8 Unexpected Ways Fabric Softener Can Help You Around the House

Warding off mosquitoes, cleaning a scorched pan, combing messy Barbie hair, and making the hard fibers of a new carpet softer — we bet you didn’t know fabric softener could help with all of these things!

Here at Bright Side, we’re all for buying simple products and using them for multiple purposes thanks to the power of life hacks. That’s why we collected some fabric softener household tricks to share with all of you.

1. Cleaning dishware covered with burnt-on food

Scorched pans are almost impossible to wash without using special chemical agents. Some people suggest a simple solution: try to soak the pan with a spoonful of fabric softener dissolved in warm water, leave it like that for the night and washing it will be much easier in the morning.

2. Washing wooden furniture

Cleaning blogger Lynsey Crombie suggests using fabric softener to wash wooden surfaces as it’ll gently remove dirt without damaging the surface since it doesn’t contain harsh chemicals. As a bonus, it’ll leave a fresh scent in the room.

3. Removing stickers with ease

The glue that bonds the sticker with the glass is meant to last forever, so it’s always quite challenging to get rid of these clingy things. Fabric softener that’s diluted 50/50 with water can help to get rid of old stickers on car windows and other glass surfaces.

4. Getting rid of water stains in the bathroom

You can’t get rid of these annoying white stains in the bathroom just by using water — it usually requires special chemical agents. And as it turns out, fabric softener will be enough! Add 1/2 cup of fabric softener into 1/2 cup of warm water and spray it onto the surface. Clean it with a sponge and let it dry — the stains should come right off.

5. Freshening up drapes

If you’re really into air fresheners but don’t like spending too much money on them, make your own! Add some softener and a 1/2 spoonful of baking soda mixed with water into a spray bottle and just like that, you’ll be able to freshen up your curtains, linens, and upholstered furniture whenever you want.

6. Detangling doll hair

If a Barbie doll has an explosion on her head, it’s no reason to throw her away! A blogger named Ashley Hackshaw suggests soaking the doll’s hair in equal parts water and fabric softener, leaving it for a couple of minutes, then brushing out tangles and washing it with water.

7. Making a new carpet feel softer

Carpets are made from the same types of fibers as clothes, so using fabric softener to make new carpet fibers comfier seems like a great idea. Mix hot water and fabric softener, spray it over the carpet, let it sit for a couple of minutes, and wash it off using a steam carpet cleaner. It’s important to wash it well if you have small children or animals.

8. Creating your own anti-mosquito spray

Fabric softener can also help you ward off mosquitoes. Mixing it with baking soda and water into a homemade mosquito repellent will not make you cough, compared to store-bought repellents, and it will leave a fresh clean scent.

Do you know any other simple products that can serve as multi-purpose helpers in the household? We’d be happy to hear from you in the comment section below!