I Just Discovered a Brilliant Technique for Keeping Surfaces Dust-Free
I love learning about new cleaning hacks — especially when they involve using a product that I already have on hand. I also think it’s pretty great when a seemingly single-purpose product turns out to have more than one superpower. So when I stumbled across Briana Jean of @thismessielife touting the various uses of dryer sheets outside of laundry, I had to take a look.
I have already been using dryer sheets to keep my baseboards dust-free for longer. It’s not a myth: Swiping an unused dryer sheet over the surface creates a film that repels dust. But Jean reminded me that the same method works on other dust-loving surfaces, so I thought it was time to expand my reach.
Now, I know some dislike using dryer sheets even for their intended use because of the chemicals and fragrances they contain, not to mention the added waste to landfills. That concerns me, too. While I don’t have any allergies or skin sensitivities, I prefer eco-friendly cleaning products. I’ve recently switched to biodegradable Cobi Cotton Dryer Sheets for my laundry. (Note that eco-friendly ones do work with this hack as well.)
That said, I wasn’t eager to use dryer sheets, eco-friendly or otherwise, on every surface of my home. But I was willing to give it a go in the dusty, hard-to-reach corners of my downstairs bathroom. You see, it has a full shower and tub that I don’t use, but that doesn’t stop dust from accumulating in the corners of the tub, on the shower shelves, and on the windowsill that’s in the shower. I was more than willing to see if I would have the same success there as I did with my baseboards.
How to Use a Dryer Sheet to Keep Baseboards Dust-Free
For best results, you should first dust as you would normally to remove any dust particles already there. Yes, that means dusting the same surface twice, but with any luck, you can stretch the time between dustings.
Take a single unused dryer sheet from the box; go ahead and cut one in half if yours are extra-long like mine.
Run the sheet over the surface using the same motion you did while dusting. Be sure to cover the entire surface, including any trim or grooves.
The dryer sheet technique worked. Although I can’t go longer in between bathroom cleanings as I can with baseboard cleanings, I did notice that there was less dust in the corners — especially along the edge of the glass tub enclosure. The eco-friendly wipes I used were unscented, so I didn’t get the payoff of any fragrance I would have with scented ones. I’m more about the dust-free benefits of this technique anyway, but I can always add a few drops of essential oil if I want.
I’ve always hated having to clean down a tub that I don’t use to begin with, but the dryer sheet trick makes it a lot easier. Now, each time I clean the bathroom after swiping with a dryer sheet, there seems to be far less dust on surfaces, and what is there swipes away easily.
Further Reading
We Tested (and Rated!) Every Sofa at West Elm — Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need
See How a Stager Used Paint to Transform a 1950s Living Room
We Asked 8 Pro Travelers What They Never Pack in Their Carry-On, and Here’s What They Said
