They do work, so does the liquid softener. I use the dryer bars now, so there's no sheets to waste and clothes smell clean and look fresh. What you can do in a pinch is buy some cheap liquid softener and put about half a cap full in a spray bottle, fill the rest with water then spritz your garments with that (not soaking wet) just a little will work, and it will de-wrinkle anything in just a few minutes. you can also get a small rag soaked in diluted liquid softener (just make a batch in a tupperware container) and squeeze out the excess liquid from rag and toss it in the dryer. When your clothes are done just put the rag back in the container for the next round. I've pinched pennies for a long time so I learned a few tips to make nice things like that last a bit longer!