Dryer Sheet Tips

A fun compilation of tips for using dryers sheets. I can not attest to whether they work or not. But worth a try :)

New Sheets

Stick the sheets into your drawers or closets to keep things from smelling musty.

If you brush your hair and it is just standing straight out then stroke your hair with the sheet to get it to calm down.

If you find gum or a sticky adhesive in your dryer, wet a dryer sheet and use to scrub off sticky residue. It will loosen the stickiness without damaging the interior of your dryer.

Remove dead insects from off your car window and grill. Wet the sheet and scrub. It is abrasive enough to get rid of the bugs, without damaging the paint or finish.

If you are into hand sewing take the needle after you have threaded it and push it through a dryer sheet.  It will keep the thread from tangling after stitches.

If you do machine appliqueing while sewing, it makes a good fabric underneath your work to keep it from puckering.

Put in pillow cases, linen closets, drawers with clothes, under chair cushions, luggage that's stored to keep fresh smelling.

Dryer sheets keep pests such as mice, ants and mosquitoes.

Place one in waste basket to keep odors at bay.

To keep your car smelling fresh, place one under the drivers seat.

Collect pet hair. Rubbing the area with a dryer sheet will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.

Deodorize shoes or sneakers.

Place a sheet in the hamper to keep odors at bay.

Cut dryer sheets into one-inch strips and tie them on the tips of greenery or in trees. The scent will repel plant-munching deer.

Used sheets

When you have baked on or stuck on food on a pot or pan, run water in the pan and throw in a dryer sheet – it will loosen the stuck on/baked on food and make the dish very easy to clean.Use them to dust, as they are anti static, they keep dust from resettling. 

Place a used dryer sheet in the bag of your vacuum to put a fresh smell throughout your house.

If you need to get paint off of your paint brushes, place them in warm water with a dryer sheet and watch the paint come off each bristle.


If your scissors are not as sharp as you would like them to be, wipe the blades with a dryer sheet and see how much sharper they can be!

Clean TV screens, PC screens, and bathroom mirrors

Use them to clean the bathtub. Sounds crazy, but I hear, nothing works better for removing soap scum.

Wiping up sawdust, on the shop workbench, from drilling or sandpapering is easy. A used sheet will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.

Use to stuff handmade pillows.

Put one in your car to prevent it from shocking you when you get out.

Saving Money on Dryer Sheets

Dip a washcloth in liquid fabric softener, then hang it on a towel rack until dry. When you dry clothes, pop this washcloth in with the load. It can be reused a couple dozen times, then repeat the procedure. A bottle of liquid softener will last almost forever.
OR
Instead of using a towel rack, hang from the pull string of the living room fan and turned the fan on high. Fabric softeners are notoriously delicious smelling and it serves two purposes--it dries the sheet and scents the whole room delightfully!

In a pail mix 1 gallon of water and 1 cup concentrated liquid fabric softener. Dip a sponge or washcloth in the liquid, squeeze out excess and toss in the dryer with your laundry. Seal pail when not in use.

Get a large jar, cut up a sponge and put the pieces in it. Then take a couple of capfuls of liquid fabric softener and fill the rest with water. Remove a piece, squeeze excess and throw a piece into the dryer. When done place back into the jar.


Pour liquid fabric softener and hot water in a spray bottle (50/50 mix) and lightly mist wet laundry before starting the dryer. Two or three good shots should do it. You could also just spritz a clean washcloth and toss that in the dryer.If you are able, save even more money by giving the fabric softener/dryer sheets the boot and line drying for a fresh clean smelling wash!

Use scissors and cut the sheets in half. Each load gets soft with half a sheet and you have twice as many uses
OR
Tear one sheet into 6 to 8 strips and toss in only one at a time.



A fabric softener sheet can be used four times. Each time you use one, cut off a corner. When you get to fourth one, throw it away.
If your main reason for using fabric softener sheets is to control static, try a wad of aluminum foil. If you need softening power too, just use 1/2 fabric softener sheet plus the aluminum foil.
 
Use one cup vinegar in the final wash and dryer fragrances in the dryer (bags of lavender).
OR
You can set aside a vinegar jug just for laundry and add about 2 dozen drops of your favorite essential oil to the vinegar if you’d like (or as much EO as you feel necessary).
 
Use a Downy ball if you have one–just use vinegar instead.
 
Mix equal parts hair conditioner and water and store in spray bottle. Mist a washcloth or sponge and toss in dryer with wet load.

Safety
 
Dryer sheets leave a waxy residue on the lint filter...to test..rinse the lint filter after removing all lint.. and if the water beads up instead of flowing thru the lint filter there is a build up. Wash with liquid dish washing soap then dry thoroughly and replace.  

Homemade Softeners
 
Homemade Fabric Softener Recipe


1 part Vinegar
1 part Baking Soda
2 parts Hot Water


Place a pail large enough to hold double the amount of ingredients in the kitchen sink or bathtub. Mix the baking soda and water in the pail, stir till the powder is dissolved. Then add the vinegar.
Remember that baking soda and vinegar reacts with fizzing, so use a big pail to account for this. Once it’s stopped fizzing, pour into clean bottles, cap, then use 1/4 cup per rinse cycle.
If the baking soda isn't completely dissolved, just shake the bottle to mix the batch up before adding to the rinse cycle.


Homemade Scented Fabric Softener Recipe


1 cup baking soda
1 1/4 cups warm water
8 cups white vinegar
Essential Oils


First mix the vinegar and water together then add the baking soda gradually, stirring the whole time. You will want to make sure to use a large pail to accommodate the fizzing activity from the baking soda and vinegar reaction.


Use a funnel to pour this mixture into a washed, gallon sized milk jug (plastic), add 1/3 teaspoon of your favorite essential oil, cap and seal then shake well.
To use: Shake each time before use, adding 1/2 to 1 cup at the start of the rinse cycle.


Reusable Homemade Dryer Sheets
 
Flannel pieces
4 TBS liquid softener
10 TBS water


Cut fabric sheets from old flannel pajamas or leftover flannel fabric from sewing and cut into 3″ x 5″ strips (approximately).
Stack flannel strips in a cleaned margarine tub (large size) or plastic container (cleaned baby wipes container works well too). Mix the liquid softener and water together, then pour evenly over top of stacked flannel strips.
Seal container and shake well.
You can use several dozen strips with this mixture. Leave sealed for 2 or 3 days, then use one flannel strip per load–squeeze out excess if necessary (it should be just damp). Keep container sealed at all times. Wash strips after use, then use again to make another batch when needed.


How To Make Lavender Dryer Bags


5″ x 5″ cotton muslin or cheesecloth squares (2)
Thread
Lavender


Sew large “tea bags” out of the muslin or cheesecloth squares, leaving an opening at the top to fill with lavender. Sew the top shut. No need to sew fancy, just place the squares together and sew a single seam along the top about 1/4″ from the edge.


Roughly squeeze the bags before tossing in the dryer with wet laundry. When laundry is done the scent is light, not overwhelming at all. Especially nice to use on loads of bedding (sweet, fragrant dreams).
Bags are reusable! When the lavender is no longer doing its job, take a seam ripper and open about 2″ on one end, empty the bag, refill and sew shut. For one last kick at the can, crush the used lavender and toss it around your carpet. Let sit for about an hour then vacuum.
Tip: Make more than one dryer bag so that the same bag isn’t in one load after another, alternate them so each bag has a chance to cool down before being used again.
You’ll get about 10 to 12 loads per bag.