Cleaning influencer Ibtissam Zouiten has shared a washing machine trick on her TikTok account that promises to significantly speed up indoor clothes drying. The method has gone viral on social media, offering results in just 10 minutes. Zouitem advises adding a clean, dry towel to the washing machine during an additional spin cycle to absorb excess moisture from wet garments. “Now it will dry much faster,” she assures.
The Viral Hack
@ibtissamcare Je vous ai partager ces astuces ya plus d’1 an et aujourd’hui je vous partage la meme chose c’est vraiment tres tres pratique surtout la il fait gris pas de soleil ,en plus je n’ai pas de place pour mettre un seche linge 😔 donc obligé de trouvée une solution Dites moi si vous faites la même chose ? #astuce #cleaninghacks #cleaningtips #tips #tipsandtricks #linge ♬ son original – Ibtissamcare
To implement this method, one should not remove the clothes from the drum after the initial wash cycle. Instead, a dry towel is added to the washing machine before activating the second spin cycle. During this cycle, the drum spins at high speed, expelling as much water as possible from the garments, Infobae reports. The towel absorbs much of the moisture, making this technique especially useful for heavier items like jeans, towels, or sweatshirts, which tend to retain more moisture even after a conventional wash.
In addition to the towel trick, another method has gained popularity on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. This technique involves spreading a towel on a table or floor, laying a layer of kitchen paper on the towel, placing the wet clothing item on top, adding another layer of kitchen paper, and then rolling up the towel while pressing to squeeze the moisture out of the clothing item. Kneading the rolled-up towel extracts as much water as possible. After using this method, the clothing item can be hung normally. However, this method may use a lot of kitchen paper and is best applied to individual items.
These tricks are particularly valuable during the winter months when low temperatures and high humidity make outdoor drying difficult. Cold months complicate the drying process, causing garments to remain wet for days, which can lead to discomfort and humidity problems in the home. Furthermore, insufficient drying of clothes in winter can increase the chance of damp and mold in homes, as moisture from washing contributes to mold spores, leading to musty smells and discomfort.
The effectiveness of these methods lies in their ability to remove excess moisture from clothes, thereby reducing drying time. The additional spin cycle wrings out extra moisture from clothes, considerably reducing drying time and contributing to energy savings by reducing the use of dryers. By removing more water during the spin cycle, garments require less time to dry, whether air-drying or in a dryer, which helps prevent bad odors and mold.
Most modern washing machines include a specific spin program that can be manually selected after the main wash. It is important to check the washing machine’s manual, as some models allow adjusting the spin speed, which can further optimize the process. However, users should take note of clothes care labels before spinning them, as some items may be too delicate for a faster spin. It’s important to note that delicate materials like silk, wool, or certain synthetic fibers could be damaged if subjected to high spin speeds.
Other Classic Tips
El Confidencial suggests other classic tips for drying clothes faster, such as placing the drying rack in a warm or well-ventilated area and dividing the load of clothes for quicker drying. Using a fan in front of the clothes can considerably accelerate the drying process. Better air circulation reduces moisture accumulation and accelerates drying, making it an effective method for improving the efficiency and quality of each wash.
It is important to avoid risky practices like drying clothes directly on heaters, as this can pose a fire hazard and may cause fabrics to deform or shrink. Clothes should not be placed directly on the heat source, and hanging garments vertically maximizes the available space. Using hangers can help make better use of space and avoid the need to iron.
Devices like heating airers can also help in drying clothes faster. These are more economical than traditional dryers and are especially useful for drying a lot of clothes indoors. If winter makes it difficult to ventilate the home properly, a dehumidifier can be the solution, as it removes moisture from the air, reducing the chances of mold or fungi forming on fabrics or walls.
These simple adjustments and tricks can make a significant difference in drying clothes indoors, especially during the cold months when drying laundry becomes a real headache for many households. Whether it’s using the towel trick shared by cleaning influencer Ibtissam Zouiten or optimizing the washing machine’s spin cycle, these methods offer practical solutions to speed up drying time and reduce energy costs.
