would tuck them under lawn furniture to repel bees (I’m highly allergic!) You can also tuck in your pocket.
  6. Garbage can: I place a used dryer sheet in the bottom of my garbage cans.
  7. Cleaning and scrubbing — Some of the fabric softening and fragrance chemicals on dryer sheets can assist in cleaning. Try scrubbing dead bugs off your car with a dryer sheets.
  8. Keep your clothes fresh: Tuck a few fabric-sheets in your drawers. Freshen up your clothes hamper by throwing one in your in to prevent any rampant, residual odors from escaping. Hang in your closets.
  9. Scrub your showers: Lightly wet a used dryer sheet, and scrub to remove soap build-up and mineral deposits.
  10. 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.
  11. Reduce static cling: Pat your clothing with a sheet to combat static cling. It even works with long hair!
  12. 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. Also great to use at the bottom of your laundry basket.
  13. 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.
  14. Clean your eye glasses: Only use used dryer sheets; they work great!
  15. In your shoes: Toss a dryer sheet your shoes when you’re not wearing them to minimize odors.
  16. Cleaning candle holders: Reuse your dryer sheets for cleaning candle holders. Just wipe the inside of jar or votive holders and the soot will wipe right off.
  17. 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. Wrapping delicate items protects them from being broken.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. Repel rodents: Use dryer sheets to keep out mice, skunks, squirrels, rats, etc from your basement, garages, boats, campers, and clubhouses.
  24. 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.
  25. 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.
  26. 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.
  27. Clean chrome: Used dryer sheets make great little cloths for quick shine ups in the bathroom and kitchen too. Just use one on each of your chrome faucets and see how brightly they shine!
  28. Remove nail polish: Used dryer sheets remove most nail polishes.
  29. Wipe up sawdust: Collect sawdust like a tack cloth.
  30. Stop squeaking running shoes: Simply trace and cut the shape of your foot and place the dryer sheet under the removable insert.