I was struggling to get my clothes dry until I discovered a super savvy hack – now my washing dries in a hour
WE all love discovering a simple life hack that makes everyday tasks a little bit easier.
Especially if it means you can save some time on your daily chores like doing the laundry.
And we’ve all been there – waiting for laundry to dry, especially during colder months when air drying just isn’t an option.
But if you’re tired of waiting hours for your clothes to dry, or if you’re simply looking for a quicker solution, you might want to try a simple yet effective hack that has recently caught the attention of many.
It’s a trick involving your radiator and a king-size sheet that can drastically speed up the drying process.
While it might be a game-changer for some, others might already know about it.
Cat, who goes by the name of ‘cancelled_comedy’ on TikTok, shared a video after she recently discovered the time saving trick.
The comedian, from Ireland, captioned it: “OK so everyone probably knows or does this already but it’s new news to me so i’m sharing it with you!
“And if you think it’ll help some other poor f**ker with piles of washing that never end – and we live in Ireland so it’s pissing rain for half the year.
“l really struggle to get all the clothes washed and dried, especially raising two teenagers and a fiance that does more wardrobe changes than fashion models on a runway.”
She continues: “Delighted with myself for figuring out something that everyone probably does already.”
It involves a clever use of the radiator and a king-size sheet to speed up the drying process.
“Right, let me show you what I discovered yesterday,” she says, as she explains how she hangs her clothes on a radiator, with the radiator sitting underneath.
The trick? After hanging her clothes, Cat drapes a king-size sheet over them to trap the heat.
“I swear to God, lads, I got a lot of wash and dry in an hour yesterday,” Cat says.
Her discovery allows her to dry a surprisingly large load of laundry in a fraction of the usual time.
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.
She says: “Now I know maybe this is already known, but this is a new discovery to me, so I’m sharing it with yous in case someone else finds it a new discovery.”
As with any hack involving heat, safety is key.
Cat recommends keeping the radiator on a low heat setting to avoid singeing your clothes.
She also emphasises the importance of never leaving the radiator on unsupervised.
“Obviously, don’t have it on full heat in case it like singes your clothes or anything. And don’t leave it on – safety precautions only, do it if you’re in the house,” she advises.
Many people rushed to the comments section of her video to share their thoughts.
One wrote: “Never thought of that, good hack….l have underfloor heating in my bathroom, I put my horse in there and they dry overnight.”
Another added: “Brilliant idea.. Anything to get the clothes dry.. And the dryer shrinks everything.”
A third said: “Something I didn’t know til I was 47.”
Someone else suggested: “Put it beside the radiator, put the sheets over your clothes, and then the back of the radiator does the same thing and you won’t get a big electricity bill.”
5 Money-saving tips for autumn/winter
1. Draught-proof your home
It takes time and money to heat up your home, so it’s important that you do as much as you can to keep in the warmth. Close your doors and windows, and fill any gaps with a draught excluder.
2. Dial down your thermostat
According to Energy UK, turning down your thermostat by just one degree Celsius could cut your heating bill by up to 10%, and save you around £85 per year. Plus, if you don’t have a thermostat, installing one could save up to £70 per year!
3. Move furniture around
Make sure not big, bulky furniture like sofas are blocking radiators.
4. Wash clothes on a lower temp and add an extra spin
Unless it’s bedding, towels or really dirty items, dial down the temperature to 20 or 30 degrees, and do a double spin to remove excess water.
5. Heat the person not the home
There’s not point heating up a room that no one is sitting in, so be mindful about which radiators are on.