LIKE millions across the UK, I struggle with the dilemma of whether to switch my heating on or save my cash.
The rising costs have forced me to stick to the latter – which ultimately means my laundry will take two to three business days to dry on a clothes airer.
As someone who goes to the gym several times a week – and also spills coffee on white tops – I go through a pile of clothes.
There are sports bras, leggings, shorts, work attire and jeans – a wardrobe staple that can take what feels like forever to be ready to wear after washing.
Since the warm summer season left us so mercilessly, I struggle to recall the last time there wasn’t wet washing on the drying rack in my room.
Although it isn’t of course the end of the world, having the rack out at all times can get pretty annoying, especially as my bedroom isn’t the most spacious.
So, determined to banish the rack as much as possible, I decided to see which drying hacks doing the rounds on social media actually work – and if they’re really worth the hype or have gone viral for absolutely no reason at all.
Burrito method
I’ve covered laundry tips and tricks for years and the so-called ”burrito method” is one I see on TikTok every autumn and winter without fail.
The hack – which has been dubbed ”genius” by experts – involves placing your freshly washed garments onto a clean towel and, like the name suggests, wrapping it like the Mexican favourite.
“The reason we do this is because the towel will absorb all of the water from the burrito,” explained one organisation whizz.
“Once we unwrap it, it will be a lot drier.
“I do find that this method will easily reduce drying time from overnight to a couple of hours,” the guru said.
To see whether this easy five-second trick lived up to its reputation, I decided to test it out on two slinky tops made of the same fabric – one I just chucked on the rack, and the second one I turned into a burrito.
I gave the DIY towel burrito squeeze and then placed it next to the white long-sleeve top on the rack.
Although I was sceptical, this simple trick worked a charm, as just a few hours later the slinky brown bodysuit was at least 50% drier than the other test bunny.
A ray of sunshine
Whether it’s winter or summer, we don’t get a lot of sun here in the UK – but when we do it’s the perfect opportunity to dry your clothes.
Even in winter you can dry your washing by the window, if you, like me, don’t have access to a garden.
I’d seen numerous people use their curtain rail as an impromptu drying rack and what better way to see if it actually works than with jeans that infamously take ages to dry?
For this, I simply used a Primark clothes hanger and attached it to the rail above my bed in the afternoon, before heading out for the day.
Upon returning home after running errands and hitting the gym, I found that the denim bottoms were slightly more dry than they’d usually be.
However, the rail – which perhaps was not sturdy enough for the project – seemed to have a little dent, which makes me worried that it could’ve fallen down if I’d hung up even heavier items.
Secret button
Most washing machines come with several buttons and cycles and I recently discovered there’s a ”secret button” that claims to dry clothes in almost no time.
One woman left social media users shocked after informing Brits that the household essential comes with a ”double spin” function.
The cleaning whizz explained: “Your clothes will come out much drier allowing them to dry quicker.
“Always give your clothes a quick shake before hanging to dry to remove any creases.”
More winter laundry tips
Tackling laundry in the winter can be a challenge, but these handy tips can help you stay on top of it:
- Use a Dehumidifier: Place a dehumidifier in your drying area to speed up the drying process and prevent dampness.
- Spin Cycle Boost: Run an extra spin cycle on your washing machine to remove excess water from clothes, reducing drying time.
- Indoor Drying Rack: Invest in a good-quality indoor drying rack and position it near a radiator or in a well-ventilated room.
- Tumble Dryer Balls: Add tumble dryer balls to your dryer to help clothes dry faster and reduce static cling.
- Space-Saving Hangers: Use space-saving hangers or a retractable washing line to maximise indoor drying space.
- Microfibre Towels: Lay microfibre towels over your drying rack to absorb extra moisture from hanging clothes.
- Partially Dry Outside: On dry days, hang clothes outside for a short period before bringing them in to finish drying.
These hacks can help you keep your laundry routine efficient and your clothes fresh, even during the colder months.
It may sound too good to be true, especially as it’s so simple and takes just a second to do – but this hack proved to be a game-changer.
Before discovering the ”rinse and spin” function my laundry used to come out soaking wet – but the extra 20 minutes spinning around in the washing machine left them around 40% dry and the clothes were ready to be stored away just three hours later.
Strategic placing
Chucking huge piles of clothes and bedsheets in the washing machine might save you time – but once placed one next to the other, the laundry also takes what feels like days to dry.
According to the experts at Lenor, this is a crucial mistake many are guilty of – and instead, we should be strategic when it comes to hanging the wet clothes on the rack.
The pros advised: ”Avoid layering too many clothes on top of one another as this can delay the drying process.
”Instead, spread clothes evenly at least an inch apart and turn them over after a few hours to help them dry evenly.”
Not only did this tip make perfect sense in theory – but also in practice, as the airflow allowed the wet garments to dry evenly in half a day.
