Homeowners across the country are finding dryer sheets in mailboxes, which are used by letter carriers as a safety hack against insects. These dryer sheets may deter bugs due to their fragrant ingredients, with entomologist Brandon Runyon explaining mailboxes serve as potential nesting sites for pests. While not a permanent solution, there are methods to make spaces less attractive to insects. A Reddit user noted that yellow jackets dislike scented dryer sheets, supporting their use when issues with nests arise. A 2010 study confirmed that fabric softener sheets can repel certain insects such as fungus gnats.
Brandon Runyon, an entomologist for Swat Pest Management, explains that dryer sheets might be a good, although temporary, repellent for some insects due to ingredients in the sheets used for fragrance.
One Reddit poster, who claims to be a letter carrier, says yellow jackets hate scented dryer sheets. "If we encounter a box that is a problem for nests, we'll often put one in there and it does the trick," the poster wrote.
Runyon cites a 2010 study that found fabric softener sheets (the researchers used Bounce brand 'Outdoor Fresh Scent' for the study) were effective for repelling fungus gnats.
Insects are always going to be looking for food, water, and harborage. The pests will try to show up where those items are available.
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