Here are 13 tips for the fastest way to dry clothes and win at laundry. Because laundry- what human being has ever claimed laundry as their favorite chore? The biggest problem I have that I’m pretty sure the dryer runs an hour longer than the washing machine. So while I’m waiting for the dryer to finish so I can move stuff over, I forget about laundry altogether.
Maybe you don’t face the same issue I do but I’m sure you have your own pet peeves when it comes to drying clothes. But what if there was a way to streamline the laundry process and end the dreaded chore sooner? Turns out there is a way, actually at least 13 ways to win at a laundry.
Clothes Drying Tips You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner
1. Use a dry erase marker to write reminders on the machines (genius!)
You know that shirt you don’t want to dry because it will shrink if you do? If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably forgotten once in a while only to ruin your favorite piece of clothing. Well, you’ll never have to worry about that again with this trick. Use a dry-erase marker to write yourself a reminder on the dryer! This is a great tip to avoid a laundry catastrophe!
2. Laundry Hack- Eliminate static in the dryer by adding balls of aluminum
One of the fastest way to dry your clothes (and keep them static-free) is to add balls of aluminum foil to the dryer to get rid of static cling. The foil discharges any static buildup and helps keep clothes separated, allowing them to dry faster.
Depending on the size of the load, you will need two or three foil balls. Use approximately three or four square feet (0.279 to 0.377 square meters) of aluminum foil for each ball, compressing it as tightly as you can with your hands and making sure to press down any pieces that may snag on clothing or undo the ball.
-Taylor Martin, cnet.com
3. Create DIY wool dryer balls to add chemical-free scents to your clothes.
DIY Wool Dryer Balls are also great for eliminating static, but you can add scent with essential oils for a natural, chemical-free way to make your clothes smell good. This environmentally friendly way of eliminating static and making your clothes smell amazing also has the added benefit of saving you money! Not only do these replace disposable dryer sheets, but they also help to get your clothes dry faster. This means that you will save on energy costs as well as clothing costs since less time in the dryer can help your clothes last longer!
All you need to create your own DIY Wool dryer balls are wool and pantyhose. Throw them in the wash and then dry them about 3 times to get them felted, then they are ready to go. If you would like to create scented wool balls for the dryer, mix vinegar with essential oil and then dip the wool ball into the mixture. Don’t soak it, but dampen it and then allow it to air dry. You can refresh the scent every few months by dampening and air drying your wool balls every few months.
You may want to create your wool balls in a light and dark color to match the color of your laundry.
4. Fastest way to dry clothes hack: Throw in a dry towel with the wet laundry
Add a dry towel in with wet clothes to help them dry faster. Note that this probably isn’t a good idea with dark-colored clothes. I did it once with my husband’s uniform, and it was covered in lint, albeit dry. This is a great tip to save electricity/gas and can help you get your clothes dryer if you are in a pinch!
5. Add a wall-mounted trash bin to your laundry room to easily collect dryer lint
A wall-mounted lint bin can save you a trip to the trashcan after every load of laundry. Just empty it when it gets full. Keeping your lint compartment clean helps keep your dryer working more efficiently. A full lint compartment is a fire hazard, so this is a great solution to make this task as easy as possible. The easier something is, the more likely it is to get done, right?
6. Make your own reusable dryer sheets
Make homemade dryer sheets from scrap cloth, vinegar, and essential oils. Add a few to each load, and when the clothes are dry, toss them back into the jar for reuse.
If you have a fabric softener that you absolutely love, you can also create your own reusable dryer sheets with it! Simply soak some scrap cloths in your favorite fabric softener, air dry, and then use with each load of laundry that you put in the dryer.
This will keep your clothes soft and smelling great, and eliminates the need for buying disposable dryer sheets. This is also a great solution for the fabric softeners that are sold that don’t have the matching scented dryer sheets- just make your own!
7. Air dry your laundry inside: repurpose a ladder into a dryer rack
Turn a ladder into a drying rack! This is rack is perfect for allowing plenty of air to circulate around the clothes, allowing your laundry to dry the fastest – even if you don’t have a dryer.
8. DIY Fabric Softener Hack: Dryer sheet alternative
Here’s another dryer sheet alternative. Soak sponges in your favorite fabric softener. (Mix fabric softener and water in equal amounts.) Add them back to the liquid after each use. All you need for this easy DIY hack you can grab at a dollar store: some sponges, a plastic container with a lid, and a fabric softener.
If you would rather recreate this with some scrap towels that you already have so you don’t even have to buy anything, I recommend soaking the towels in this mixture, allowing them to air dry, and then sealing them in an airtight container or sealed bag.
9. Win at Laundry- use baby shampoo to unshrink clothes
If you happen to shrink your clothes by accident, Jillee at One Good Thing has an awesome tip. Soak the clothes in baby shampoo and water (or conditioner and water) to relax the fibers, roll up into a towel to get out some of the moisture, and then stretch the item gently. It works wonders.
This method will work perfectly with cotton and cotton blend clothing.
It should work on materials like cashmere, wool, and other animal fibers, but it may be a bit more difficult, especially if the fabric is tightly knitted. You may want to try stretching out the fabric in the water for extra pliability.
This method can work on synthetic fibers but it can be easy to over-stretch the clothing so use caution.
To use this method with denim you will need to take a more direct approach. Put the jeans on and then submerge yourself into a bath with the baby shampoo and sit for about 15 minutes. Dry yourself off so you are not dripping wet then hang out for about an hour, moving around in your jeans.
10. Fastest way to dry clothes: line dry your clothes with no shoulder creases
If you line dry your clothes, overlap them to save clothespins. But instead of hanging them from the tops as you see here, hang everything from the waist to avoid creases in the shoulders or hems. This allows you to maximize the space you have available for drying and helps to keep your clothes looking nicer for longer. Line drying clothes is awesome if the weather permits since it can save one of the biggest energy expenses- the dryer! It can also help you to keep your clothes looking newer longer, just make sure that you don’t leave them out in the sun too long, except white clothes. The sun can help keep white clothes whiter, and can even remove stains from your white clothes without any bleach! This is great clothes drying hack for anyone using reusable diapers!
11. Fastest way to dry clothes: Use a drying rack to quickly dry your laundry
If you are looking for the fastest way to dry clothes, but your HOA won’t allow a clothesline, try putting a drying rack on your deck or in an airy room. Line drying can help your clothes last longer. Do you know that lint trap you have to clean out every time you dry a load? Yea that’s your clothes you’re cleaning out of there tiny piece by tiny piece.
Another great advantage of line drying your clothes is fewer wrinkles! Don’t forget to “snap” your articles before hanging for a crisp, wrinkle-free finish to your laundry.
12. Genius Laundry Trick: throw wrinkled clothes in the dryer with ice cubes
Ditch the iron! Toss some ice cubes in the dryer along with whatever you plan to wear to steam the wrinkles out.
13. Clothes Drying hack: Eliminate static cling with a safety pin
Okay, so this laundry tip is actually for keeping socks together in the laundry, but did you know that a sock with a simple safety pin can get rid of static cling when you dry your clothes? It works the same way the aluminum balls (above) do.
From clothing fixes to dryer sheet alternatives, there is a solution to all your laundry problems (well most anyway). Did you find your path to laundry victory?
If you enjoyed the Fastest way to dry clothes and other hacks to win at the laundry, you will love these other household hacks:
- The Ultimate DIY stain remover formula
- 20 House Cleaning Tips for Neat Freaks
- How to fold a shirt 5 ways like a pro
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