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25 Ways to Use Dryer Sheets Around the House

Use fabric softener sheets to clean, add fragrance, and repel pests

person using a dryer sheet on a sofa

​The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa 

Dryer sheets have many uses beyond their primary purpose of softening clothes and reducing static. Scented or unscented dryer sheets can help with household tasks, including pet care, freshening stinky shoes, repelling pests, and other uses.

What Are Dryer Sheets?

Dryer sheets are material pieces made with a polyester substrate, non-woven base, or recyclable cellulose base. The sheets are coated with silicone-based fabric softeners that transfer to clothes when activated by heat in a dryer.

Dryer Sheet Uses Besides Laundry

These dryer sheet hacks illustrate their secondary uses in the kitchen, with pets, as air fresheners, static and pest repellent, and cleaning.

  • 01 of 25

    Scrub Away Stuck-on Food from Pots and Pans

    using dryer sheets to scrub pots and pans

    The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa

    If you have baked-on or stuck-on food in a pot or pan, fill an unused, non-woven polyester dryer sheet with hot water. Allow the pan to soak overnight. The silicone coating on the dryer sheet will help soften the food. The following day, 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 25

    Calm Your Pet During a Storm

    pet dog on a bed

    ​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.

    Warning

    Since most animals lick their own fur, avoid dryer sheets containing toxic ingredients and stick to unscented dryer sheets.

  • 03 of 25

    Lift Away Pet Hair from Clothes and Furniture

    cat on a sofa

    ​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. 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 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 25

    Freshen Stinky Shoes and Quiet Squeaky Soles

    putting dryer sheets in smelly shoes

    ​The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa 

    Tennis shoes can get dirty and smelly. Add a scented dryer sheet to shoes and boots that have gotten too ripe. You can cut each sheet in half for kids' shoes or ladies' pumps and still get great results.

    If squeaky shoes are 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 eliminate the squeak.

    Continue to 5 of 25 below
  • 05 of 25

    Get Rid of Embarrassing Static Cling

    static cling on a shirt

    ​The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa 

    Fabric softener or dryer sheets are commonly used to reduce static cling. To remove static cling affecting you as you walk around, rub a dryer sheet directly onto your legs, socks, or tights to remove static cling and stop skirts from riding up your legs.

  • 06 of 25

    Make Needlework and Sewing Easier

    dryer sheet used in sewing

    ​The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa 

    There's 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 smoothly through the fabric.

  • 07 of 25

    Freshen Luggage

    dryer sheet in luggage

    ​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.

  • 08 of 25

    Clean Electronics Screens

    cleaning a tv screen with a dryer sheet

    ​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 25 below
  • 09 of 25

    Remove Gunk from an Iron

    using a dryer sheet on an iron

    ​The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa

    A dryer sheet isn't useful for cleaning the inside of an iron, but it's great for removing scorch marks and starch or sizing build-up on the bottom of the iron. 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 25

    Freshen a Trash Can or Diaper Pail

    dryer sheet in 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. This same method works for diaper pails. Change the sheet every time you change a bag.

  • 11 of 25

    Clean Your Car

    letting the car seats dry

    The Spruce / Cristina Tudor

    Keep some polyester non-woven dryer sheets in your car cleaning kit for insect removal. Wet the sheet 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 helps it smell fresh.

  • 12 of 25

    Create Bug Repellent

    Camping in the Forest

    Tom Merton / Getty Images

    Some campers and outdoor enthusiasts swear by scented dryer sheets to keep insects away; research has proven this. Some hikers rub the sheets on their skin; others tuck them into the tops of socks or collars. Just choose a scent you like and see if you're bug-free.

    Continue to 13 of 25 below
  • 13 of 25

    Tame Flyaway Hair

    Hair Static
    Brook Rieman / Getty Images

    Keep 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 25

    Shoo Deer Away from Plants

    deer in a backyard

    ​The Spruce / Erica Lang

    Cut scented dryer sheets into one-inch strips and tie them on greenery tips 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 25

    Freshen a Hotel Room

    dryer sheets for dirty laundry during a trip

    ​The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa

    If your hotel room smells stale, place a dryer sheet in the air conditioning or 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.

  • 16 of 25

    Clean the Inside of the Dryer Drum

    Dryer sheet placed on top of clothes in dryer

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

    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. 

