Most of us have a pack of unused dryer sheets stuffed at the back of our laundry cupboards. If you've moved on to fabric softener, it's high time to consider other uses for dryer sheets.
Unlike fabric softener, dryer sheets are designed to work in the tumble dryer - the clue's in the name. Dryer sheets are coated with stearic acid, which melts when heated. This helps to reduce static, and increase the softness of fabric in the tumble dryer.
Although designed for use in our laundry, there are plenty of other uses for dryer sheets, great for all sorts of everyday tasks.
Here are 26 of the best unusual uses for dryer sheets.
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Cleaning uses for dryer sheets
1. Clean dirty pots & pans
Dirty pots and pans sure are tricky to clean. You can use a dryer sheet when washing up to make things much easier.
Simply fill your pot with hot water and washing up liquid, add a dryer sheet and leave to soak for an hour. Drain the water, remove the dryer sheet, and any burnt on food should be much easier to remove from the pan.
2. Use a dryer sheet to clean electronics
Electronics are electrically charged, meaning they are basically magnets for dust. By using a dryer sheet to wipe them clean, the static is counteracted. This means less dust will be attracted to them in the future.
Do you dust or vacuum first? Check out our other article to find out which is best.
3. Clean up dry spills with a dryer sheet
Dry spills are often just as inconveniencing as wet ones! Whether it's sugar, flower or soil you've dropped, make cleaning it up easier with a dryer sheet.
The slightly texturized surface and fibres of the dryer sheet will lift and hold dry particles in place to make cleanup a breeze.
4. Remove unsightly pet hair
Being a pet owner means one thing: lots of cleaning! Pet hair around the home is both unsightly and unhygienic. Wipe a dryer sheet over areas littered with pet hair to effortlessly lift it and leave your home looking spotless.
5. How to clean glasses without a glasses cloth
Run out of glasses cloths? Don't waste money on new ones - a dryer sheet will do the job just as well. Gently rub them over your lenses to get them free of smudges and fingerprints.
6. How to remove crayon stains
Crayon stains are pretty common if you have kids. Luckily, there's an easy way to remove them.
Take a dry dryer sheet and rub the stained area lightly until the marks disappear.
7. Use a dryer to clean bugs from your car
Time to take these unusual uses for dryer sheets outside! If you've been speeding through the city and collected a load of bugs on your bonnet as a result, here's an easy way to remove them.
There's no need to give your car a thorough washing - wet a dryer sheet and wipe over the areas covered in insects to remove them.
8. How to clean an iron using a dryer sheet
There are many different ways to clean your iron. If you've managed to melt fabric onto the iron plate itself, a dryer sheet could be just what you need.
Leaving the iron on a lower heat, rub the dryer sheet over the iron plate, taking care not to burn yourself. Continue until the dirt and grime has been completely transferred onto the dryer sheet and your iron plate is sparkling clean.
9. How to remove white deodorant stains
Pulling on a new top only to find your deodorant has left white marks on it can be extremely frustrating.
Act fast and these surface stains can be easily remedied. Lightly wipe a dryer sheet over white marks to dust them away. You'll look flawless in no time!
10. Use a dryer sheet to clean soap scum
A build-up of soap scum in the shower can be tricky to tackle. Our favourite solution? A dryer sheet. Used wet, it will wipe away any soap scum build up more effortlessly than ever before.
11. Clean dirty paintbrushes
Painting in itself is an arduous enough task, and that's without even mentioning the cleanup! Mysteriously, throwing a dryer sheet into a pot of water with your paintbrushes to soak helps lift paint from them.
Give it a go next time you're redecorating.
12. Polish chrome surfaces
The texturized surface of dryer sheets is perfect for buffing away marks on chrome surfaces. Use a dry sheet in circular motions to get surfaces shining.
13. How to remove dirty toilet rings
If you've been neglecting your toilet cleaning somewhat and ended up with a dark ring near the water level, fear not.
Similarly to cleaning pots and pans, leaving a dryer sheet to sit in the toilet basin for an hour will make removing this filthy line a piece of cake.
Deodorising uses for dryer sheets
14. Minimise diaper smells
If you can't get to the dustbin to dispose of a dirty diaper right away, try the next best thing. Place a dryer sheet in the bag before tying it to help absorb some of those pungent smells.
15. How to deodorize a sweaty gym bag
Although you may not wear your gym bag to work out in, storing all those sweaty clothes inside will soon take their toll.
To freshen up your stinky gym bag, throw a few dryer sheets inside when it's empty.
16. Use a dryer sheet to freshen shoes
Don't be the one with smelly feet - keep your shoes smelling fresh by placing a dryer sheet inside them when not in use.
The fabric will absorb some of the nasty smells and replace them with fresh, floral notes instead - lovely!
17. Use a dryer sheet to line drawers
Think drawer liners are a thing of the past? You won't once you've tried lining your own with dryer sheets.
