Fabric softener is a staple in most homes. You use it to make your clothes smell better and softer. It’s also good for the environment because fabric softener replaces dryer sheets made of petroleum products and emits Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). But what you may not know about fabric softener is that it has other uses around the house! Here are some fabric softener hacks everyone should know!
Cleaning A Burnt Pan
Have you ever burnt a pan? Did you know that a mixture of water and fabric softener will help clean it up! Just wait for the pan to cool. Then pour in some dish soap and your favorite type of fabric softener. Make sure to have a lot of water on hand because this will be very messy. Let the mixture sit for an hour or more before washing off with warm water. You should avoid using harsh chemicals such as bleach because it can damage the porcelain making your pan look old and discolored. This trick works on any scorched pans, pots, and skillets!
Removing Stickers
Have you ever bought a new item and noticed that there are stickers on it? This can be very frustrating. Your first instinct might be to pull them off because they’re so hard to get rid of. But once you rip the sticker, it’s going to leave behind a residue! So instead of ripping at it, use 1/8 cup fabric softener combined with 1 cup water in your spray bottle. Spray the mixture on the difficult to remove sticker and let it sit for 10 minutes. Scrub away at the sticker again before rinsing with warm water. They’re gone! It’s almost like magic but much easier than pulling off those stubborn stickers!
Remove Hard Water Stains
Do you have hard water stains on your shower curtain or tiles? Then you know how stubborn they are. The good news is that fabric softener spray can remove them! Just mix 1/8 cup of white vinegar with 1/8 cup of fabric softener in a spray bottle. Shake it up and then saturate the stains with the mixture. Let it sit for about an hour before scrubbing at them with your scrubber or brush. Use warm water to rinse off the area afterward. It should look new again! If the stains are horrible, you may need to do this more than once, but it will work!
Preventing Clogged Drains
Clogged drains happen all too often! Hair and soap scum can cause your sink, shower, and bathtub to clog up. These are some of the most common problems that plumbers help people with. Luckily you can prevent this by adding 1/4 cup of fabric softener into your drain before running it. You should not use hot water because it will start breaking down any soap suds in there. But warm or cold is fine! This will coat your pipes and make sure that no hair ever gets caught in them, preventing future clogs! It even works on low-flow faucets like the ones used for handwashing!
