Not Made Of Money

In my family, I’ve learned one of the most frugal things we can do is to try to cut down spending. Sometimes, though, that doesn’t require us to go without certain items. Often, I simply stretch the things that we’ve already purchased as far as they can go. Whether we’re talking about draining the last drop of ketchup out of the bottle or keeping our car way longer than our neighbors would keep their old car, getting the most out of regular items helps me stretch our budget.

Dryer sheets are one of those things that I’ve learned to get more out of. Did you know that there are lots of other uses for dryer sheets? To give you an idea of how many different ways I’ve used them, here are some of my favorites:

Dusting – Used dryer sheets are perfect for removing dust from the many surfaces of your house. I like to use them to dust our television’s screen, my laptop’s screen, and the tops of furniture. Dryer sheets collect the dust efficiently. And, I don’t waste money on those Swiffer things.

Trash Cans – Okay, you can’t use a dryer sheet to hold your trash. But if your trash can smells badly, a dryer sheet can make a huge difference. I throw one or two into the bottom of the can before I put the plastic trash bag in. Then, when I take out the trash, I don’t get assaulted by an icky smell. Instead, I smell the scent of fresh laundry. When the sheet stops working, just throw another one in.

Vacuum Cleaner – As long as we’re on the topic of scent, you can vacuum your house and freshen its aroma at the same time using a dryer sheet. Simply insert the dryer sheet into the vacuum bag as you change it out. The scent will be dispersed throughout the house every time you run the vacuum cleaner.

Crafting – I used to buy stabilizer fabric to place under appliqués as I added them to my crafting projects. Now, however, I realize that my dryer sheets make great stabilizer. I still get to enjoy my favorite projects, but the local fabric store gets less of my money.

Laundry – This isn’t exactly an unorthodox use, but I have to point out that dryer sheets aren’t “done” after their first tumble through the dryer. I let my ride around for at least two loads before I relinquish them to other uses.

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