If you find a dryer sheet in the back of your mailbox you definitely need to leave it there.

We go to the mailbox every day expecting to see a few bills, plenty of junk mail, a magazine, and maybe a package. What you wouldn't expect to see in your mailbox is a dryer sheet.

Why Would There Be A Dryer Sheet In the Mailbox?

I could wrack my brain for the rest of my life and never come up with a good reason to have a dryer sheet n my mailbox, but thanks to a mail carrier on Reddit, I don't need to strain my brain. There is a perfectly logical explanation for it.

According to the letter carrier,  this is the time of year that wasps and yellowjackets like to make nests inside mailboxes. While the days are generally warm at this time, the nights can still be cool and the mailbox provides a nice place for them to cozy up for the night. The last thing a mail carrier or an unsuspecting resident wants to do is stick their hand in the mailbox only to be greeted by the painful sensation of a wasp sting.

Apparently, these pesky wasps and yellowjackets don't like scented dryer sheets. Letter carriers have had success keeping these critters away by putting a dryer sheet in the back of the mailbox.

Get our free mobile app

The Bottom Line

If you discover a dryer sheet in your mailbox, you should leave it there. Most likely, the mailman has put it there -and for good reason. It's for his or her protection as well as yours.

By the same token, you could be proactive and do the dryer sheet yourself. If you've noticed wasps and yellowjackets around your house and possibly around the mailbox area, go ahead and stick a dryer sheet inside. Check on it periodically to make sure the scent is still strong. When the scent fades, simply replace the dryer sheet with a new one and your mailbox can continue to be protected from invasion - and you and your letter carrier won't have to worry about having a potentially painful experience.

LOOK: Route 66’s quirkiest and most wonderful attractions state by state

Stacker compiled a list of 50 attractions--state by state--to see along the drive, drawing on information from historic sites, news stories, Roadside America, and the National Park Service. Keep reading to discover where travelers can get their kicks on Route 66.

LOOK: 30 fascinating facts about sleep in the animal kingdom

LOOK: Here Are 30 Foods That Are Poisonous to Dogs

To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet's phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call at (888) 426-4435 for advice.

Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of what human foods can be dangerous, Stacker has put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.

More From Kool 107.9