With summer gone and colder, wetter weather here, the challenge of drying laundry without overusing the central heating comes to the fore.
Even with heated airers, battling with damp garments remains arduous, particularly when dealing with robust items like denim and sweatshirts. This prompted me to try a lesser-known hack that has taken the internet by storm due to its ability to hasten the drying process.
Nicola Lewis, a decluttering guru with an Instagram following nearing 200k at @thisgirlcanorganise, unveiled a ‘hidden’ function on washing machines that can significantly expel moisture from fabrics during chillier months.
In an Instagram post captioned ‘How to dry your clothes indoors’, Nicola showcased her using the “Drum/Spin” cycle on her appliance. She endorsed this technique with the catchy slogan ‘Double Spin for the Win’, essentially suggesting an additional spin cycle post-wash, reports the Manchester Evening News.
This method doesn’t involve adding more water but rather subjects clothes to an extra spin, extracting further moisture. The trick seemed to resonate well with her audience.
Inspired by this, I gave it a go with my own laundry setup, selecting the ‘Spin and Drain’ option after my usual wash cycle.
A brief 10-minute spin was all it took, hardly a significant electricity drain, yet the outcome on my clothing was notable.
In a recent revelation, Nicola discovered her clothes were significantly lighter post-wash, drying astonishingly quickly on her heated airer, which she’s dubbed a total lifesaver.
Nicola’s Instagram reel caption imparts the savvy tip: “Double spin your laundry! 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.”
Further, Nicola has divulged her go-to technique for drying garments indoors, suggesting an airer and a dehumidifier, with her caption instructing: “A dehumidifier will draw moisture from the air and dry your clothes quicker. If you don’t have a dehumidifier open a window and place the airer near natural light.”
Moreover, Nicola endorses using a fan to “circulate cold air helping your clothes to dry faster and prevent mould”, underlining it as “cheaper than putting the heating on”. She advocates spacing out attire on the airer and initially hanging them on hangers to “speed up the drying process.”
