Dryer sheets are made with chemicals embedded into the fabric designed to soften clothes and keep them soft. As a result, when wet under warm water and rubbed over soap scum, the chemicals soften and loosen the caked-on grime making it easier to remove without residue.
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.
Start by moistening the dryer sheet under warm water, then rub it on to the dry glass of the shower door. You should see the soap scum start to peel off, and as you keep working, even more of that soap scum will loosen and pull away.
A few drops of water on the dryer sheet and you should be able to rub away soap scum on your glass shower doors and shower tiles.
These water stains are created by mineral deposits left by hard water, and they usually require a bit of muscle power to buff away. However, dryer sheets can help make that task much easier!
Dryer Sheets
Another environmentally-friendly window cleaning option is used dryer sheets. If you normally throw out your dryer sheets after each load of laundry, start saving them. There are many different uses for dryer sheets including cleaning your windows or other glass surfaces.
Will dryer sheets scratch glass? Despite not being purpose made for cleaning glass, they do not scratch glass when used for cleaning. Dryer sheets are naturally delicate so they can be used with clothes without causing damage, making them perfectly safe for cleaning other fragile surfaces too.
Scrub Away Stuck-on Food from Pots and Pans
The silicone coating on the dryer sheet will help soften the food. The next morning, 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.
Heat a half-cup of distilled white vinegar in your microwave for 30 seconds. Pour the warm vinegar into a spray bottle. Spray the glass shower doors and frame thoroughly and allow them to soak for five minutes. Wear rubber gloves and scrub the glass and frame with a non-abrasive soft bristle brush.
Simply wipe your Magic Eraser firmly across the glass shower doors with a firm, steady swipe. All it takes is a few wipes to break through soap scum and hard water. Your doors will go from grimy to shiny in no time at all.
Combine ingredients: Add equal parts distilled white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Add dishwashing liquid: Pour 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid into the spray bottle. Let sit: Spritz solution onto shower door and let sit for 15 minutes. Wipe clean: After 15 minutes, use a microfiber cloth to wipe clean.
Paper towels are typically treated for absorbency, which makes them ideal for spills, but awful for glass cleaning. Instead, substitute your paper towels for something more practical, like actual cloth. Lint-free cotton cloths, like microfiber cloths are great options for glass cleaners.
Never leave home without it. Carry a sheet in your purse or backpack to treat unwanted deodorant stains left on your clothes. It will gently rub out stains with its light abrasive texture.
The coating may make your towels feel nice, but it also makes them less absorbent. Avoid using dryer sheets when washing bath, kitchen, microfiber or cleaning towels or rags. If you have children, avoid washing their pajamas with dryer sheets. The coating can make pajamas less fire resistant.
The Downside To Dryer Sheets
Fragrance and softening chemicals coating dryer sheets can irritate sensitive skin or sensitivities to fragrances. The coating can affect some fabrics.
Other university studies demonstrate the effectiveness of dryer sheets to repel certain insects, including mites, food-infesting beetles, German cockroaches and weevils. These studies, however, do not show any significant impact as a mosquito repellent.
A waffle weave, zero lint microfibre cloth is best for glass cleaning. A good example is the Stjarngloss Rutig Waffle Glass Cloth or the Gtechniq MF5 Power Glass Cloth. Whichever brand you end up using it is important to maintain your glass cloth by using a good quality microfibre cleaner.
'They are great at effectively getting dust off blinds and are a great substitute. ' Running a used dryer sheet over clean blind slats can also help keep them dust-free for longer, repelling a fresh covering, says Vera Peterson.
Microfiber cloths are absorbent cloths that can be washed and reused to clean windows, leaving them clear, shiny and streak-free. These are best used to apply cleaning solutions to windows, scrub them clean and wipe them dry.