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updated May 9, 2019
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Now we’ve always been a big stickler when it comes to dryer sheets. We either don’t use them at all, or make our own. But since we’ve been lugging our laundry to the laundromat lately, we can’t help but be curious about this new product – you simply throw the sheet in your wash, transfer it with your clothes to the dryer and that’s all she wrote. But not us, our thoughts after the jump!
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Now we haven’t tried the new Purex sheets, although a great deal of people on the world wide web have. After doing our homework (watching videos of people in their laundry room makes us feel lame) and checking out a ridiculous amount of blog entries, we haven’t found a single bad review of the product. Although we only heard good things when it came to getting things clean, we did hear one mom report that she uses two for her extra large dirty loads.
Although we love the idea of an all in one product and the ease of lugging around bottles (no matter what size) we are still curious about a few situations. For instance, what happens when you wash your load and then hang it to dry? Can you retain the sheet, let it dry and use it later as a dryer sheet? After using the product can you use the left over sheet for anything? Dusting furniture maybe? Or is it destined to be a product that gets thrown away in the end?
Dryer sheets aren't just for the laundry anymore. In addition to softening and reducing static in fabrics in the dryer, the use of dryer sheets, scented or unscented, can help with multiple tasks around the house, including pet care and freshening stinky shoes and other items.
What Are Dryer Sheets?
Dryer sheets are white pieces of material made either with a polyester substrate non-woven base or a recyclable cellulose base. Both types are coated with silicone-based fabric softeners that transfer to your clothes when activated by heat in a dryer.
Some environmental groups have raised concerns about fragranced laundry products as research has shown they can lead to adverse health effects, especially in vulnerable individuals. If you are concerned about your dryer sheets, switch to unscented or all-natural products as an alternative. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can assist you in searching for products that meet their Safer Choice Standard.
Read on to find out the best dryer sheet hacks to use right now, some of which may be surprising.
01 of 15
Scrub Away Stuck-on Food from Pots and Pans
The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa
If you have baked-on or stuck-on food in a pot or pan, place an unused non-woven polyester dryer sheet in the pan and fill it with hot water. Allow the pan to soak overnight. The silicone coating on the dryer sheet will help soften the food. The next morning, use the dryer sheet to wipe away the food. The slight texture of the polyester woven sheet will remove the traces of food and won't harm the finish of non-stick surfaces.
Finish the task by washing the pot or pan with dishwashing detergent and hot water to remove any remaining residue.
02 of 15
Calm Your Pet During a Storm
The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa
Rubbing your pet's coat with an unscented, plant-based dryer sheet will help calm him during electrical storms by reducing static electricity that can cause his hair to stand on end. Since most animals lick their own fur, stay away from dryer sheets that contain ingredients that can be toxic to your pet and stick to unscented dryer sheets.
03 of 15
Lift Away Pet Hair from Clothes and Furniture
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
The same properties that allow dryer sheets to reduce static in the dryer will remove pet hair from clothes and furniture. Just rub the sheet over the fabric to loosen the hair. Follow up with a lint roller or clothes brush.
The dryer sheet can be new or used. Used dryer sheets can be dampened slightly to remove dust and hair from ceiling fan blades, shelves, books, window screens, and even large leaves on indoor plants.
Tip
The polyester-based non-woven dryer sheets are best for pet hair removal.
04 of 15
Freshen Stinky Shoes and Quiet Squeaky Soles
The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa
Tennis shoes can get really dirty and really smelly. Add a scented dryer sheet to shoes and boots that have gotten a little too ripe. For kids' shoes or ladies' pumps, you can cut each sheet in half and still get great results.
Squeaky shoes driving you crazy? Dryer sheets also work to quiet squeaky rubber soles when walking on solid floors. Rub the bottom of the shoes with a dryer sheet and the residue will minimize the friction and get rid of the squeak.
Continue to 5 of 15 below.
05 of 15
Get Rid of Embarrassing Static Cling
The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa
I don't know which is worse, socks or panties stuck to your clothes, or your pants creeping up and clinging to your calf.
If you often get caught with your socks clinging to your shirt, use fabric softener or a dryer sheet in the laundry room to reduce static cling.
If it is the latter, one way to remove static cling quickly is to rub a dryer sheet directly onto your legs, socks, or tights to get rid of static cling. No more riding up.
06 of 15
Make Needlework and Sewing Easier
The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa
No need to get frustrated over threads that knot up while you stitch. When you are ready to start hand sewing or doing needlework, run the thread between a folded dryer sheet to keep it tangle-free. The silicon coating will help the thread ease its way smoothly through the fabric.
