We Now Know Why Dryer Sheets Are Left In Minnesota Mailboxes

Right now in my mailbox are three things:

a bill that I am sending off to get paid,
a bird nest in the spot where a newspaper would go,
and a dryer sheet.

Yes, a dryer sheet! I didn't put it in there but it magically appeared the other day. Supposedly, this dryer sheet surprise is showing up in mailboxes throughout Minnesota and after a bit of research, I finally found out why.

Why is There a Dryer Sheet in My Mailbox?

If a dryer sheet magically appears in your mailbox, leave it! I know it seems odd but there is a really good reason why this laundry essential is sitting where your letters go.

The New York Post provided some insight about the dryer sheet mystery and said that the reason is because of yellowjackets. After being stung multiple times by yellowjackets, a postal worker tried putting a dryer sheet in mailboxes to help keep this pest away while he is delivering mail to the houses on his route. If there is a mailbox that has "issues", the dryer sheet goes towards the back of the mailbox and the "satanic creatures", as he describes, evacuate the space.

Canva

Taste of Home added an extra reminder to switch the dryer sheet with a fresh one every once in awhile due to the smell fading. When the smell is gone, unfortunately, the yellowjackets will probably come back.

When Should I Put A Dryer Sheet in My Mailbox?

The time of year when yellowjackets become more aggressive is during the fall. According to rescue.com, yellowjackets tend to focus on protein sources, like the hamburgers on your grill, during the months of June and July. Once fall comes into play, they are on the search for something sweeter.

Although the calendar doesn't officially say "fall", yellowjackets will be on the search soon for the food as winter starts to get closer. If you haven't already, now is a great time to put that extra dryer sheet in your mailbox.