Many people are finding dryer sheets in their mailboxes, and if you don't have one in yours, here's why you should put one in there this summer.

Have you by chance gone outside recently to check your mail only to find a dryer sheet in there? As it turns out, it isn't in there by accident. In fact, your mail carrier likely put the dryer sheet in your mailbox, and it's best that you leave it in there. Oh, and if you don't have one in your mailbox, after reading this, you just might make it a point to take one out of the laundry room and put it inside your mailbox.

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It's that time of year when it's beginning to get warmer outside, and more and more insects are coming out to "play". A few of these creatures that I've already seen out a handful of times are ones that nobody really likes: yellowjackets and wasps. Let's be honest, those jerks are the devil. They won't hesitate to sting you, and I think we all know that it doesn't feel pleasant. One place that wasps and yellowjackets like to hide out in is your mailbox.

Wasp on orchid
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There's A Dryer Sheet In My Mailbox

So, if your house is like mine, wasps and yellowjackets like to hang out and nest in mailboxes. That doesn't make for a great surprise to you or your mail carrier when you open up the lid. The last thing that either of you wants is to reach your hand inside and get stung by one of these pests. So, long story short, if you find a dryer sheet in your mailbox, there's a good chance that your mail carrier put it there.

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Why Would My Mail Carrier Put A Dryer Sheet In My Mailbox?

There is a mail carrier on Reddit that shared a little secret of the trade when it comes to wasps, yellowjackets, and your mailbox. To avoid having these insects build their nests in your mailbox, mail carriers will sometimes place scented dryer sheets in there. Apparently, wasps and yellowjackets HATE them!

YSK if you randomly see a dryer sheet in the back of your mailbox, your mail carrier put it there for a reason
by u/istrx13 in YouShouldKnow

 

Why Does This Work?

Wasps and yellowjackets strongly dislike strong aromas. This is why scented dryer sheets placed in your mailbox are used as a preventative measure to help keep your mailbox from being a home to these little boogers. Again, this is a preventative measure here. So if you find a large nest in your mailbox, do yourself and your mail carrier a favor by getting rid of it ASAP. After you do that, be sure to place a scented dryer sheet in your mailbox to help make sure other wasps and yellowjackets keep out.

You'll want to switch it out when you notice the scent is no longer fresh and strong. As far as what kind of scented dryer sheet works best, any scented dryer sheet should do the trick, according to the mail carrier on Reddit.

Oh, and if you have a problem with wasps hanging out around the door of your house, there's a random little hack that will deter them from hanging out in your yard uninvited. All you need brown paper bag, a handful of those plastic bags that you have stored in a cabinet somewhere that you probably won't ever use, and some string. You can learn more about this by clicking here.

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