07 of 15
Freshen Luggage and Gym Bags
The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa
Before you put away your luggage after a trip, tuck in a dryer sheet to add a fresh scent and prevent musty odors. If your gym bag isn't used too often, the same trick works there; but only if you remove any smelly workout clothes first.
08 of 15
Clean Electronics Screens
The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa
Use a dry dryer sheet to dust television and computer monitor screens. The silicon coating on the dryer sheet will pick up dust and help to reduce static. Remember, never use a dryer sheet that is already dampened. The moisture can harm screens.
Continue to 9 of 15 below.
09 of 15
Remove Gunk from a Dryer Drum or Iron
The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa
If you find melted gum, crayons, or adhesive stickers in the dryer, wet a non-woven polyester dryer sheet and scrub away. You'll find that the fabric softener and the texture of the sheet will help loosen the stickiness without harming the interior finish.
While a dryer sheet can't clean the inside of an iron, the same technique will work on the bottom of your iron to remove scorch marks and starch or sizing build-up. Rub the dampened dryer sheet on the bottom of a cold iron. Then heat the iron to a low setting and run it over a couple of clean paper towels to remove any remaining residue.
10 of 15
Freshen a Trash Can
The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa
Put a scented dryer sheet in the bottom of each trash can in your home before you add the plastic liner bag. Your trash never smelled so sweet.
11 of 15
Clean Your Car
Stephen Chiang / Getty ImagesKeep some polyester non-woven dryer sheets in your car cleaning kit to use for insect removal. Wet the sheet and use it to remove bugs from your windshield and the front grille. The fabric is abrasive enough to scrub away the insects but not so harsh as to damage the finish.
You can also use a dryer sheet to remove pet hair from car seats. Plus, keeping dryer sheets in the trunk help it smell fresh.
12 of 15
Create Bug Repellent
Karl Weatherly / Getty ImagesSome campers and outdoor enthusiasts swear by scented dryer sheets to keep insects away and research has proven it to be true. Some hikers rub the sheets on their skin, others tuck the sheets into the tops of socks or collars. Just choose a scent you like and see if you're bug-free.
Continue to 13 of 15 below.
13 of 15
Tame Flyaway Hair
Brook Rieman / Getty ImagesKeep a few dryer sheets in your desk or purse to calm flyaway hair. Just rub the sheet over your hair to smooth it out. Opt for an unscented variety if you don't want it to compete with your perfume.
14 of 15
Shoo Deer Away from Plants
The Spruce / Erica Lang
Cut scented dryer sheets into one-inch strips and tie them on the tips of greenery or in trees. Some gardeners say the scent will repel plant-munching deer. Choose a polyester non-woven base to avoid melting during wet weather.
15 of 15
Freshen a Hotel Room
The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa
If your hotel room smells stale, place a dryer sheet in the air conditioning/heating vent for a quick air freshener. Take it with you when you leave and your soiled laundry will be a bit fresher for the trip home.
Article Sources
The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Steinemann, A. The fragranced products phenomenon: air quality and health, science and policy. Air Qual Atmos Health, no. 14, pp. 235–243, 2021. doi:10.1007/s11869-020-00928-1
Corrosives: Cationic Detergents. Merck Veterinary Manual.
Cloyd, Raymond A. et al. Bounce® Fabric Softener Dryer Sheets Repel Fungus Gnat, Bradysia sp. nr. coprophila (Diptera: Sciaridae), Adults. Hortscience, vol. 45, no. 12, 2010, pp. 1830-1833. doi:10.21273/HORTSCI.45.12.1830
Can I put dryer sheets in washing machine?
The coating may make your towels feel nice, but it also makes them less absorbent. Avoid using dryer sheets when washing bath, kitchen, microfiber or cleaning towels or rags. If you have children, avoid washing their pajamas with dryer sheets.How do you use dryer sheets?
To use Downy Dryer Sheets, simply drop a new dryer sheet on top of your clothes in the dryer. (For large loads or for extra softness and fragrance, use two sheets.) Dryer sheets aren't just useful in the laundry room, check out these dryer sheet life hacks.How do you use dryer sheets in washer and dryer?
Start by transferring your load of laundry from the washer to the dryer, then add a fresh dryer sheet to the top of the pile, before starting the dryer cycle. Some larger loads may call for two sheets, but it's always best to reference the product packaging for specific recommendations before use.