Place them into the bottom of drawers before placing your folded clothes inside to keep freshly-washed clothes smelling and feeling great for longer.
Sewing hacks using a dryer sheet
18. Dryer sheets make an ideal embroidery backing
If you embroider, you'll know how important backing is for both the process and the results. If you're out of backing or have some leftover dryer sheets to use, they will make a great substitute for your usual material.
Place behind your embroidering ring, pin, and stitch as normal.
19. How to prevent your thread from tangling
There's nothing more frustrating than a knotted thread, preventing you to pull the needle through your work.
To prevent such inconveniences, a great tip is to pass your needle and thread through a dryer sheet before you start sewing. It sounds bizarre, but a dryer sheet will condition the thread slightly to prevent it from knotting.
Useful outdoor uses for dryer sheets
20. Use a dryer sheet to repel rodents
Another mysterious but miraculous use for dryer sheets is for repelling rodents. Place them in garden sheds, in your garage and anywhere else you have an issue to ward off mice, squirrels, and rats.
21. DIY fire starter
Struggling to light that Summer bbq? What you need is a DIY fire starter.
They couldn't be easier to make. Grab an empty toilet roll and push a used dryer sheet inside. Fold the ends of the roll in on itself, then place under the grill.
You'll be renowned for your BBQ's from here on out!
22. Line plant pots
Prevent messy soil spills by lining plant pots before potting. A dryer sheet is the perfect solution. Not only is it a great way to reuse leftover sheets, but they're permeable whilst being solid enough to prevent wet soil from slipping through.
Personal uses for dryer sheets
23. How to remove sand after a trip to the beach
There's nothing like a warm, summer's day spent at the beach. Sand is so silky soft when it's dry. When it's wet, however, it's a different story.
Remove sand that's stuck on your body by dusting yourself over with a dryer sheet. It's quick, easy and will get you feeling comfortable enough to enjoy the sun again in no time.
24. Use a dryer sheet as a DIY insect repellent
It's rumoured insects can't stand the ingredients in dryer sheets. This is good news for us humans, especially over those Summer holidays.
Simply pop a dryer sheet in your pocket to keep bugs away.
25. Soften your feet at home using a dryer sheet
This list ends with the most unusual of uses for dryer sheets - getting silky soft feet.
Soak your feet in a warm bath, then rub with a used fabric softener sheet. The softened and conditioned material will leave feet feeling smooth and smelling great.
Weird, huh?
Finally, what about alternatives to dryer sheets? There are quite a few! Check them out.
We've gone from never using dryer sheets to running out. I think I might buy some more! Do you have any unusual uses for dryer sheets you'd like to share?
How do people come up with these tips? Very glad they do - I will definitely be using some of them - especially the "place in shoes" one (my partners, not mine!)
Hi Lesley. I'm so pleased you like the tips. I'm sure you'll have lots of success with the shoe tip! :)
do I need to use a brand new dryer sheet or can I use a one that has been used in the tumbler dryer? thank you
Hi Lilach. This depends on the tip you are trying. For many of the tips, it's the conditioning coating on the dryer sheet itself that has the effect, so it will need to be a brand new sheet. For other tips, such as cleaning up spills, cleaning glasses and removing bugs, you can go ahead and use a used dryer sheet. I hope this helps :)
Children with long hair hate having their hair combed when it's all knotted, just wipe the hair with dryer sheets no more knots no more tears.
Hi Sylvia. I've just shared this great tip with the whole team - we were so impressed! Thanks a lot for sharing :)
Place dryer sheets on top of radiators in winter time and when the heating comes on your rooms smell lovely .
Hi Rosie. This is a wonderful tip - thanks a lot for sharing :)
Clean the oven shelf-I read this hack a couple of weeks ago but not yet tried it, Place some dryer sheets in the bottom of the sink , add water and lay the oven shelf in it overnight if possible ,I have not used these sheet for years and the booklet that came with the latest tumble drier did not recomend them but seeing all the hacks I have actually purchased a pack and plan to do the oven shelves this week. Interested in the tide mark in the loo hack but wondering about allowing the sheet to go down th drain, however fully intend trying it, right now! Wont let the sheet get flushed away though
Hi Posy. This sounds like a great idea - do let us know how you get on!
Is it true dryer sheets remove gel nail polish
Hi Julie! You're correct, you can use dryer sheets in place of cotton wool when removing nail polish. Just pour some nail polish remover onto the sheet and swipe over your nails. They're great for removing stubborn glitter polishes.
I have 2 home tips for dryer sheets. 1 when you put your summer or winter clothes away place dryer sheets in between layers helps to keep them smelling nice. Also put a box of them into your case when you go away helps to keep your clothes smelling nice. And when you come home from holidays put a few of them into your suit cases . 2 If you have flyaway hair gently stroke the dryer sheet over the hair and it stops the static.
Great ideas!
Clean wooden blinds with them, it removes the static dust.
Great idea, Sharon!