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!
Contents
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!
Keep Bugs Away
Have you noticed that your house is getting overrun with ants? This can be very frustrating. But there’s something you can do to keep them away! Take some empty spray bottles and fill them halfway with water. Then take 1/4 cup of fabric softener and pour it into the water. Shake up the bottle until all of the ingredients are dissolved. Now spray any areas where you see ants coming inside, like your windows, doors, cabinets, and baseboards. You can also use this mixture to spray your window screens and other areas where you see ants. The fabric softener will repel them, and hopefully, they won’t come back!
Cleaning Wood Furniture
Have you noticed that your wood furniture is looking a little dull? Then it’s time to use some fabric softener! Mix 1/4 cup of fabric softener with 1/4 cup olive oil in your spray bottle. Now spray it on your furniture and rub it in with a cloth. You should be able to see all of the dirt coming off! Let it sit for about an hour before polishing with another clean cloth. Your furniture will look better than ever! This works especially well on any wooden tables that are usually very hard to clean. Fabric softener can even get rid of rusted areas your table may have, and it smells great too!
Deodorizing Shoes
One of the most common problems that people face is having smelly shoes. This can be very embarrassing and cause your feet to become very sweaty. The good news is that fabric softener can help to fix this! All you have to do is take a spray bottle and fill it halfway with water. Then add 1/4 cup of fabric softener and shake it until all of the ingredients are dissolved. Now spray your shoes before putting them on, and you’ll be good to go! Not only will they smell better, but they’ll also be less sweaty. This is a great trick to use when you’re going to be wearing your shoes for an extended period!
Conclusion
Fabric softener is a great product to use with many different benefits around the house! It can make your clothes softer, prevent clogged drains, and remove hard water stains. But it also has some other uses that you may not know about, like removing stickers and deodorizing shoes. There are so many options for what you can use it for! That’s why you should give these fabric softener hacks a try. Not only will they save you time, but they’ll save you money too!
