Adding Some Bounce to Your Life

Maybe I'm stuck in the 80's, maybe I can't break those housekeeping trends I learned from my mother, or maybe I'm just too lazy to be bothered with adding liquid fabric softener to anything other than a spray bottle, but I love, love, love dryer sheets.  I'm almost ashamed to say that my favorite brand isn't even a "real brand."  It's the Wal*Mart generic brand which smells like "Mandarin Essence."

Another thing I love about them?  Even after they're used, they continue to be handy:

*  I use them on my glass/polished electronics surfaces like the TV, computer screen, laptop keyboard, and even the gaming units (Xbox, Wii, etc).  They remove fingerprints and dust with a single swipe but also repel dust and static. 

*  They are awesome for freshening up living areas...  I've put them under couch cushions, inside pillows or pillow cases, between the sheet and bed, old shoes, in storage boxes, in my drawers (as in the place you keep folded clothes), tucked in the pocket of a shirt hanging in a closet, or even sandwiched between books on the bookcase.  It keeps things smelling fresh and clean, even slight movement (like rolling over in bed or sitting on the couch) releases a little burst of sweet-smelling air.

*  Added bonus?  They repel ants, mice, moths, and silverfish.  Sweet smelling and pest free is a win/win.  If you find a hole where mice or bats are getting into your house (did I mention how fun it is living in the country?), stuff a crumpled sheet into the hole and they won't get through.  The smell keeps them away and the fabric itself they can't and won't chew through.  Bring them outside to ward off mosquitoes. 

*  Spill some flour?  Knock over some baby powder?  Dryer sheets are perfect for sweeping up fine powder spills.  I accidentally knocked over a whole can of powdered formula and used dryer sheets saved the day.

*  Like the look of those dashboard polishing sprays but can't stand the price?  Wipe the dashboard and chrome or other detailing in your car with a dryer sheet and remove dust, dirt, fingerprints, and slow down further buildup.  Or keep a used sheet under your floor mats, in the glove box, or the center console. 

*  Tweezers not quite doing the job anymore?  Wipe the tweezy part with the dryer sheet.  Also use them for cleaning up other gunked up makeup accessories like mirrors or eyelash curlers.  Same with scissors that have lost their will to cut.

*  I use them in the bathroom to get soap scum off my tub but they can also be used on shower doors and on the faucets for a beautiful shine.  I also use around the toilet to remove that weird, wet, grimy dust stuff.  You can also find used dryer sheets between my folded towels to keep them smelling dryer fresh.

*  As I said in an earlier entry, I use them as a replacement for dry wipe floor Swiffer.  It not only gives a light polish, but also helps keep the floor from being sticky, and happen to be waaay cheaper then Swiffer cloths.  They're also brilliant for dry dusting wood.

*  Sometimes I leave the used sheets in the hamper because laundry at the bottom of the pile can smell pretty bad by laundry day.  Especially in my son's room...  Stinky little boy.  I also put them in trash cans between the trash can and the liner.

If you didn't use them before, I bet you're thinking about it now...  Just a word of warning, especially for you fancy folks who have those high-end dryers, make sure you clean out your lint trap and clean it with warm vinegar or soak in boiling water for 30 seconds and wipe at least once a month.  It extends the life of your dryer, allows clothes to dry faster, and keeps your laundry room more free of dust.