Food Network has several go-to methods for cleaning burnt-on cookware. We recommend soaking it in dish soap and water and then scrubbing it with a baking soda and vinegar paste. We’ve also tested stainless steel cleaners that work magic to remove grime. But recently, our test kitchen tried another surprisingly effective way to clean baking sheets: with dryer sheets.

The viral Internet hack is more hands-off than a baking soda and vinegar scrub, thanks to the dryer sheets' conditioners, which supposedly help loosen the mess as it sits. And you probably already have dryer sheets sitting in your cabinet (unlike specialized stainless-steel cleaners)

After roasting some sweet Italian sausage, Amanda Neal, Lead Recipe Developer at Food Network, had a sheet pan that was totally caked in grease and caramelized brown bits. In other words, it was going to take a lot of strength and scrubbing to get it clean. This was a perfect opportunity to test if dryer sheets could effectively clean a baking sheet. The technique was very effective, yielding a clean baking sheet with a couple remaining brown bits that a sponge easily removed. In Amanda’s words: "The sheet pan was very clean, I’m delighted to say the method really worked!"

Here's how to clean your sheet pan with dryer sheets, according to our test kitchen.

Supplies You Need

Unscented dryer sheets

Tap water

Clean sponge

How to Clean a Sheet Pan with Dryer Sheets

Step 1: Place the dryer sheets.

Place the sheets directly on the dirty sheet pan so the entire surface is covered. It’s okay if you overlap them so they fit.

Step 2: Cover with hot water.

Pour hot tap water over the dryer sheets to fully submerge them.

Step 3: Soak.

Let the hot water soak for about 1 hour until the water looks browner and the food bits have visibly loosened from the sheet pan.

Step 4: Remove the water and dryer sheets.

Carefully pour off the water and remove the dryer sheets.

Step 5: Gently scrub.

Gently scrub the sheet pan with a damp sponge and more warm water to remove any remaining bits of debris that cling to the pan.

Related links:

57 Sheet Pan Recipes That Make Cooking (and Cleanup) Easier

The Pioneer Woman's Easiest Sheet Pan Suppers

93 One-Pot Meals You’ll Keep Coming Back To