Laundry drying times can be significantly longer during the autumn and winter months but there is a simple method to speed up the process – it involves adding an extra towel to the washing machine
From October onwards, getting your laundry dry can be a drawn-out and exasperating task, with the autumn weather often compelling you to haul your washing back inside.
This results in damp clothes cluttering up your rooms for days on end, as the absence of sunshine and wind significantly extends drying times. However, laundry gurus suggest there’s a straightforward trick to get your clothes dry quicker during the autumn and winter months, and all it requires is an extra towel.
They advise putting your clothes through an additional spin cycle and then tossing in a dry towel. These combined actions help to soak up surplus moisture, thereby accelerating the drying process.
READ MORE: Unusual laws you could be fined for breaking including £2,500 warning
During a spin cycle, the drum of the washing machine operates at a higher speed, generating centrifugal force that aids in removing excess water from your clothes. This means they’re not as sodden when you remove them – and with the inclusion of the dry towel, even more water is extracted, so your laundry won’t take as long to dry.
This tip can also be applied if you have a tumble dryer and will absorb excess moisture from your clothes to hasten drying times, reports the Express.
Experts at Fresh Recipes said: “Many machines have a high-speed or extra spin option that dramatically reduces moisture in your clothes. When used correctly, this setting can make a big difference – leaving your laundry almost dry and cutting air-drying time in half or more.”
The experts add: “Even if your washer doesn’t have high-tech features, you can still dry laundry faster with these tricks. Use a dry towel trick. Toss a large dry towel into your wet laundry and run an extra spin. It helps absorb more moisture.”
“Shake out clothes after the spin cycle to prevent wrinkles and speed up air circulation. Hang clothes strategically. Space them out, use hangers or racks with good airflow, and place near fans or windows.”
Specialists say a proper spin cycle can slash drying times for garments by up to 50%, making it absolutely worthwhile before hanging your washing up, particularly during the chillier months when temperatures drop.
READ MORE: Don’t use bleach to clean grout – swap to natural item that makes it brighter
The majority of washing machines provide different spin speed settings, with gentle spins (approximately 600 to 800 RPM) suggested for delicate items, moderate spins (roughly 900 to 1000 RPM) for regular garments, and powerful spins (1000+ RPM) for heavyweight materials like towels and denim.
With the inclusion of a dry towel during the spin cycle, drying periods should be considerably quicker, meaning you won’t need to endure being constantly surrounded by soggy laundry this autumn and winter.
Speaking to Family Handyman about the method, Ron Shimek, president of Mr. Appliance, explained: “The same reason we use towels to dry our hair or clean up messes: They’re absorbent. A dry towel in the dryer acts as a kind of sponge, pulling excess moisture away from the wet clothes.”
“As the wet and dry items mix, the dry towel absorbs some of the moisture from the wet clothes, reducing overall humidity in the dryer and allowing the clothes to dry faster.”