5 Alternate Uses for Extra Dryer Sheets

Eco-friendly fabric softening options like wool dryer balls, DIY reusable sponge fabric softeners, and reusable dryer sheets are quickly making traditional disposable dryer sheets obsolete. The thing is, whether you’ve made the switch to reusable or not, you probably have a half-used box of 500 disposable sheets sitting next to your dryer waiting to be used.

There are loads of ways to make use of disposable dryer sheets that don’t involve your appliance. Want some ideas? Keep reading!

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What are dryer sheets made of?

Dryer sheets are squares of polyester or cellulose fabric coated in liquid fabric softeners, fragrances, and other chemicals. When you use one in your dryer, the heat from the appliance causes these chemicals to transfer to your clothes, resulting in soft, low static, and pleasantly fragrant laundry.

Sounds pretty good! But you should keep that chemical transfer in mind – it means there are some things you definitely shouldn’t use dryer sheets on, and some you’ll want to be careful about.

• Don’t use a dryer sheet on your pets. You may have seen guides suggesting dryer sheets as a way to calm animals upset during thunderstorms, but you don’t want to risk your pets getting sick later because they’ve consumed the surfactant from the dryer sheets while cleaning.
• Dryer sheets can lower the absorbency abilities of towels. Don’t use them in laundry loads with towels, and don’t use them on surfaces that you otherwise clean with things like microfiber cloth.
• Similarly, dryer sheets can degrade the water-wicking abilities of certain activewear, so keep them away from anything with a stearic acid coating.
• The coating on dryer sheets can reduce the efficacy of fire resistant coating on clothes like children’s pajamas, so never dry fire resistant clothing with dryer sheets.
• If you use a dryer sheet to clean a surface that you cook on or eat off of, be sure it’s well rinsed before using it.
• All that said, fabric softener sheets won’t do serious damage to your dryer, but they can reduce its efficacy. Just make sure you have a regular cleaning schedule for your dryer drum to ensure it’s operating optimally.

5 alternate uses for all those extra dryer sheets

Let’s take a look at some uses for that 800 count box of dryer sheets you’ve got in your laundry room!

1. Put them to use as all-purpose deodorizers

Dryer sheets make for great, subtle air fresheners – they’re easy to hide and let you mask odors without the overwhelming floral or soapy scents. Stash a sheet or two anywhere that needs a bit of freshening up.

Want some specific ideas? Consider these spots:

• Slipping a couple of dryer sheets beneath the seats in your car is more effective than a rear window air freshener, and they won’t disrupt your view, either.
• Tuck dryer sheets into luggage, backpacks, diaper bags, or gym bags to cut back on unpleasant odors.
• Dryer sheets in the coat or linen closet will keep your less used and seasonal items smelling nice.
• Likewise, you can add dryer sheets to your dresser drawers to achieve a similar pleasant scent for all your clothes.
• Putting something away for long term storage? Put a dryer sheet in the bottom of the container to combat musty smells.
• Got some shoes that are really stinky? Sticking some dryer sheets in your kicks when you aren’t wearing them can help them smell a little better.
• A dryer sheet tucked into toilet paper rolls or folded up on a shelf can help with bathroom odors.
• Pop a used or fresh dryer sheet in the bottom of your trash can to absorb odors and moisture.

2. Get rid of deodorant marks on clothes

The dreaded white splotch has delayed many a date night and ruined countless carefully planned outfits. If you find your last shirt before laundry day marred by deodorant stains, don’t panic – grab a dryer sheet! A dryer sheet can lift deodorant off of a shirt with a bit of friction, so carefully dab or rub the spot until the stain is gone. Just be sure you’re using it on a fabric that won’t be damaged by the chemical fabric softeners in the sheet!

3. Keep bugs at bay

Conventional wisdom holds that dryer sheets repel pests like mosquitos, gnats, and wasps. Is it true? Well, while there’s no scientific proof that it effectively repels mosquitos, there is some science to back up its usefulness as a repellent for other bugs – in 2011, researchers at Kansas State University found that fungus gnats held in a test chamber tended to avoid compartments where a Bounce dryer sheet had been placed. If you’ve got some extra dryer sheets, it’s certainly worth a try!

Here are some specific ideas:

• Set a dryer sheet near house plants to protect them from pests, particularly those that need moist soil. Don’t put the sheet in the pot. You don’t want the chemicals transferring to the soil. The smell alone should be enough to repel gnats and other unwanted insects.
• Got picnic plans? You can tape dryer sheets to the undersides of tables and chairs to keep bugs at bay. If harmful insects like mosquitoes pose a problem, though, we do recommend relying on an actual EPA-approved bug spray.
• A dryer sheet in your mailbox can potentially do more than make your letters smell fresh – it could keep wasps or hornets from building nests inside.

4. It’s a cleaning multi-tool

Both fresh and used dryer sheets are useful cleaning tools. We’ve got a ton of suggestions for how to use them!

• Used dryer sheets are great for picking up spills of flour, salt, dry detergent, and other dry spills with powdery consistencies.
• Get bug gunk and road dirt off of your car’s grill or windshield with a damp dryer sheet. If you make this a regular part of your detailing process, you’ll want to reapply wax to the area where you used the dryer sheet.
• The next time you’re cleaning your bathroom, try getting rid of soap scum with a wet used dryer sheet.
• A fresh dryer sheet makes a great DIY lint roller! Rub the sheet on your clothes to lift pet hair and lint off. You can use this trick on furniture, too, just be mindful that you don’t use it in Fido’s favorite spot – the chemicals can potentially irritate your pet’s skin.
• Gently wipe your TV or computer screen clean with a completely dry dryer sheet to leave it completely clear. Dryer sheets are soft enough that they shouldn’t scratch your screens – just be sure you don’t scrub too hard.
• Soaking things in hot water with a dryer sheet can help lift tough grime. This is effective for things like baking sheets with burnt-on food, scorched pots and pans, and things like candle holders coated in wax. Just be sure to thoroughly wash and rinse any cooking utensils after the soak with ordinary dish soap to get rid of any lingering chemicals from the dryer sheet.

5. Getting crafty

Whether you’re into embroidery or like to keep an art journal, you can find a use for both fresh and used dryer sheets. Here are some tips:

• A dryer sheet makes a great needle saver, just thread your needle through it when you aren’t using it.
• While not a permanent fix for old shears, you can sharpen scissors that are getting dull by cutting into a dryer sheet. If you use this trick on kitchen shears, make sure you wash them thoroughly before using them.
• Dryer sheets can be craft ingredients, themselves! Painted or dyed, they can be folded into flowers with ease.
• Use dryer sheets as backing for appliques. It’ll hide the raw edges of the fabric, protecting your applique from fraying.

Wrapping Up

Got some ideas for what to do with all those dryer sheets now? Great! If our tips here helped you out, why not check out our other tutorials? AppliancePartsPros.com is your source for genuine OEM replacement parts and great guides to fixing, cleaning, and saving money on your home appliances. Don’t forget to check us out the next time you’re tackling a home repair project!