    Continue to 17 of 25 below
  • 17 of 25

    Deodorize a Gym Bag or Locker

    open gym bag

    Sonja Rachbauer / Getty Images

    If your gym bag isn't used too often, keep a fresh dryer sheet tucked into the bag to drown out sweaty odors. Remove smelly workout clothes as soon as you get home. If you rent out or continually use a gym locker, leave behind a dryer sheet to keep it smelling fresh.

  • 18 of 25

    Clean Baseboards

    how to clean baseboards empty room

    Boris SV / Getty Images

    Use a dryer sheet like a baseboard wipe. After you vacuum the carpet or sweep the floor, wipe a dryer sheet along the baseboards to remove clinging dust and pet hair.

  • 19 of 25

    Wipe Down Blinds and Ceiling Fans

    how to clean blinds without taking them down

    Oleg Breslavtsev / Getty Images

    Dryer sheets make it more challenging for dust to stick to common dust-accumulating surfaces like blinds and ceiling fans. The coating in dryer sheets leaves a thin barrier that keeps those surfaces dust-free longer and makes them easier to clean over time.

  • 20 of 25

    Remove Soap Scum on Glass

    wiping a glass door with newspaper

    The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija

    One way to wash away stubborn soap scum from bath and shower glass doors is to moisten a dryer sheet and allow the chemicals in the dryer sheet to wipe away the caked-on soap.

    Continue to 21 of 25 below
  • 21 of 25

    Polish Bathroom Fixtures

    Ball of aluminum foil rubbing chrome fixture on sink's overflow hole

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

    Polish your shower and sink chrome fixtures with a moistened dryer sheet. It also removes soap scum that accumulates on these fixtures.

  • 22 of 25

    Eliminate Powdery Messes

    Cocoa powder in a spoon spilling onto a table.

    Anna Quaglia / EyeEm / Getty Images

    The anti-static cling properties in a dryer sheet allow you to wipe away fine powder messes, like flour, pancake mix, spices, and other powder spills. A dryer sheet grabs the particles that a paper towel would leave behind.

  • 23 of 25

    Get Scissors Working Better

    Top view over paper cut tools, scissors, cutter, cutting mat, and crafted paper objects. DIY trendy project concept
    netrun78 / Getty Images

    Scissors often get gunky when crafting with glue, tape, other adhesives, or paints. Also, after much use, the metal and screw joint can benefit from lubrication. Use a dryer sheet and wipe along the blades and screw joint to clean the surface. It also adds a thin lubricant layer to make the scissors cut better.

  • 24 of 25

    Remove Crayon Marks From Surfaces

    using baking soda to remove crayon marks

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

    The chemicals in dryer sheets can wipe away waxy crayon marks. Lightly rub walls with a sheet and watch the crayon mark slowly disappear.

    Continue to 25 of 25 below
  • 25 of 25

    Clean Caked Paint Off Paint Brushes

    Paint brushes in an old glass candle jar

    Mal de Ojo Studio / Stocksy

    Soak a dryer sheet in warm water with paint brushes that have fresh or caked-on paint. Allow the chemicals to attach to the paint residue, then rinse and wash away the paint.

Are Dryer Sheets Bad?

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 with allergen sensitivities.

Other suitable alternatives to dryer sheets for laundry include wool dryer balls or tennis balls, aluminum foil balls, or a damp washcloth or sponge. Dryer sheets are not ideal for all types of fabrics either.

If you are concerned about using scented dryer sheets for these home hacks, switch to unscented, all-natural products. Or make your own dryer sheets.

FAQ
  • Are bugs, deer, and nuisance animals repelled by dryer sheets?

    The strong fragrance of dryer sheets may temporarily repel insects, deer, mice, rabbits, squirrels, and other nuisance pests. However, the dryer sheet is ineffective once the scent loses strength. Also, if this method is used in the garden, dryer sheets may turn away beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies.

  • Do dryer sheets repel dust?

    By wiping dryer sheets along a surface, the dryer sheet coating appears to repel dust, but it doesn't. The dryer sheet wipes away dust and leaves behind a thin barrier that does not allow dust to stick to the surface; however, it does not deter dust from accumulating.

  • Besides the laundry room, where else do people use dryer sheets?

    Dryer sheets add fragrance to gym bags, shoes, and trash cans. They are also used to wipe blinds, baseboards, shelves, ceiling fans, electronic screens, and window screens.

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.
  1. Corrosives: Cationic Detergents. Merck Veterinary Manual.

  2. 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

  3. Schneider, Peter. Right Rose Right Place. Storey Publishing, 2012.

  4. 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