Leave Your Windows Streak-Free And Sparkling With A Leftover Laundry Item

If you're into alternative house cleaning, you're probably already familiar with the fabric softener hack that will keep your windows dust-free. How it works is that the liquid adds a transparent film to the glass that repels fine particles. There are, however, other ingenious uses for dryer sheets that you're probably unaware of. If you use dryer sheets when drying your clothes, towels, and sheets, stop throwing them in the trash can. Pop them in a resealable bag or container instead. It turns out that what you considered throw-away laundry items are the perfect thing for cleaning windows — or any dirty glass, for that matter.

Used dryer sheets work so well for cleaning glass windows for a few reasons. Dryer sheets are composed of a polyester textile with fibers coated in fabric softener that melts when it's heated. For one, any residual softener works as described above, leaving behind a debris-repellant film with every swipe. It also helps remove hard water streaks and mineral deposits. They're also anti-static, so they help release dust clinging to the window glass. On a practical level, dryer sheets are mildly abrasive, akin to a very fine sandpaper. Not so rough that they'll scratch the glass, but bristly enough to make scrubbing off stuck-on muck a less laborious task. You could use new sheets, but that would be quite a waste when they perform their window cleaning duties perfectly well after they've tumbled around in your clothes dryer. Finding something that does double duty in home cleaning is a rare — and, perhaps more importantly, budget and planet-saving — occurrence that you'd be remiss not to take advantage of.

Buying dryer sheets online is by far the best way to get dryer sheets at bulk-buy prices. Amazon sells a very affordable 20-pack of Gain dryer sheets for a bit over $5. If you're on a budget, your local Dollar Tree has a bunch of dryer sheet brands for $1.25 — Bounce and Breezy Sun Linen get the highest customer ratings. Prefer eco-friendly products? An 80-count pack of Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day dryer sheets in basil or lavender will set you back almost $35, also on Amazon. To use dryer sheets for cleaning windows, first get them damp, not wet. Wipe them over the surface of the glass in a repetitive pattern, either side to side or up and down in rows, so you don't miss any part of the window. Go over the window with a dry cloth to reduce the chance of seeing streaks even further.

Dryer sheets are also great for dusting window glass before cleaning it, spot cleaning stubborn patches of caked on grime. If you have a leaky window or get condensation build-up that dries, leaving water spots, a dryer sheet will have those off in no time. Simply wipe the sheet over the glass as directed above. Just be sure not to use them with any other cleaning products or you will see those dreaded streaks. It's one of the biggest mistakes people make when cleaning windows with dryer sheets. You can use the pre-loved dryer sheets until they get dirty, after which point trash them or, if you got the biodegradable kind, compost them.