by Carol Gioia

Created on: January 22, 2013

If you are only using dryer sheets to add a touch of freshness to your laundry, you are missing out on myriad ways for this common household item to enhance and freshen other areas of your life. Some examples of creative ways to use dryer sheets include the following.

Bug and rodent repellent

Spreading dryer sheets around the foundation of your home, in your garage and basement will keep mice away. If you hike, bike, play golf or any other outdoor activity, hang a dryer sheet on your pocket or belt, or rub over your exposed skin, to ward off bees, mosquitoes and other biting insects. Place a dryer sheet near ants and they will go away. 

Eliminate dust and static

Use a dryer sheet to dust furniture, computers, televisions, Venetian blinds. Not only will this handy little sheet eliminate dust, but it will also eliminate static from television screens and Venetian blinds. This also works well to remove static from your own clothing; simply rub a dryer sheet over the item. If you have household pets, a dryer sheet will make fast work of picking up pet hair from the furniture and carpet.

Cleaning agent

When you have crusty food remains on a baking dish or pan, put a couple of dryer sheets in them, add warm water and soak overnight. In the morning you will be able to wipe them clean without having to scrub with harsh agents, and your cookware will look new again. This also works well for scrubbing stubborn stains from shower stalls and cleaning hard water build up on the shower door.

Air freshener

Place some dryer sheets on the shelves of closets, in bureau drawers, under the mattress pad on beds, and any other place in your home where you want a touch of freshness. Use one in your car and take some to work to eliminate the stale air in your cubicle or office space. Put them in the bottom of trash cans, wastebaskets and clothes hampers.

Eliminate odors

Mitigate the possibility of musty odors by placing dryer sheets in books, photo albums and at the back of bookshelves where these items might sit untouched for long periods of time. Place them in empty suitcases, camping gear, garment bags and any other stored items, so that when the items are used they will smell fresh and clean. Use dryer sheets to ensure gym bags and sport sneakers don’t retain lingering odors. Put dryer sheets in you work shoes at night and they will be deodorized the next morning.

Many common household items can be used in different ways than originally intended, and none is more versatile than the dryer sheet. The list of handy and creative uses for dryer sheets goes on and on. Use them all around your home, indoors and out, at work, at play and while traveling to keep your world smelling fresh as an ocean breeze.

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