13 Dryer Sheet Hacks That Go Way Beyond the Laundry Room

Chances are you already love dryer sheets. Honestly, what's not to love? Just pop them in the dryer and poof! Out comes soft, sweet-smelling laundry with zero effort. In addition to making your clothes smell good, dryer sheets remove lint and pet hair, reduces wrinkles, and prevents static cling when used in your laundry drying cycle.

But what if we told you that you've barely even begun to unlock their potential? As Realtor.com pointed out, dryer sheets are good for so much more than laundry. From cleaning your bathroom to combating stinky feet, keep reading for our favorite dryer sheet hacks.

In the Bathroom

Make fixtures shine

Debra Johnson, a cleaning expert with Merry Maids, told Realtor.com that running a moistened dryer sheet over chrome bathroom fixtures will have them shining like the day they were installed.

Break down soap scum

Because dryer sheets contain detergent, they're also perfect for cleaning soap scum, and grime off of shower doors, walls, and fixtures. Moisten the dryer sheet, rub the soap scum to remove it, and then rinse your shower with clean, warm water to remove any residue. 

In the Kitchen

Remove burnt-on food stains

Believe it or not, dryer sheets are excellent at removing burnt-on foods from pots and pans. Next time you burn tomato sauce. The Kitchn suggests saving the elbow grease and plopping a dryer sheet on the stubborn food residue instead. Simply add a drop of dish soap, hot water, and a dryer sheet over the food stains, and let it soak for an hour, then watch as the detergents on the dryer sheet lift the mess right off your pots and pans.

Wipe a stove clean

Additionally, if you need to tackle a stove riddled with stuck-on food after a week's worth of dinners, a dryer sheet will work here, too. Simply soak a fresh sheet in water for 10 to 15 minutes before scrubbing away.

Deodorize kitchen trash

Defy stinky kitchen trash odors by placing a dryer sheet on the bottom of your trash can before you line it with a new bag. The sheets will absorb the stench while adding a pleasant scent.

In the Living Room

Pick up dust and pet hair

It turns out dryer sheets are excellent at picking up dust and pet hair. "The purpose of dryer sheets is to draw the static charge out of the clothing from the heat in the dryer," Johnson explained to Realtor.com. "This same function will work for dusting." Use them on everything from your ceiling fans to your baseboards—your vacuum cleaner will thank you.

Keep electronics dust-free

Electronic screens, from TVs to computers, that gather dust and streaks can be wiped with dryer sheets, just make sure they are dry. The antistatic properties in the dryer sheets also prevents dust too, according to Mary Hunt of Everyday Cheapskate.

Remove crayon from walls

Of course, anyone who has children will know that it's not a matter of if, but when the walls will become a canvas for an eager young artist. Luckily, dryer sheets are actually quite effective in removing crayon from the walls. All you need to do is a rub a new or used sheet over the creation, and it'll restore the wall to a fresh slate.

In the Closet

Get rid of deodorant smudges

You might already know that a dryer sheet can save you in a pinch when you've got white deodorant stains on your clothes. Wiping unsightly white smudges on your clothes with a sheet easily solves this wardrobe malfunction.

Stop shoes from squeaking

You can also use a dryer sheet to stop your shoes from squeaking. Just rub the bottoms of the soles with a dryer sheet, and it'll help take off some of the slickness. You may need to do this every few wears, depending on your shoes.

Wipe away static cling

It’s the dead of winter and the air is bone dry—this is also known as static cling season when clothes stick to you or each other, or you take off your hat, and your hair stands up straight. To deactivate the cling, swipe a dryer sheet on the problem surface areas. (To prevent static cling, use dryer sheets when laundering!)

Keep clothes smelling fresh

If you like to use sachets to perfume your dresser drawers, a dryer sheet also does the trick to add scent to clothes, according to Downy. And if you've got a pile of dirty laundry that builds up over the course of the week, you can toss a dryer sheet into the hamper to help control the smell. It'll tide you over to the weekend when you're able to take care of the kids' gym clothes. This tip also translates to tossing a sheet in luggage or gym bags to keep odors in check.

Fight funky smelling shoes

Dirty laundry isn't the only stinky problem a dryer sheet can mitigate. Issues with foot funk? Slice a dryer sheet in half and put a piece in each shoe after a day of use. Let the sheet work its magic overnight and your shoes should smell like a dream by morning.