Life Hack: Five ways you can use a dryer sheet to speed up your household cleaning jobs
Dryer sheets can be useful for a range of jobs around the house. Picture: iStock
A few years ago a TikTok user went viral after sharing a video showing their method of cleaning burned pans with a dryer sheet. The creative_explained account detailed their method of cleaning which removed the burned marks and baked-in food residue without excess scrubbing. Their process required water to be added to the pan, about two inches deep. Next, add some washing-up liquid before adding one or two dryer sheets (depending on the size of the pan) to the water and leaving it to soak for an hour, or longer for tougher stains. After that time elapses, the burned-in food should have dissolved so wiping and rinsing the pan should leave you with your cookware looking as good as new. We would recommend finishing by washing your pan as usual after trying this method.
If you notice a pong coming from your runners but you don’t have time to wash and dry them before you next need to wear them, a dryer sheet can help to tide you over until they can be cleaned properly. Cut a sheet into two pieces and place one half inside each shoe to soak up all the unwanted scents. This helps to deodorise your runners and is a useful thing to know if you need to grab your gym bag and go.
If you share your home with a creative toddler, you’ve probably found some crayon drawings exactly where you don’t want to find them. If, for example, your little artist chose your wall as their crayon’s canvas, a dryer sheet can help remove the marks with little effort. Simply rub a sheet over the crayon marks and you should see them lift away, leaving your wall blank once more. This is a great trick to know if you are renting, in particular.
Some surfaces benefit from a rub of a dryer sheet. You can wipe them on stainless steel surfaces to remove marks and fingerprints or ensure a gleaming bathroom by polishing the faucets with a dryer sheet. Dryer sheets also cut through soap residue so they are ideal to use on glass shower doors. Make sure the sheet is damp before using it on the glass of your shower to remove soap scum. Rinse thoroughly for a clear result.
Arguably the best-known alternative use for dryer sheets is to combat dust. They work well on TV and computer screens when used to dust the surfaces — just ensure the sheet is dry. They attract dust so make quick work of areas like this. You can also use them to wipe dust from curtains and blinds or remove pet hair from fabric around your home.
