Drying clothes quickly, without a tumble dryer, without a ventilated room, even in humid weather, it’s possible! All you need to do is use a little trick with your washing machine.
If doing laundry is a daunting chore, there is another much more difficult one: drying the laundry. A task that can quickly become a real headache, especially when space is limited, the weather is cold and rainy or time is short. Nothing is more unpleasant than ending up with damp and smelly clothes.
Ideally, you should dry the laundry in the open air, because not only does this eliminate humidity and bad odors, but it is also much more ecological and economical, since this technique does not consume any waste. Electricity – a parameter not to be neglected. However, this is not always easy to do, especially when you live in a small apartment. And not everyone has a tumble dryer, a particularly energy-intensive device!
Of course, there are several tips to optimize drying. For example, you can place your drying rack near a radiator or fan on to speed up the process, or roll your clothes in a dry towel, pressing firmly to remove as much water as possible. If the weather is nice, you can place your laundry near an open window to benefit from a draft. Finally, for those in a hurry, a hair dryer can also help, to quickly dry an item of clothing to wear immediately.
But there is an ingenious technique that allows you to speed up drying directly with your washing machine, without using a dryer. The trick is extremely simple: simply add a dry, thick towel to the drum with your clothes still damp, then start an intensive spin cycle (ideally 1200 to 1400 rpm, depending on the speeds available on your washing machine). The towel will absorb a significant portion of the residual moisture while facilitating the evacuation of water through the drum. By combining this absorption with the rapid rotation of the drum, you obtain much drier laundry at the exit and you significantly reduce air drying time.
This technique is particularly effective for thick, bulky textiles like towels, sweaters and jeans, which often take time to dry. To maximize results, be careful not to overload the drum to allow the towel to do its job properly. At the end of the cycle, all you have to do is hang up your clothes. You will find that they dry much faster on your line or drying rack.
In winter or in humid weather, this tip will be very useful to you to avoid bad odors due to drying for too long. Please note that the more powerful a spin cycle, the more likely your clothes will be wrinkled! Hence the need to spread them well afterwards, or to plan a somewhat vigorous ironing session. But, at least your laundry will be dry in record time!