It’s one of the biggest household nightmares during the winter months: laundry that never dries. With the rain outside and the humidity inside the house, getting the parts out of the machine ready to use seems like an impossible mission. However, there is a “grandmother’s trick” that has gone viral on social media and that promises to drastically speed up this process, using just one item you already have at home.
The method involves the strategic use of a dry, thick Turkish towel. According to home economics experts cited by portals such as The Spruce, this simple addition to the laundry load can reduce drying time by between 30% and 50%, depending on the appliance used.
How it works in the Dryer
This is the scenario where the trick is most effective. The secret is to place a dry, fluffy bath towel in the dryer drum, along with the freshly washed wet clothes.
Science explains: The dry towel acts like a giant sponge. During the first rotation cycles, it absorbs excess moisture from other parts and increases the contact surface with hot air. The 15-minute rule: There is, however, one crucial detail that many forget. The towel must be removed after 15 to 20 minutes. If you stay inside until the end of the cycle, it will end up getting soaked and returning moisture to the rest of the clothes, nullifying the effect and prolonging drying.
The trick in the Washing Machine (Spin)
If you don’t have a dryer, the trick can be adapted to the final washing phase, although it requires more caution. The technique suggests adding a dry towel to the washing machine drum before the last spin cycle.
During high-speed rotation, the towel helps to absorb the water that is expelled from the fabrics, causing the clothes to exit the machine with a significantly lower level of humidity. Pay attention to balance: Technicians warn, however, not to overload the machine. A wet towel is very heavy and can unbalance the drum during a strong spin cycle. Use this method only with medium or small loads.
Shake: the forgotten step
Regardless of whether you use a towel or not, there is a manual gesture that makes all the difference before hanging or drying your clothes: shaking each item vigorously.
When removing clothes from the washing machine, the fibers are “crushed” and stuck together. By shaking the item (giving the fabric a crack), you are separating the fibers and allowing air to circulate better between them. This not only speeds up natural drying on the clothesline, but also reduces the need for ironing afterwards.
If you are going to dry your clothes indoors on a clothesline, the towel logic also applies, but in a different way. The “Burrito” method, very popular among travelers, consists of spreading the wet piece on a dry towel, rolling it like a cigar and twisting or stepping on the roll.
The towel absorbs most of the water, leaving the item just damp and ready to dry in record time near a heater or dehumidifier.
Conclusion: save time and energy
As soon as the machine stops, remove the laundry immediately. Shaking each piece vigorously before placing it on the drying rack helps separate the fibers and allows air to circulate better. If you’re drying indoors, try keeping a window slightly open or use a dehumidifier in the same space to prevent condensation on the walls.
At a time when the price of electricity requires rigorous management, these small adjustments to the domestic routine are worth their weight in gold. Whether in the dryer or spin cycle, using a dry towel is a zero-cost way of increasing the efficiency of your household appliances, as recommended by the portal. Try it in the next wash: add the towel, set the time and be surprised by the difference.
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